So you want to be a venture capitalist? Well, of course you do. Who isn’t motivated by the prospect of controlling tremendous wealth, possessing the power to turn visions into reality, and making some good money in the process? Not to mention having first-hand access to emerging technology, meeting fascinating people, and empowering entrepreneurial innovation. Few careers sound more exciting or rewarding.

The perceived glamour of venture capital can sometimes eclipse the job’s reality. It can be a lonely career, a risky one, and extremely stressful considering you are responsible for other people’s money. You will watch many companies struggle, and often see them fail. And you end up saying no...a lot.

If you’re not scared off by these realities of venture capital, then here is a second sobering fact to take into account:

“Numerically, you have about the same odds of playing professional baseball as you do of becoming a VC,” John Greathouse, serial entrepreneur and partner at Rincon Venture Partners, said in Forbes.

The field is competitive to say the least. Venture capital is a small, elite club, with many lining up at the door to get in.

But Greathouse followed this discouraging statistic with another true statement, “Major League players don’t count the odds.” If venture capital is your passion and you’re convinced it is the career for you, then go for it.

Keep in mind there is not a scientific formula to becoming a VC. For associates and partners at VC firms, luck seems to be the common denominator in how they came to land a place among this professional elite. While there is no step-by-step path to success, there are ways to optimize your chances of breaking into this coveted career.

Earn an MBA. While the path is winding, unpredictable, and different for everyone, business school is usually the first stop on the road to a career in venture capital. In his paper, “How to Be a Venture Capitalist When You Grow Up…,” Judd Rogers discovered 53 percent of surveyed VCs had an MBA. This shouldn’t surprise. When evaluating potential ventures, the fundamental, comprehensive business knowledge nurtured in business school is absolutely essential. Plenty of funds won’t even consider associates who haven’t graduated from business school, Eze Vidra said in VentureBeat. So before you stroll up to a firm asking for a job, be sure MBA is at the top of your resume.

Start your own company. Business school is an essential foundation, but nothing can trump the hands-on experience of building your own business. Knowing the ins-and-outs, the ups-and-down, and the end-to-end process of transforming a vision into a viable enterprise will be a crucial asset in one’s work as a venture capitalist. If you don’t start your own business then get involved with an early stage venture; throw yourself in the startup trenches to experience the first-hand challenges, complications, and intricacies of a budding business. Even better than working for a start-up?

“Work for a startup that fails,” Guy Kawasaki said. “That’s where you learn a lot.”

Work in relevant industries. While starting your own company - or even better, starting multiple companies - is the ideal precursor to joining a venture capital firm, there are other points of entry into this exclusive club. Many VCs have also had key roles at major corporations, big banks, or consulting firms. In his research, Rogers discovered 58 percent of surveyed VCs have worked for big corporations, 33 percent for consulting firms, and the majority have some experience with all three. Clearly, the skills developed within these three fields must be valued by the VC community and important when assessing potential investments. More important than your prior experience is, “that you prove to be exceptional at what you do, regardless of the options you pursue,” Rogers said.

Network. Be active in the startup community. Make connections, know the major players, and if possible, get face time with VCs. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and build your reputation. Leverage social media, especially LinkedIn. Start a blog or website. You need to have an influential presence in the entrepreneurial ecosystem to have any shot of landing a VC job.

Educate yourself.  “Never stop learning,” Vidra said. Subscribe to all the top VC blogs. Peruse online education sites discussing the world of venture capital. Read extensively about the tech and startup industry. Follow industry news so you are on top of the latest products and emerging trends. But educating yourself means more than reading. Download new apps, test out products, and talk to influencers so you have hands-on knowledge of the industry in which you could potentially be investing.

Create value. To catch a venture capital firm’s attention, you need to provide value. You must prove that you bring something unique to the table, an asset no other associate possesses. Unless, you have the ability to advance a firm’s interests and make a positive impact, you have no hope of being hired. So whether it’s your network or your portfolio of skills, lead with your value proposition when seeking a VC job.

Prove yourself. If they won’t hire you, be a one-man VC firm. Become an angel investor. Proving you can effectively evaluate ventures, invest wisely, and make money will impress firms. Before he was a VC, John Greathouse invested his own money.

“It demonstrated my ability to identify and evaluate viable opportunities and add value to startups beyond giving them cash,” he said.

Of course this is easier said than done. If you have the capital, what are you waiting for? Start building your reputation as an angel investor and you will be well on your way to landing a job with a firm.