I am one of those strange people that always has a harebrained scheme in my head. My latest was to start a small business based on producing custom-ordered "aged documents," (which is a fun craft process involving tea or coffee, some heavy drawing paper, a gel pen, and some matches). It fell through, of course, but it was fun to imagine.

But maybe for you it goes beyond imagining. Maybe you have a real dream to bring your small business plan to life. Perhaps you have the skills and the dedication, but you feel overwhelmed by where to start. You read about others' entrepreneurial endeavors and sigh. Well, stop reading about success stories and start writing your own.

If you're young but still have some great ideas, you might think you can strike it rich on your own without clocking a day under someone else's watch. But the truth is, you're going to need some solid experience before setting up your own business.

Plus, doing great work for people who have already "made it," so to speak, will help you get involved in one of the most crucial aspects of building your own company: networking, otherwise known as schmoosing.

If you have the advantage of still being in school, then take classes in business, administration, statistics, economics, and accounting. These might not be the fun parts of putting your business in motion, but they are certainly some of the most practical.

Even if you aren't currently working toward a degree, you can still enroll in similar classes at a community college or university. After all, the more you know, the more empowered you will be.

Build relationships and formulate a team with people whose skills lie in areas where you are deficient. Perhaps you don't exactly have the financial skills of an accounting guru, but as you continue to network, you will meet associates that do, and if you can get one or two of them on board with your business enterprise, you will be in a much better position.

Find yourself a mentor. Again, if you are still in school, try to connect with alumni and/or professors who can offer advice as you get started. Starting your own business is no easy feat, so having someone who is experienced in the field will give you more confidence and help you to make more effective decisions.

As you get into the actual process of starting your business, you need to write a real business plan. This allows you to see the risks and issues on paper, which in turn leads to more effective problem-solving strategies.
Creating a new business from scratch is quite a daunting task, but with hard work, good advice, and a little luck, you can make this dream come true. Just keep at it!