1. Learn to say no
As an employee in a big company, you probably got used to saying “yes” to any and all requests that came your way. After all, “yes” meant you were reliable and a team player and that can-do attitude probably earned great reviews from your manager. However, this approach won’t get you far as an entrepreneur. For starters, with the time-pressed entrepreneurial schedule, agreeing to and doing everything just isn’t possible. But more importantly, as an entrepreneur, you need to set the agenda, not just follow everyone else’s wishes. Get used to saying “no” to everything but your main priorities.
Read more: 4 tips for success from entrepreneurs under 30
2. Forget about perfection
Maybe you used to have a boss that needed to get a project as close to perfection as possible. Or, there were endless rounds of revisions before something was ready to go. While that may be the way at a large company, a small business or startup won’t have the resources to get something to “perfect” and the whole notion of perfection isn’t possible anyway.
As an entrepreneur, perfectionism becomes a liability. The longer you wait for every detail to be just right, the slower your business will move. Focus on the high-impact, high-priority items, and accept 80% (sometimes less) for everything else. As the poster at Facebook famously says, “Done is better than perfect.”
Read more: Why building a business in your 20s is the best idea ever
3. Don’t be afraid of long hours
Many people equate the entrepreneurial lifestyle with The Four Hour Work Week or logging in from a beach in Tahiti. While both of these may be possible, the typical entrepreneur often finds that he or she needs to work longer hours than back at the office. On some days you might be trading in the 9-to-5 for 9-to-midnight. This is why it’s important to start something you love. And remember that you’re working to build your own dream, not someone else’s. You never want to dedicate more time to following someone else’s dream than your own.
Read more: How to build a great company on a 4 day work week
4. Get ready to wear multiple hats
As a company employee, there’s someone to call when the server stops working. And you probably don’t think about if the floor was vacuumed or the plant was watered. But, when you strike out on your own, you’ve now got to fill a number of different roles…from tech support one hour to sales and marketing the next, and accounting, even cleaning. With this reality, you can’t afford to have an ego. Before setting off on your own, ask yourself if you’ll be comfortable wearing all these hats, including the less-than-glamorous ones.
Read more: 6 entrepreneurs on how to make the hours in the day work for you
5. Cope with the social isolation
When you were working at a big company, you may have complained relentlessly about your colleagues and managers. However, once you leave the office you might be surprised to discover just how much you relied on Jane in accounting or Mike in shipping for your social interaction.
The first few weeks of being on your own can be quite a shock, particularly if you’re working out of your home. Do what you can to combat this social isolation. Keep in touch with former colleagues. Work from a coffee shop for a few hours. Find a shared office or co-working space and attend lots of local networking events.
Read more: 4 types of people a businesswoman needs in her network
6. Stick to a schedule
Is your new business largely autonomous project work? Is there no set schedule because you’re building your startup from square one? As you make the transition to working for yourself, try to keep your existing schedule as much as possible. Being in charge doesn’t mean you should get rid of your alarm clock or take four-hour lunches. Having some semblance of a schedule will help you stay disciplined and productive.
With that said, many professionals choose self-employment because they’re tired of the strict and arbitrary schedule of the corporate world. So there’s no need to recreate the same drudgery in your new venture. If you need some time in the afternoon to take care of your kids, walk your dog, or get outside while it’s sunny, go ahead. Only you can decide what kind of schedule is best for your business and your life.
Read more: 7 habits of highly effective managers
7. Create an entrepreneur fund
While success as an entrepreneur often boils down to mindset, there are a few practical considerations as well. In one word…it’s cash. You’ll be going from a salaried employee to wondering when your next check will come in. If possible, before you leave your job, put away an entrepreneur fund with 3-6 month’s worth of expenses (perhaps more, depending on the nature of your new venture). Having a solid safety net will allow you to focus your energy on building your new business, rather than worry about how you are going to pay the bills.
If you are inspired and would like to join the revolutionary movement that Imalia is creating, you can request to join our Facebook group The Wolfpack, to share ideas and learn from other like-minded women.
This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on Mashable.