Thinking you can do it all yourself.

In the beginning, it’s common to think that no one can do the job as well as you can. You know your products inside out, and are the only one who truly has the passion to make the business succeed.

But this is not only a recipe for burnout, it can actually significantly impede your success. Having a knowledgeable, experienced consultant or mentor can give you much-needed objective perspective on your business and market.

Being incapacitated by fear of “what if’s.”

Robert F. Kennedy said, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”  Starting a new business is scary, and isn’t for the faint-hearted. Being scared of failure and rejection is understandable, but letting yourself become incapacitated by this fear can significantly hinder your progress.

Recognizing common fears is a great first step, as it reassures you others have been where you are now. Here are 5 Fears You’ll Need to Conquer Before Starting a Business.

Putting your product first and people last.

When creating your product and determining your business model, it’s critical that you have a customer-first mentality. Yet many new entrepreneurs are so concerned about making money (understandably) that they forget the key to having a sustainable business -- having satisfied, loyal customers who will buy over the long term.

It’s not easy being a new entrepreneur, and mistakes will be an inevitable part of the process. But that doesn’t mean you need to repeat everybody else’s!