Those first few hard steps

You know what I'm talking about.

You're working a mediocre (or worse) job to pay the bills. You get home tired each day, but got to work on that prototype for your business idea and/or side project. If you work a desk job in the day that might mean too many hours needed in front of the computer screen. Maybe a bit too much isolation as well, especially if it consumes your weekends.

Because of time restrictions, it's likely you'll have nothing to show for months. On top of that, we all know that most projects go nowhere, even if they make it to completion.

So how do you do it?