As the new year begins, it’s a great time to consider your career, review your priorities, and potentially change direction. This new direction may entail making the leap to start your own business. If you’re considering such a move, you may have in the back of your mind the statistic that many small businesses don’t make it past their first year of operation. However, don’t allow this challenge get in your way. You can be successful with a clear sense of both the opportunities and the risks, as well as focus on your passion. To get started, here are a few pieces of advice.