They are generally the trademark of the 'good body' image, and not only do they build confidence, but they usually are a sign of being in good physical health. Although obtaining a six-pack is not easy, it is certainly not exceedingly difficult. Many people believe that pumping out crunch after crunch or sit-up after sit-up will ultimately result in a six-pack, and unfortunately, much of their effort is futile. The muscles are already there, and making them bigger and stronger is not the hard part. The hard part is carving away the excess fat around your gut. The easiest way to do this is to regularly participate in an intensive cardio-vascular activity and watch your diet. One of such cardio activities is running.
Running
Running does not have to be a living hell. Start with running a mile at a comfortable ten to fourteen minute pace (or more if necessary). The idea is gradual and continual improvement. Whenever you feel as though the running is becoming too easy, amp it up. Amp up the speed and/or amp up the distance. Avoid taking long breaks, and try to run daily if possible. Set goals, and work on building up to several miles over a course of some weeks. Don't focus on fat-loss during this time, but rather on the running. This activity will improve your metabolism and burn fat. With a good metabolism, your body will burn fat on it's own (e.g. many athletes are able to eat whatever they want while still maintaining a steady weight and physique) and make fat loss a lot easier for you. Unfortunately, until your metabolism is significantly improved, you will have to watch what you eat.
Diet (In-brief)
If you regularly eat junk food, cutting this out of your diet will make a noticeable difference. Soda, chips, cookies, loaded ice cream bars, and the like all greatly increase you calorie intake. If junk food does not make up a large portion of your diet, then simply consulting and following a food pyramid can do the trick.