I would add as the very first item -
Knowledge and Information - Without some background knowledge of the hobby, you will make many mistakes, and likely fail. Obtain several books on state of the art reef systems. Then take the time to read and understand the information.
The second item would be -
Planning - figure out what sort of setup you want and what you are trying to do. You only want to buy equipment once. You only want to get livestock that will do well in your system.
A few additional items -
Apply Critical Thinking - No one know it all. Many LFSs don't have a clue. If something does not sound right to you, ask them to explain why. Don't be afraid to post the question on RAG and get the thoughts of others.
Don't Skimp On Critical Items - SW livestock is expensive. The loss of a few fish or corals will more than pay for the quality equipment you should have bought in the first place. Don't put your tank at risk trying to save small amounts of money.
Understand the Limits of Your System and Yourself - If your system doesn't have the lighting, don't try to keep SPS corals. If your tank isn't big enough to produce pods, don't try to keep a mandarin. If you don't have experience, don't make difficult fish your first ones.
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