The path to become a CEO is not straightforward. Some college courses try to delve into the idea but only individuals who have successfully navigated their careers to this lofty height can expound on what it takes. Those who have managed to achieve this top position have offered several recurring ideas for anyone who wants to follow in their footsteps.

Take the hard jobs that no one else wants
Anyone can take the easiest tasks or the jobs where there are no challenges. But taking on high visibility, difficult projects will give you an edge. Not only will it make you a go-to person for the company, it will put you right in the mix of core business functions at critical times. If the company knows they can depend on your willingness to do whatever it takes, it will show the resoluteness and relentless work ethic that a CEO needs.

Passion
The path to become a CEO also means having passion, for your product or business. People will follow passion, and passion cannot be manufactured. We all have something that drives us, whether it is making a better product, having the best customer service or just a competitive business fire. Finding a way to let our natural passions fuel our work is the only way to become successful. We must strive to be the best at what we do, and the work required to accomplish that can only be found with a keen interest in our work.

Relationships
We must also always treat people with respect. Abraham Lincoln once famously said “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” This means when you are placed in charge of a project or team, it’s time to work harder than ever to make sure that the people on the team are all getting heard and respected. It’s only natural to want to be in the limelight, but truly great leaders know that winning big is only accomplished by a team. Treating people poorly never works in the long run.

Networking
Networking is the one key skill that must be cultivated over a lifetime and will start to pay dividends, even if those results don’t come for years. Always keep in mind how you can help others, and how you can connect other people. When the time comes and you need help or a connection, you will find it incredibly easy to have people return the favor without even having to ask. Maintain relationships, no matter how trivial they seem.

Creativity
Be creative. Never be afraid to ask “why not”. Too many companies fail because they cannot change their ways, even as their markets dry up and the product landscape changes. Consider how companies will push on relentlessly with projects just because they’ve already sunk so many resources into it, even it it’s doomed to failure.