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When you hear the word “greatness,” certain names might spring to mind: Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, Michael Jackson. Think a bit harder and you’ll realize you know a few real-life “greats” as well. Perhaps your officemate is a computer whiz, or a teacher at your child’s school is a genius at inspiring kids. Most likely you have some hidden talent, too. If only you’d been born with that elusive “greatness gene” or raised by superachieving parents or accepted to an Ivy League college, your life would be so much better...right?

Wrong, say Pam Bilbrey and Brian Jones, authors of Ordinary Greatness: It’s Where You Least Expect It...Everywhere. They reason that greatness has far less to do with that “one special thing” about a person than it does about his or her day-in-and-day-out habits and his or her character as a whole. Here are some of their guidelines for greatness to help get you started:

Walk your talk. Is there an intersection between what you say matters to you and what you actually do? There should be. If you swear up and down that nothing is more important than family, but you miss every ball game or dance recital, your actions will speak louder than your words. Or if you make a grand pronouncement about living frugally but run out and buy a flashy new car the minute your neighbor does, no one will take you seriously.

If you make a promise, keep it. Sounds obvious, yes? Actually, it’s rarer than you think. We all know someone who makes big promises and announces lofty goals to their colleagues and friends, only to let them fall by the wayside. The secret, says Bilbrey, is to make only commitments that are manageable and realistic and keep them—consistently. Saying you’ll deliver the big project first thing tomorrow (instead of 5pm on Friday, which is what will actually happen) may sound good at the onset, but your hero status will quickly falter when you can’t come through as promised.

“Think about it like this: While a homerun every once in a while is great, a solid base hitter is someone you can depend on,” says Bilbrey. “When you’re tempted to make a promise, think realistically about whether you can keep it. If you’re not sure, keep your mouth shut.”

Do sweat the small stuff. (Or at least pay attention to it.) With jam-packed schedules and busy days, it’s easy to let the little things escape your notice. But it’s those tiny details that can set you apart from the rest. Pay close attention in meetings and interactions with others and keep thorough notes on things that will be important later: Does your client have a food allergy he mentioned in passing? Remembering this tidbit for future dinner meetings shows him you can be trusted with detail-intensive projects. Is your boss a morning person? If you’ve noticed she’s more productive in the early hours, you can plan your interactions around her schedule, getting more work done more efficiently and improving your relationship.

Plan for the worst. It may seem a bit doom and gloom, but it will save you in a pinch every single time. Even if things go according to plan 99 percent of the time, it’s that other 1 percent that can really get you into trouble. Let’s say you’re working on a big project with a tight deadline. Carefully think through any obstacles that might arise and lay the groundwork for solutions, in advance. When trouble strikes, you’ll be prepared and your work won’t suffer-a true sign of greatness.

“No matter how good your work has been in the past, you are only as good as your last mistake,” warns Jones. “So think like a Boy Scout and be prepared. And if everything does go smoothly, you can enjoy being pleasantly surprised.”

Align yourself with the other “greats” in your life. Once you understand how ordinary greatness works, and how to recognize it in yourself, you’ll begin to notice glimmers of greatness in others around you. Team up with these people. Cultivate relationships with them. And it may go without saying, but be sure to also disassociate yourself from the not-so-greats who surround you.

Always act as if someone is watching you. It may sound like the same warning you give your kids before school, but it applies to you, too. Try working every day—in your personal life as well as at your job—as though your boss were standing beside you taking notes for your evaluation. In other words, use your time wisely, meet deadlines, and don’t cut corners. You’ll be less likely to make mistakes and more likely to pick up good working habits and life skills. Your efficiency and diligence will be noticed by others-and not just at your quarterly review.

Be known for your integrity. Your mother was right: Honesty is the best policy. Integrity may mean owning up to a mistake or admitting a failure, but it also means the people around you can depend on you for transparency. And that goes a long way in the business world.

Know when to ask for help. Being great doesn’t mean that you have all the answers all the time (just ask any parent!). Take the president of the United States for example: Even the leader of the free world works with experts and advisors every day before making important decisions. A big part of greatness is recognizing it in others, and knowing when their expertise is more efficient than your own.

“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness,” says Jones. “It’s a sign of intelligence.” It’s also a powerful tool to have in your arsenal. You’ll be able to guarantee that you can always get the job done—no matter what your own personal level of expertise may be.

Read at least six books a year. Sound like homework? It doesn’t have to be! Start each year by making a list of books you want to read. And if you’re not a big reader, don’t worry—pace yourself! Pick six books from all different genres and topics (and maybe slip in a fun read or two!) including a few that you wouldn’t normally think of choosing. By the end of the year you will have expanded your horizons—you will have learned about new topics, considered differing points of view, and perhaps even developed a palette for a new writing style.

Keep your curious spirit. As children, we were curious about everything in the world around us: How do things work? Why do people act a certain way? Where do things come from and how are they made? Our interest in the world around us made us great observers and spurred the questions that grew into the knowledge we have as adults. Jones advises that we hold on to our curious nature. The minute you think you know it all is the minute you close the door on your pursuit of greatness.

Be a risktaker. Imagine all of the things we would be living without if it weren’t for risktakers: electricity, airplanes, even the Internet. Taking the easy route is safe, sure, but it rarely leads to greatness. Success isn’t easy, and it’s not going to come to you while you’re sitting idly at your desk. So get out there—go against the grain—you could be behind the next great discovery of something we can’t live without!

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