In 1993, my life changed as I experienced an "aha" moment for a beauty product idea. It all began because I had dry, chapped, ugly hands. I was embarrassed about the way they looked, as I was only in my 20s, and my hands looked decades older.

My grandmother told me about a beauty tradition that had been handed down for generations. She called it the "white cotton glove beauty secret." Just slather your favorite moisturizer on and wear these white cotton gloves for the night, she said. I tried it and, while the concept had merit, the white cotton gloves did not. So, I searched beauty-conscious Los Angeles and could only find one type of glove in all of the beauty stores around town. It was the same cheap, flimsy, all-cotton white one my grandmother had given me. I knew I couldn't be the only one with dry hands looking for a better glove.

As a result, I launched Moisture Jamzz Inc., now a 17-year-old bath-and-body manufacturing company built around my signature product, Moisture Jamzz Moisture Gloves. My gloves are simply an updated, upgraded and modernized version of that "classic white cotton glove" beauty secret. Thanks, Grandma.

I Think I Can--I Know I Can
So, how did I go from having that idea to being the founder of my own company? My journey was complicated and frustrating at times, but it began with basic elements: excitement, ambition and enthusiasm. When that light bulb went off in my head, I knew I had to act on the idea. I dreamed of turning my simple concept into a real business. I had the motivation, but I didn't have a clue about how to start or run a business. What I did have in my corner was my eternal optimism and naiveté. I just figured I could do it.

The same principle that got me rolling back then still holds true today; Whether you are a teacher, a chef, a stay-at-home mom or a truck driver, a great idea is a great idea. You are qualified in your own way to join the ranks of every entrepreneur who started out with only a dream.

Some people may tell you it's impossible to start a business from scratch without a business degree and without deep pockets. But I am proof positive that it's possible. Even though I felt deeply unqualified at times, I never listened to the naysayers, and neither should you. I followed my instincts. I wore lots of "hats" in the beginning, and I welcomed that experience. I was the shipping clerk, the accountant, the sales force, the marketing team and the receptionist, all rolled into one. I had no choice. But I woke up each morning excited to continue my journey and I went to bed reviewing my progress and dreaming about what could happen the next day.

Baby Steps and an Organizer
Your very first step should be to get a notebook or organizer that will be your official business book. This is a simple but important step, since up to now your business idea may be mere thoughts in your head, files on your computer or piles of various documents strewn around your house. By building your business organizer you're creating tangible evidence of your business idea that you will carry along with you on your journey.

I began my journey by getting a notebook and making it my bible for this business. I made lists, cut out inspirational quotes and stories, made it a phone book, timeline and source for everything Moisture Jamzz. I started by figuring out exactly what I needed to actually produce and sell a pair of my gloves and took action.

Fabric was first on the list, so I went to the garment district in Los Angeles and bought lots of types of fabrics to investigate. I also had to make a pattern for the tool to cut the fabric. So I located a pattern maker and made a pattern. The next step was to cut the fabric and have it sewn. I found a textile company in Los Angeles that could do the cutting and then ship the cut gloves to a sewing contractor. I also had to deal with the packaging of the gloves.

Along the way I had many setbacks, but I was determined to find ways to work through them. For example, the fabric cutter had a large minimum amount of fabric that needed to be cut at one time. When I showed up and handed the plant manager my little bag of fabric, he laughed me out of the room. I returned in the next couple of days and made it clear I would not give up without a fight. He said he admired my persistence and let me slide on the minimums at first. It also helped that I reminded him of his daughter. The ironic part is that I became a very big client over the years. My bags of fabric turned into rolls of fabric and then into truckloads of fabric. (This company closed several years later as manufacturing began leaving Los Angeles for China.)

I also had setbacks with the sewing of the gloves. They had to be sewn with meticulous accuracy, since even the slightest mistake would make it impossible to get a finger into the glove. Batch after batch of defective gloves came back, and I nearly gave up. But my sewing team eventually got the hang of it.

Baby Steps Create Momentum
So, after many months of sweat and tears, I had my finished product. Next I had to set up and build the business. I started by setting up a makeshift office in the corner of our one- bedroom apartment. I got a desk, a phone, some business cards and a computer. I opened a bank account, filed the necessary documents, got letterhead and felt pretty official. My trademark attorney husband was impressed and very supportive.

With my sample batch of gloves in hand, I walked into my weekly manicure appointment, and the manicurist loved them. She took them to a friend, who somehow got them featured in the very first issue of In Style magazine. This was a wonderful break. After the magazine came out, people called our tiny, corner-of-the-bedroom office to place orders. We weren't set up to accept credit cards at that point but, God bless 'em, many people sent checks. The buzz had been set in motion.

I realized that my product filled a void in the marketplace and decided it was worth spending some money to get a booth at a beauty industry trade show. Moisture Jamzz was a quick hit, and soon we landed a big chain-store account.

All of a sudden, we had to take things up a notch--and quickly. My husband would come home from work and help me pack shipments, make invoices and stay organized. Within two years he quit his job practicing law, and we took a leap of faith that this business would work.

We learned on the fly. We learned from other vendors at trade shows. We asked experienced people for advice. We made it work.

As the business took off, we surrounded ourselves with talented people, from our production team to the business attorney, insurance agents and accountant. We've had the same team in place for 17 years. We treat members of our team like family and, in turn, they dedicate themselves to working honestly and with integrity on our behalf. I've always had a mantra to keep things in perspective, something to the effect of: "We manufacture moisturizing gloves. Nothing that we do is life or death, so we can learn as we go. No one will get hurt." It helped not to take everything so seriously. I also worked to maintain my positive frame of mind and de-stress by practicing yoga. A few deep breaths can work wonders.

The bottom line is that if I can do it, you can, too. With passion, persistence, a positive attitude and determination, you can learn your way through any business. For example, I can meet with a buyer and have confidence in our past track record for sales, quality and customer service, but I still may not speak the buyer's lingo--and that's OK. I never pretend to know it all . . . but I catch on quickly.

It's OK if you don't have an MBA or even a college degree. If you're seeking permission to enter the business world, you have it. This is a club you can join simply by following your dream and making it happen. The choice is yours. Choose action.

Moisture Jamzz has counted among its clients Bath & Body Works; the Estée Lauder Co. (Origins and Aveda); H2O PLUS; Crabtree & Evelyn; Bare Escentuals; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Linens 'n Things; Stroud's; Williams-Sonoma's Chambers catalog; Bloomingdale's; and QVC. Moisture Jamzz products can be found in fine spas, resorts, skin-care salons and beauty-supply stores worldwide. They have been featured in top lifestyle publications, such as In Style, Shape, Glamour, Cosmo, Redbook, Modern Bride and Beauty Launchpad.

Sandy Abrams is the founder and CEO of Moisture Jamzz Inc. Abrams' book, Your Idea, Inc. is a 12-step guide to help people launch their product ideas and/or start their own business.