The other day, I was reading a blog and came across this quote: “Not everyone is destined for greatness.” At first, I thought the post was being ironic, but as I read on, I found that the person who wrote this actually believed that and had, as a result, settled in for a life of mediocrity. It doesn’t have to be that way, though.

Everyone, including you and me, has the same chance to be great and become successful as anyone else. Evidence of this may be missing from your life. You might have seen your parents or others work hard and still get no further ahead. But working hard is only part of the equation. Hard work can certainly get your foot in the door, but there are some other rules that must be followed in order to reach the level of success and wealth you want. Those who are willing to follow these guidelines WILL reap the rewards. Following these six simple rules will break down walls and turn you from ordinary to extraordinary.

Rule #1: Stop blaming your environment. Sure, your environment may make the journey easier—or harder—but it can’t stop you.

Rule #2: Stop comparing your talent to others. Everyone has some special talent or skill. Just because yours seems different doesn’t make it any less valuable.

Rule #3: Stop blaming a lack of funding. You don’t need to spend money to make money. Capital makes the process easier, but isn’t always essential.

Rule #4: Stop seeking perfection. If you’re always on the lookout for the perfect business, you’re going to miss out on extraordinary opportunities. Nothing is perfect, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t profitable.

Rule #5: Stop inventing obstacles. There are already enough problems to overcome on the road to success. Stop inventing even more obstacles.

Rule #6: Be flexible. The world is constantly changing. Those who are able to change along with it are the most likely to succeed. Greatness and wealth can be attained in many ways. Live by these rules and you’ll give yourself a head start on the journey. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore each of these rules in more detail, so be sure to bookmark this blog or add it to your feed reader!