Whether you are developing a private practice as a mental health professional or you want to create a particular "widget" to solve the world's problems, the following (so-called) sage-like advice is sure to do nothing but hold you back and keep you frustrated for years to come.

#1 - You don't need a partner

When I caught the entrepreneurial bug, I immediately wanted to find a partner to work with. I wanted someone who was going to help me brainstorm and get work done, as well as someone who could bring their own particular expertise to the table.

Having a partner made sense to me.

But then I asked for advice...

And yet, despite asking for advice from a successful business-person, he told me that there was no need for a partner. If I wanted to get into business, I had everything I needed to do it on my own.

You may not necessarily need a business partner per se, but find support.

#2 - Your education will make a difference

While having an education today is almost a prerequisite, it really applies to life when you are looking for a job or trying to compete in a difficult marketplace. Your education is only as good as the paper it is printed on if you are looking to establish yourself in business or private practice.

"What really counts," you might be wondering?

Action!

The person who takes action and puts their knowledge into play will be far more successful than anyone with several degrees who doesn't go the extra step.

Sure, a degree can help you, but only for so long...

#3 - You can do it all yourself!

From issues of trust to the work quality not being "good enough," I've heard many excuses for why you should do everything yourself.

We are not taught to leverage our time or to delegate and rely on others to get our own work done for us. Perhaps it comes from how we are taught in school, but this simply won't cut it in the "real" world.

Instead, we need to learn to ask for help when we need it, and to value our time enough to get help and develop resources for making our work easier for us.

It's one thing to do your own school work or to properly give credit where credit is due, but it is completely counter-productive to imagine being able to be all roles to all people and to your business or private practice.