One week out from Christmas Eve, and I’ve hardly begun to do any kind of Christmas shopping or Christmas gift making. I’ve got personal taxes to think about, articles to write, books to buy for the next school year, volunteer projects to finish and on top of all of that, I have a dream that I will bring to life some way, somehow.

I’m a social entrepreneur, or an aspiring one at least, and by golly, this New Year’s Resolution of mine to launch my first real, well-planned enterprise absolutely needs to happen. But where to start? How to begin? What if I fail? What about all of the other stuff that I need to do? Shouldn’t I just wait until I graduate to start doing any of this entrepreneurial stuff?

If there’s one thing I’ve observed about the entrepreneurs I’ve met over the past year, it’s that they didn’t let any of those questions or all of that anxiety get to them. They just jumped in.

I have been going to a lot of events for entrepreneurs in the city in addition to finishing up a marketing class this past semester. There are so many people and programs to take advantage of that will help you to get to where you want to go. Here are the five things that I can share with you that made me feel a lot more confident about launching a start up in the new year.

5. 5.Just Start
   

One of the biggest learned lessons I learned this year is this: If you want to start an enterprise, you don’t necessarily need to go through the expensive and time consuming process of incorporating your business; you can just start. You can be a sole proprietor. You don’t need to form an LLC. You don’t need to become a corporation. There are a million places for you to begin, experiment, play and develop your business model. This website provides an informative list of steps to take and things to know when becoming a sole proprietor. But. If you feel like you’re ready to incorporate, eMinutes is a great resource for small businesses. They offer consultation and support when you want to take your ideas to the next level. As of this writing, the founder of eMinutes, Jeff Unger, is searching for entrepreneurs who want launch their startups. He’s offering to incorporate their organizations for free, which means eMinutes will cover your filing fees and waive their fees. Even if you’re not sure if you’re ready, eMinutes is an incredibly helpful place to start. To take advantage of this incredible offer, click on this link. Then read the next tip and ask Jeff Unger about which one is best for you.

4. 4.There Are A Variety of Legal Structures for Social Enterprises
   

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, three different legal structures were listed and described the kinds of organizations that would benefit most from each one. When people hear that I want to work in social justice/social good/change the world sector, they automatically think of the world NonProfit. This is not necessarily a correct portrayal of what I want to do. As an entrepreneur or a self-starting business person, it’s important to understand that your legal structure does not determine whether or not you will be able to work in the social justice/social good/change the world sector. Perhaps forming a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization isn’t the best for you and your business model. Knowing your options will help you to make well-informed decisions about the direction of your organization and the strategies you want to use to accomplish your mission.

3. 3.Technology + Human Capital = Unexpected Resources
   

The best entrepreneurs, in my opinion, are the ones who are innovative and resourceful. My favorite entrepreneurs perfect their products, make them more stylish, more efficient and more useful. They are either creating new technologies or using existing technologies in innovative ways. Technology enhances your ability to run an efficient business, and having the right people working with you will help you promote or build your dream. As competitive as we need to be as entrepreneurs, we’re still a community of individuals trying to solve real world problems. Whether we’re trying to make it easier for young middle class men to update their facebook status from the newest mobile devices or we’re trying to make it easier for women in the villages of developing countries to get fresh and clean water to their families, entrepreneurs are necessary for solving these problems sustainably. We need to consider our tribe of fellow innovators and thinkers as a resource. Combine our social network with the power and speed of technology, there is no reason we can’t be ridiculously successful. Companies like Cisco, Synergies in Sync and Salesforce offer services that bring these two resources together.

2. 2.Spa-ffice
   

In Los Angeles, there are 24 hour spas, most of them located in Koreatown, that provide, in addition to hot pools, cucumber facials and saunas, wireless internet, a restaurant to nourish and hydrate, and lots of table space to work. It may seem counter-intuitive to create a mobile office in this environment, but it’s wonderful. My brain is just relaxed enough for the creation of perfect brainstorm conditions, and if I feel like I’m working too hard, I can take a break in a relaxing heated room of my choice. Currently, my favorite place to spa-ffice is Wi Spa. For $20, you can enjoy their hot pools and saunas, as well as visit the Jim Jil Bang, where you can relax on their heated floors after enjoying a rejuvenating mug of green tea, or open up your laptop and take advantage of the facility’s internet. What spa-fficing allows you to do is relax and breathe. When faced with any kind of stressful situation, as entrepreneurs are often apt to be, it’s important to find a way to calm those nerves. You can’t afford to stifle your creativity with nerves. Some people surf. Some people run. I spa.

1. 1.Try Fast
   

At a recent IdeaMensch event, the founder, Mario, gave a presentation about how he brings ideas to life. The first thing he said was “Try Fast.” His list of ten things were equally intriguing, but I felt like this one resonated the most with me. A lot of what keeps me in a cycle of anxiety and fear is the time it takes during the time I conceive of this great idea, and the date of the launch. I’ll admit, this anxiety has convinced me that I’m absolutely going to fail, and I’ve abandoned projects simply because I was afraid of failure. Entrepreneurs have a million ideas, it’s just in our nature. If we push ourselves to bang out as many of them as we can, there is a chance that at least one of those ideas will actually succeed. There’s no promises in this world, but there are opportunities for you to, again, just start.

It’s a real scary thing to take a leap of faith. If you’re feeling that anxiety, don’t worry. You’re not alone. But I hope that you’ll find these tips helpful for curbing your worries and you’ll feel a lot more confident about leaping into the unknown and possibly changing the world with your idea. It all starts with the first step, after all.

Good Luck and Go Forth!