Have your Own authority? Help a Trucker Out!

I'm planning on getting my own authority in 2019 I would like to have one reefer and one dry van trailer to start I have trucks now but I'm leased on to a company and would really just like some good advice on does and donts my first year. I hear the first year is there hardest to make money because of not being a establish business. I also hear that using load boards long term is a bad idea. Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you for your time.