Starting your own business is an accomplishment that should make you feel proud. It’s an exciting time in your life, and there are a lot of potentials that lie ahead.

However, you likely have a long list of questions on your mind and are maybe unsure of where you should focus your time and energy. There are a few pieces of advice that are going to help guide you in the right direction as a new business owner. Ultimately, you’re the only one in charge of your career and company so take accountability and responsibility for your actions along the way.

Follow a Business Plan

You’ll be able to meet your goals quicker when you write them down and have a business plan in place to follow. A roadmap will help to keep you focused on the most critical initiatives so you can avoid getting sidetracked and distracted. It’s an opportunity for you to figure out aspects such as your marketing plan and your management style. These documents should be a work in progress, and it’s most likely you’ll need to make changes and adjustments along the way.

Make Wise Financial Decisions

Another piece of advice for new business owners is to be cautious and wise with your financial decisions. Not only keep your personal and business finances separate but also avoid taking unnecessary investment risks that may jeopardize your hard work and earnings. Take time to understand your finances and follow budgets so you can minimize the chance of any surprises occurring. Proper and attentive money management is essential to you, ensuring your business is around for years to come. Enlist the help of a financial director or advisor if this is an area where you struggle.

Hire Based on Skill

It may be tempting to want to hire your friends and family members when first launching a business. However, mixing business and pleasure sometimes can get tricky and cause you more problems in the long run. Come up with a recruiting plan and approach so you can make sure you’re bringing on the best and the brightest. Hire based on skill and if you feel the potential candidates in question are a good fit with your company culture. Take time to draft job descriptions, read through resumes and conduct interviews, so you know who you’re bringing through your doors.

Be Patient

Furthermore, and maybe the most important point is to remain patient throughout your entrepreneurial journey. Success typically doesn’t happen overnight, and there will be ups and downs to face and endure as a business owner. Maintain timelines for what you want to achieve when to help you stay on track so you can feel less anxious about how you’re doing. It’s okay to go at your own pace so that you don’t oversee or miss essential details as you try to grow and mature your business. Not only practice patience but also be resilient and embrace challenges as learning opportunities instead of letting these roadblocks get you down and make you second guess yourself.