Starting a business is a matter of choice – no one can be forced into it. That’s a very interesting thought, because so many people working in corporations don’t have a great deal of choice. Suddenly then, you do. What would you like to do? It’s a simple enough question, and yet can be extraordinarily hard to answer. It is a truly unique moment when you can decide something entirely by yourself. So it is worth taking proper care to get it right.

Copying something else is unlikely to be very fulfilling, unless of course that is a deliberate business strategy. More likely, you will have a view on how a product or service can be made or delivered in a better way, or in a manner that is specific to you. This needs to be looked at carefully before diving in. Clear the decks, create some proper thinking time, take a deep breath, and begin.