All fired up with passion to start your new business. Got the nervous bugs under control, your stomach aches with a strong desire to succeed, feel the hunger for success. You’ve probably heard enough negative comments on how many new business ventures fail within the first 1-3 years. Well, here’s 5 tips on how to be successful, and drive your business to success.

I strongly endorse these 5 tips. They are real, strategic, mindful and full of common sense, and what every new entrepreneur should adopt.

1) Pick the brains of smart people—including the competition
2) Find a client who is willing to pay for your services before you build the business
3) Save money in every way you can
4) Find a great banker, not a great bank
5) Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you

Write down your vision, key initiatives, goals, objectives, action plans, including time lines. Be realistic, what is your current reality and where do you want to be? It can seem overwhelming at first, but worth the hard work in the initial stages.