Plan all projects first. Plan your project out on paper, noting down all parts required, where those parts may be obtained and if possible the price of each part. Be sure that you can get all the parts necessary before starting the project. If none are present, write down the steps to take when assembling the project. Look over the steps three times to make sure you are working in a logical order.
Flow charts can also help.
Get all materials ready first. Gather and organize all materials before you start placing and soldering parts. This way, you know exactly what you have and where it is before you have to keep track of a hot soldering iron. Solder smaller parts first. Soldering on resistors, diodes, jumper wires and other such parts will make it much easier to put the thing together than soldering large capacitors, transistors and ICs on first will.