If you can't change the rules, then ignore them. Perfection is not optional. When faced without a challenge, make one. Don't walk when you can run. Bureaucracy is a challenge to be conquered with a righteous attitude, a tolerance for stupidity, and a bulldozer when necessary.
Patience is a virtue, but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.
The squeaky wheel gets replaced. The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live.