“Great people do things before they’re ready.” — Amy Poehler

If that’s true, college students are some of the most qualified entrepreneurs on earth. You’ve probably chosen a major or career path knowing what you wanted to do with your life. So why should starting a business be any different?

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Most businesses begin with something simple: an idea. Maybe you found a better way to do something or you solved a problem that drives people crazy. Maybe you know there are services like cleaning, painting or helping people move in or out of their residence are in high demand in this area and willing to try it out.  Either way, the idea is the easy part. It’s what you do with that idea next that really matters.

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Once you have an idea, throw some water on it. See if it can grow. In other words, before designing a logo, forming an LLC or ordering 100 T-shirts with your new company name on them, figure out whether your idea is actually a good one. Find out if it solves a problem or fills a void in your area.

Figure out who your customers would be, why they would want your product or service and what they would be willing to pay for it. Do your research. Ask potential customers what they think. Make sure you reach out of your circle, because your mom saying she would buy one doesn’t count - and neither does your grandma.  If the co-worker or neighbor that hates everyone around them thinks it’s good, you may have something, but don’t tell him because he might try to take the idea for himself.

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One of the biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make is assuming they have to figure everything out themselves, because they don’t.

In Traverse City, there are organizations such as 20Fathoms, that work with entrepreneurs from the idea stage to growing a company. They help with customer discovery, business models, strategy,  access to capital as well as a monthly pitch competition for tech start-ups called TCNewTech. SCORE Traverse City connects entrepreneurs with experienced business mentors, workshops and regional support services. Traverse Connect is a leading economic development organization that connects businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region with free networking events like Traverse City Young Professionals, tailored programming, community development and more. On a state level, the Michigan Small Business Development Center provides consulting, education and research assistance to Michigan entrepreneurs and small businesses.

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The most important thing is to go out and get connected to people who know something you don’t and who aren’t afraid to tell you when your brilliant idea needs work. You don’t have to take everyone’s advice, but you should at least listen to it. Good or bad, feedback can teach you something. In the end, the decisions are still yours.

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Eventually, you have to stop planning your idea and actually test it. Create the simplest version of your product or service that lets you find out whether somebody actually wants it. Put it in front of real people. Ask for feedback. Make adjustments.

You don’t need to know everything about accounting, marketing, financing, operations and business law before you begin. You just need to know your next step and connect with the right people for the things you don’t know.

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Fortunately, we are lucky to live in an area like Traverse City that has an entire community of people and organizations designed to help entrepreneurs take those next steps.

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Your idea doesn’t have to be perfect, and neither do you. You just have to get it out of your head and into the world.