Starting one’s own business is a dream of many of our customers (“vocationers”) at VocationVacations.  The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well with many folks — whether they’re in their 20′s, 30′s, 40′s, 50′s and even 60′s.

Our mentors at V-V provide a wealth of knowledge each and every day to our vocationers.  Not too long ago I asked Louie Richmond, one of our PR Firm Owner mentors if he had any words of advice about starting a business…boy did he!  And here they are:

1.  Be ready to get out of your comfort zone

2.  Get support from a spouse, partner or friend.

3.  Find a support mechanism in your new career.

4.  Allow yourself to make mistakes.

5.  Get a good lawyer, a good financial planner, and a CPA.

6.  Invest in technology.

7.  Get a line of credit for emergencies.

8.  Don’t work in your pajamas if you’re working from home.

9.  Don’t automatically assume you’re going to take a salary.

If I were to add a tenth bit of advice, it’d be:  Expect the unexpected.  Just when you think you’re on track….there’ll be a curve ball like there’s no tomorrow.  But it’ll be your task to hit it out of the ballpark.

Anyway, I thought it’d be fun to share Louie’s advice.  Onward, all fellow entrepreneurs!