Bryan Driscoll started offering internet marketing services as a freelancer and it’s grown into a business. Between working at his family-owned insurance agency and managing his internet marketing company, he has a hectic schedule. Follow him @ThinkBigSeo.

What is the first thing you did to turn your current business from an idea into a reality?

I have always been good at taking action. The first thing I did when I had the idea to try and make my hobby into a business was see if I could generate business. I tried a lot of things, but eventually, I stumbled onto oDesk, now Upwork. I have been generating income ever since.

What is the scariest part of being a young entrepreneur and how can others overcome this fear?

Failure is my biggest fear in business. I overcome this by failing a lot and trying not to make the same mistake twice. I figure if you’re not failing, you’re not pushing hard enough.

Were you ever told not to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams? Who told you that, what did they say and why did you ignore them?

I used to have this problem, but I learned to stop telling people about my ideas and implemented them instead.

What is the No. 1 thing you wish you’d known starting out and how did you learn it?

One of the main things I wish I knew back then was that most of the thoughts I had about failing were in my head. I would imagine what could go wrong. That would lead to procrastination and the idea would eventually fizzle out. I learned to immediately act when I had an idea and test it out.

As for the hard failures, about 10 years ago, I remember telling myself to just try one more time. I use this method constantly now.

What do you recommend all new founders do for their business — or their personal lives — that will help them the most?

I think the one recommendation I would give would be to stay in their lane. A lot of new business owners I talk with have a ton of ideas and want to get involved in many areas. I think focusing is very important. Pick what you’re good at and do that. Specialize in that area. Don’t try and be a jack of all trades. Also, make sure to get 6-8 hours of sleep per night.

How do you end each day and why?

First, I yell to my sons that I’m going to brush my teeth with their toothbrushes. They run to the bathroom and try to beat me in there. Then we go to the couch and do hugs and kisses and my oldest tells me the same joke he’s been telling me for over a year. This has become a nightly ritual. It reminds me what’s really important.

What is your best PR/marketing tip for business just starting up?

Think about who your target audience is. Once you know this, think about how you can get in front of them. In my case, I was able to do it online via Upwork since I knew there were people there looking for the services I offered.

What is your ultimate goal? What will you do if/when you get there?

My ultimate goal is to make a difference. I do believe that small things can make a difference and if you do enough, the results can be huge.