First Steps
Another question that comes up the most often with beginners (though one I don't hear as much) is whether or not a teacher is necessary.
With self-motivated, goal-oriented, determined adults, the question can be a bit dodgy. Personal biases aside, for everyone else I say yes!
True, one can progress by just following a book or DVD or learning how to play songs from tab sites on the internet, but try asking any of those sources a question! Or ask them how it sounds when you play it. Or know that to do one task might require a stronger foundation in the task before it. Our own filters may prevent us from realizing a lot of things an outside observor might see. It's a bit like therapy, I suppose.
Also, knowing you have a lesson in a few days can be a HUGE motivation for actualizing goals and achieving things that were set before you. Without that, it can be awfully easy to put your practicing off and let it fall off the list of priorities simply because the novelty has worn off or American Idol is on or something!