Maybe you’ve already made the leap to start a new business. Or maybe you haven’t. But having a positive outlook on your career can be hard to keep up day after day. Especially if you’re diving into a new field and don’t know how to get your foot in the door. Either way, my outsourced CFO company has a few tips that’ll help you realize that making that jump — whether you’ve just decided to become an entrepreneur or if you’re already in the thick of it — starts out small.

Let’s begin with the obvious: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Starting a new business (or new career!) is hard and takes time. So take a breath and relax. Nothing is going to happen overnight. Before you dive into anything, sit down and envision what you want your path to look like, where you want it to go, and why it’s important for you to take this step. If you’re having trouble, listen to a few of your idols or influencers in the industry. You’ll soon learn that many people took indirect paths to get to where they are today. And many didn’t know what they wanted to do until they were doing something they didn’t enjoy.

Next, take some initiative! If you want to become more knowledgeable about an unfamiliar field or position, read up! Take some time to do a bit of research and see the skills that are most useful for your field.

But what happens if there’s more to it than just reading? Then that means it’s time to sign up for a class, a lecture, or attend a networking event. These are great options to not only learn more about the basic skills you’ll need to get ahead, but also a great way to meet people who are actively participating in the industry. And connecting beyond the screen is incredibly valuable.

In sum, if you’re serious about making a change for the better, use the resources at hand. Most of these tools are online, but those that aren’t cater to busy schedules. Several events happen after work or during the weekends (plus, several universities have non-credit night classes for professionals) so it’s easy to balance your current job and your new ventures. All that’s left is taking the plunge. Trust us: one small step towards your goal will put you on the right track.