Karren Brady’s career advice for making a well-thought-out plan when it comes to starting your own business

APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady answers your careers questions and meets an inspiring CEO.

Here she gives a reader advice on how to be a good manager for your team.

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Q) I have worked in call centers and as an office administrator for the past 15 years and always thought I would be better suited to working independently.

My problem is that although I have a lot of ideas for products or companies to start, I haven’t taken any of them to completion because I lose focus, lose confidence in myself, or get bored pretty quickly, especially , when I… I do all of this in my free time outside of work.

Do you have any tips on how I can make one of my ideas a success?

I’m not afraid of hard work, but I don’t want it all to be in vain!

Becks, via email

Karren says: It’s great that you have a strong desire to work independently and realize your entrepreneurial ideas.

To be successful in business you need ambition, determination and resilience, but also dedication and focus.

Instead of pursuing every idea that comes to mind, take the time to evaluate and do extensive research on just one really good concept.

Focus on an idea that matches your skills and passions and is in demand in the market.

A well-thought-out business plan provides a roadmap and keeps you focused and organized.

To combat boredom, set a schedule – and stick to it – and create a dedicated workspace at home with no distractions.

You must be committed enough to lay the groundwork to take an idea or business from concept to completion.

You will need to be able to support yourself financially during this time, so you will likely need to do this alongside your current job.

Don’t view failures as a waste of time – learn from them and use those lessons to succeed next time.