Success is often attributed to raw intelligence or relentless effort. However, observations from billion-dollar boardrooms suggest that the top 1% operate by a deeper, often counterintuitive set of rules. Below are five science-based principles to help you think differently and escape the plateau of average performance.
1. Listen to the “Ghost Notes”
Most people focus on the data they can see, falling victim to confirmation bias. Top performers focus on what is absent—the “ghost notes.” This concept is illustrated by the World War II survivorship bias example: reinforcing planes where bullet holes were found was a mistake because those planes survived. The real danger lay where the holes were not found (engines and cockpits) on the planes that never returned.
Actionable Step: In meetings, practice “Bayesian filtering.” Instead of staring at the presented slides, write down three logical points that are missing. Ask questions about the silence and the data that isn’t showing up.
2. Optimize for Errors, Not Comfort
Neuroscience shows that repeating tasks you are already good at stops the brain from rewiring. Learning requires agitation and error correction. While humans instinctively avoid mistakes to feel good, elite performers minimize their “loss function”—a concept from AI learning—by actively seeking errors to correct them.
The 5-Step Loss Function Loop:
- Define the Metric: What does “better” specifically mean (speed, accuracy, etc.)?
- Predict the Outcome: Guess your performance number before starting.
- Deliver: Perform slowly enough to notice details.
- Find the Failure Point: Identify the exact moment of error.
- Adjust One Variable: Change one thing (speed, tool, technique) and repeat.
3. Become Comfortable with Adaptive Tension
Average performers avoid friction; top performers leverage it. Difficult conversations and high-stakes negotiations trigger the brain’s “fight or flight” response, but avoiding this tension limits growth. To navigate tension without triggering defensiveness, use the CORE Protocol:
- Curiosity: Ask if there are missing lessons rather than pointing fingers.
- Objectivity: Discuss systems and facts, not people and stories.
- Reassurance: Explicitly state that you are on the same team working toward a mutual goal.
- Empathy: Acknowledge the other party’s effort and perspective to make them feel seen.
4. The Time Horizon Advantage
Society is obsessed with instant gratification, but true impact requires “Cathedral Thinking”—planning for a future you may not see. This is the mindset of Oxford architects planting oaks for beams needed 500 years later. To balance immediate needs with long-term vision, manage three timelines simultaneously:
- 90 Days (Be Visible): Create proof of work and contribution.
- 12–18 Months (Be Valuable): Build compounding assets like skills, systems, or reputation.
- 5 Years (Be a Visionary): Make long-term bets on your career arc and identity transformation.
5. Architect Your Identity
Skills, industries, and titles change, but your identity provides continuity. The most crucial distinction between the majority and the top 1% is the question they ask when making decisions.
- The Average Question: “What will this decision get me?” (Focus on extraction and short-term gain).
- The Elite Question: “What will this decision make me?” (Focus on character and capacity).
To sustain long-term success, ensure your choices align with the person you want to become, not just the rewards you want to collect.
Mentoring question
When you look at your current 5-year plan, are you planting flowers that look good for a season, or are you planting oaks that will hold up the roof for generations?
Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=yCCIDNvp5dk&si=DLcGG4wogLbhG0tz