Here's one of my favorite sayings from Peter Diamandis, Founder of X Prize Foundation & Cofounder of Singularity University:

If you can't win, change the rules.

If you can't change the rules, ignore them.

The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.

In my own life, I've often ignored the rules or changed them. Not just once, but over and over again.

One rule I made up is to grow my business (and profits) by working less. It sounds like a contradiction, but it's not. I just changed the rule.

The general rule followed by most is: the harder and more frequent you work, the more money you'll make. However, I've discovered that working less is the key. It's all about finding leverage points and focusing on the 20% of your actions that create 80% of the result. And maximizing that 20%. 

Now, you might want to hustle and work hard in your job or business. And that's great. You get to write your own rules of success. Actually, you get to write your own rules in life. 

In fact, another rule of mine is to do the opposite of everyone else. 

When I see the masses doing something, I often think "What is the path that no one is taking? And I go there."

So...

What rules do you need to change? 

What rules do you need to ignore?

What future do you want to create for yourself?

Take a moment to think of the answers to those questions, and then do something about it.

- Nick Diliberto, Pure Canvas Art