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Start from the bottom, and work your way up - While it seems like everyone in Hollywood is related, there are tons of stars who started by taking whatever jobs they could get, paying their dues until they finally caught their big break.

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Exhibit A: Harrison Ford - The actor was working as a carpenter in the office where the casting call for 'Star Wars' was being held. A producer thought he'd be perfect for the role of Han Solo, so he ended up auditioning, and the rest is history.

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Exhibit B: Channing Tatum -

After spending some time as a male stripper, Tatum started his on-camera career as a model for brands like Armani, working his way up to speaking roles in commercials, and then he got into acting in films, where that dancing actually proved very useful.

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Exhibit C: Jon Hamm - The 'Mad Men' star once worked as a set dresser for adult films, which he has since described as a depressing experience, though it was an experience on a film set nonetheless!

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Exhibit D: Brad Pitt - The Hollywood heartthrob started his career working as an extra, first appearing in 1987’s 'Less Than Zero,' billed as "Partygoer/Preppie Guy at Fight." He was reportedly paid US$38 for his role.

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Use your connections - You'd be surprised to find out just how many stars got their big break in Hollywood because they knew the right actor or director, and how often it's someone who is related to them! The lesson here is to shamelessly use your connections.

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Exhibit A: The Coppola family - Most people don't know Nicolas Cage is actually the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola and cousin of 'Lost in Translation' director Sofia Coppola. Cage, however, changed his name as a way to separate his identity from that of his famous uncle.

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Exhibit B: Jennifer Aniston - Worried that your family isn't famous enough? Don't! Aniston's story proves that you can know just about anyone if you're desperate enough to approach them at a gas station to ask for career advice, as she did with NBC President Warren Littlefield. He encouraged her to keep going and eventually helped land her the role of Rachel on 'Friends.'

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Exhibit C: Miley Cyrus - While Billy Ray was certainly a big help in getting Miley started, he also starred with her on 'Hannah Montana,' bringing along starring guests like Dolly Parton, and ultimately launching a career for Miley both on-screen and in music. Now his other daughter is getting started too!

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Exhibit D: Drew Barrymore - Already born into a family of actors, Barrymore also has Italian actress Sophia Loren as her godmother, and Steven Spielberg as her godfather (director of 'E.T.,' which she starred in). If you could overlook Barrymore’s grossly unfortunate childhood, she would seem all too lucky.

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Never, ever give up - There are world-famous stars who didn't catch a break until well into their life, but they wouldn't have ever found fame if they didn't keep at it.

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Exhibit A: Winona Ryder - Ryder was once mid-sentence with a casting director when when they stopped her and told her that she shouldn't be an actress, that she wasn't nearly pretty enough, and that she should go back to where she came from. We wouldn't have enjoyed so many great films if she'd listened!

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Exhibit B: Ty Burrell - The 'Modern Family' star had been trying to break into the industry for nine years, repeatedly getting cast as the guy who would get killed. He never gave up, though, and his career eventually aligned with the award-winning show, securing his fame in Hollywood.

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Exhibit C: Reese Witherspoon - Before 'Legally Blonde,' Witherspoon was ironically rejected again and again for not being tall enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. Lucky for us, she kept auditioning.

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Exhibit D: Sidney Poitier - Poitier was the first African American actor to win an Oscar, and for Best Actor no less, but when he auditioned for his first role the director said, “Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” He never gave up!

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Be undeniably talented - Some stars are just born with something special, and people can tell before they've even hit puberty. If you want to be a star, you have to hone your craft. Make sure your talent is impossible to ignore.

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Exhibit A: Christoph Waltz - Waltz was doing stage work and playing roles in small TV productions until his talent outgrew his roles, and someone very important took notice. Quentin Tarantino came knocking at his door, and his performance in 'Inglourious Basterds' put him on a permanent pedestal.

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Exhibit B: Kathryn Joosten - The late actor decided to move to Los Angeles, without any contacts, in pursuit of her acting dream when she was 56. She had to compete against actors with decades of experience, but she put faith in her talent and nabbed a role in 'The West Wing' soon after.

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Exhibit C: Sylvester Stallone - In the '70s, Stallone had very little money and was struggling to get by with his minor roles. But everything changed when he put all his energy into writing the indisputably awesome script for 'Rocky,' which he wouldn't sell without being cast as the lead. So even if no one else recognizes your talent, you have to believe in it yourself—and make it non-negotiable!

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Exhibit D: Jessica Chastain - The actress worked hard for her talent, training at Julliard, with the help of a scholarship sponsored by Robin Williams, and her talent burst through the doors of Hollywood—she has the filmography to prove it.

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Collect four-leaf clovers - It's annoying, but sometimes you really just have to have luck on your side. More and more stars are being discovered on the street, so start working on fostering that good karma.

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Exhibit A: Chris Pratt - Like most struggling actors trying to make it, Pratt was waiting tables hoping for his big break. Lucky for him, it actually happened! A film director walked in, complimented him on his looks, asked if he was an actor, and a mere four days later he found himself in Los Angeles.

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Exhibit B: Charlize Theron - This actress was discovered when she was standing in line and threw a fit when a bank teller would not cash a check she desperately needed. In an impossible moment of luck, her antics caught the attention of a talent agent who left her his business card.

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Exhibit C: Johnny Depp - Depp was being a nice person and accompanying a friend on an audition when he was spotted and asked to read. He landed his debut role as Glen in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street,' and his friend will probably never take him to another audition ever again.

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Exhibit D: Sofia Vergara - While most people just get burned when they go to the beach, this Colombian beauty got discovered! At the time, she was in university studying to become a dentist, but dropped out to pursue modeling and acting.

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Carve your own path - If you feel like you have no place in the existing Hollywood structure, then go ahead and make a new space. If your work is good enough, the industry will scramble to get you on a flight to LA.

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Exhibit A: Nia Vardalos - An agent told the actress that she wasn't fat enough to be a character actress, but not pretty enough to be a leading lady, in addition to claiming that there were no roles for Greek-American actresses. Vardalos then wrote and starred in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.'

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Exhibit B: Jay-Z - The highest-earning artist in America was rejected by labels when he was a fledgling rapper because they thought he didn't sound good enough. He then created his own music and recording label, and those other labels are likely wallowing in regret.

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Exhibit C: Lucille Ball - It took time for the legendary comedian to make it big, as it was much more difficult for women to break into the industry back then. But Ball created a league of her own, revolutionizing the TV sitcom with 'I Love Lucy.'

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Exhibit D: Walt Disney -

At age 22, Walt Disney was reportedly fired from a Missouri newspaper for "not being creative enough." So he went on to make his own company, called Laugh-o-gram Studios, which, yes, went bankrupt, but also paved the way for his wildly successful career under his own name, filled to the brim with Academy Awards.

See also: The amazing success story of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

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