Join or start a club

When I started my group of women entrepreneurs it was just three of us. Now, four months later, I've got over 50 members. We talk "shop", exchange resources and get ideas from each other. If we have questions about how to do things there's usually someone that can answer them, or at least that shares our same concerns. There's strength in numbers!

I recommend: Whether you want to breed Dachshunds or start a bungee-jumping business, chances are there's a group out there for it - and if not,  start one! Check out Meetup.com, Google Groups and Yahoo Groups. The best way to find out if you've chosen the right field for yourself is to meet other like-minded souls and ask tons of questions.

Attend a course

Often your fears may be based on lack of knowledge about the product or service you would like to bring to market. A night course on your topic of interest may be what you need to help you determine whether you're on track or out in left field.

I recommend: No matter how zany or unique your business idea is, The Learning Annex probably has a class on it. If not, also check the department of continuing education at your nearest college or university. Don't see anything you like? The University of Phoenix Online also has a wide variety of  courses you can attend virtually.

Find a mentor

Do you ever wish you had someone that could show you the ropes, clear your doubts, champion your cause? Someone to help guide you, save you time and introduce you to contacts in your field? This may sound like an impossible order to fill but it happens all the time. Mentors share their knowledge and expertise with those that are starting out, and most of the time they do it for free. You just have to find them, but it's not as hard as it may seem.

I recommend: Join an association in your industry or your local chamber of commerce and ask if they have a mentoring program. Make a list of businesses you admire and find a way to meet their CEOs. Ask your friends or family if they know somebody in your field of interest. Then politely ask if you can invite them to lunch, or drinks, or even coffee. Another easier way is to visit the Small Business Administration or SCORE office in your area and sign up to speak with a counselor that has expertise in your area. BusinessWeek.com has a great article entitled "Why you need a mentor" with additional information that could help you find your own version of Donald Trump to help you out.

Get a business coach

When athletes are in training, they look to their coaches to come up with a game plan and a workout schedule to prepare them for competition. They need someone by their side to spot their weaknesses and point out their strengths. As entrepreneurs, we also need coaches, someone that will sit down with us and map out a plan and crack the whip when we slack off.

I recommend: Try the International Coach Federation or ask your friends for a referral.