Have you ever felt lost under the sea of career <strong>advice</strong> thrown at you? It is easy to get confused with words of wisdom coming your way from a million different directions but it is also equally important to remember that some of the business fundamentals have remained unchanged over the years. Here is a compilation of the <strong>tips</strong> and tricks of the trade that are guaranteed to take you to the top.

The first thing you need to do is to find your passion and distinguish it from your hobby. Everybody has ideas that they would like to turn into business ventures. But if your conceptual ideas or dreams are unable to fetch you money, then you won't be able to convert them into businesses. Before starting off, ask yourself if your passion will generate revenue.

Do not give in to fear while starting your own business. You will probably never feel fully prepared to launch your own business but the hack is to over-prepare. Prepare as much as you can for failures and successes alike and always have a plan B.

Develop the habit of documenting every step of your career path. You will be able to see how your business is evolving, learn from your past mistakes and gauge future successes. This will help you map your progress and assess your impact. Aim for creating value for yourself.

Set descriptive, achievable and time constrained business goals. Descriptive goals can help you visualise your target better and the focus on time will help you achieve your targets faster. Additionally, rely on strong, clear reasons for setting these particular goals. These reasons will motivate you towards achieving your business goals in your career path.

While trying to advance your career in business, it is imperative to create milestones as stepping stones towards your business goals. Further, you need the aid of a robust action plan or a road map to reach your business goals. These steps will help you to analyse and monitor your business and be methodical about your  approach to career advancement.

In order to take yourself to the top of the career ladder, one of the personality traits that you must rely upon is flexibility. In an ever evolving industry, it is an absolute necessity to constantly upgrade and adjust your business plan when required.

You simply cannot ignore networking. Tap into all your contacts, past as well as present, and forge lasting relationships. It is common to want to be independent in wanting to create your own success. But learning everything on your own might not be such a good idea. Instead try to surround yourself with brilliant and talented as well as creative individuals who can share knowledge and help you prosper.

Perseverance is one of the fundamental qualities that determines the success of your business and fuels your career in a positive direction. Do not be afraid to work hard and don’t let failures deter you. Resilience in the face of adversity will give you a competitive edge. Working smart, however, is more important than working hard when you’re trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Commitment towards your work will go a long way in ensuring that you gain visibility and success in your career. Without certain sacrifices and an unyielding dedication towards your business, you will not be able to catapult your career to the corporate forefront.

Perhaps the best<strong> hack</strong> to a successful career in business is self-confidence and conviction. Never doubt yourself. Understand that every career path is unique in itself and go take the world by storm.