How to Get Ahead than 99% of People: 5 proven steps

Introduction

how to get ahead: if you want to get ahead you need to do what 99% of the people are not willing to do.

Most of the time, we assume that to get ahead, we need to be sleeping 8 hours a day, waking up early, and following similar routines. Don’t get me wrong—these micro habits are awesome, and they can make a difference. However, I’m challenging the idea that doing these things alone will put you in the top 1%.

If we take a closer look at the most successful people on the planet—those who have truly made a difference, both past and present—most of them didn’t necessarily sleep 8 hours a day or always eat healthy, yet they still accomplished extraordinary things.

While optimizing your sleep and eating healthy is amazing, the reality is that anyone can do it. These habits are valuable, but they don’t guarantee greatness. True success often comes from a relentless drive, passion, and the willingness to push beyond conventional wisdom.

Imagine your life as a race. In a normal race, the fastest people are at the front, while the slower ones are at the back. But in the race of life, it’s a bit different—90% of people are way in the back, while only about 10% are at the front. These are the few who truly stand out. The question you should be asking is, why?

In a world where competition is fierce and distractions are everywhere, standing out and achieving exceptional success requires more than just talent or luck. The difference between the top 1% and the rest isn’t some secret formula. The reality is that most people fall into the trap of bad habits. They play video games, watch adult content, and spend countless hours aimlessly scrolling on social media.

Every time they engage in these bad habits, they take one step back. Then they repeat the cycle, taking another step back. Instead of moving forward, they are heading in the wrong direction. Now, imagine doing this every day for a year—you’d be 365 steps behind. On the other hand, even a person doing the bare minimum and not moving backward would be 365 steps ahead. This means the difference between the two is a staggering 730 steps.

But it doesn’t stop there. If you make a habit of getting just 1% better every day for a year, you’ll end up 37 times better by the end. Conversely, if you get 1% worse each day, you’ll decline nearly to zero. Small wins and minor setbacks might seem insignificant in the moment, but they accumulate into something much bigger over time.

However, even with relentless execution and the right mindset, some people still find themselves falling behind. If you’re in this group, it might be because, for every step forward, you’re unknowingly taking two steps back. This often happens when you’re still indulging in bad habits—like doom scrolling on Instagram or TikTok—even while making progress elsewhere. These negative habits cancel out your efforts, leaving you stuck or even regressing.

How to Get ahead: 5 practical steps

If you want to get ahead, you need to be doing what 99% of people aren’t willing to do. While most people choose comfort, distraction, and complacency, you must choose discipline, focus, and relentless growth. These five steps will help you rise above the crowd and achieve lasting success.

How to Get ahead STEP 1: Just Do Nothing

You might be surprised to hear that the first step to getting ahead is to do nothing. Remember what I mentioned earlier—most people are either taking steps backward or taking one step forward and two steps back, making negative progress.

So, when you wake up tomorrow, don’t grab your phone. Avoid doom scrolling on social media. Just by doing nothing—meaning not engaging in bad habits—you avoid taking a step back and stay where you are. In a world where platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram are fiercely competing for your attention (because attention equals money), simply resisting the urge to waste time puts you ahead of most people.

How to Get ahead STEP 2: Develop a Long-Term Vision

Most people live day-to-day without a clear direction. They follow trends, react to circumstances, and let life dictate their path. But the people who truly make a difference—the top 1%—always have a vision.

Have you ever asked yourself these questions:

Where do I want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years?

What impact do I want to make?

What skills and knowledge will I need to achieve that?

Take, for example, Steve Jobs. He had a vision long before anyone else that computers would be on every desk and in every office worldwide. At the time, people thought he was crazy, and he even got fired from his own company. But his long-term vision kept him focused, and he ultimately proved everyone wrong.

The point is, having a long-term vision keeps you focused and prevents you from wasting time on things that don’t align with your goals.

How to Get ahead STEP 3: Master the Skill of Deep Work

The ability to focus without distraction for extended periods is incredibly valuable but increasingly rare. Deep work enables you to produce high-quality results in less time. When you align your goals with deep work and put in consistent effort over long periods, you’ll experience exponential growth.

The challenge is that extreme success often requires working relentlessly without seeing immediate results. Most people spend their time doing shallow work—checking emails, scrolling social media, or multitasking. But if you develop the ability to focus deeply, you’ll easily outperform those who are constantly distracted.

How to Get ahead STEP 4: Become Obsessed

What do you think the most successful people are like? They all have one thing in common: obsession. They are consumed by their work and think about it constantly. The key question is: Are you comfortable with this level of dedication? If not, you’ll probably quit not long after you start.

People like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Thomas Edison were known for their obsessive focus on inventing and creating. They worked long hours and tirelessly pursued new ideas, leading to groundbreaking successes.

To truly succeed, you must embrace obsession—be so deeply invested in your craft that it becomes part of who you are.

How to get ahead STEP 5: Learning vs. Intelligence

Alex Hormozi defines learning as “same condition, different behaviour” and intelligence as “the speed of behaviour change”. In other words:

Learning means that when you encounter the same situation again, you react differently based on past experiences.

Intelligence is about how quickly you can make that change.

Hormozi emphasizes that true intelligence comes from adapting quickly to new information and changing your behaviour accordingly.

Actionable Advice:

Focus on learning by changing your behaviour in response to new experiences.

Embrace change, stay curious, and continuously apply what you learn.

Commit to lifelong learning—read books, listen to podcasts, and take online courses.

Learn from successful people in your field and apply new knowledge immediately.

The world changes fast, and those who stop learning will quickly fall behind. Knowledge compounds over time, so the more you invest in learning, the more valuable you become.

By incorporating these five steps into your life, you’ll set yourself apart from 99% of people. Success doesn’t come from shortcuts—it comes from mastering the fundamentals, maintaining focus, and continuously growing.

Key Takeaways of how to get ahead

Getting ahead of 99% of people isn’t about luck—it’s about being intentional, disciplined, and relentless in your pursuit of growth. While most people remain comfortable, distracted, and reactive, you can rise above by staying focused, learning continuously, and executing with consistency.

Remember, success isn’t an overnight event—it’s the result of the choices you make every single day. Start implementing these principles today, and over time, you’ll naturally separate yourself from the crowd.

Book Recommendations: How to Get ahead

To deepen your understanding and further develop the mindset of high achievers, here are some must-read books:

1. “Atomic Habits” by James Clear – Learn how small, consistent habits compound over time to create remarkable results.

2. “Deep Work” by Cal Newport – Master the art of focused, distraction-free productivity.

3. “The 10X Rule” by Grant Cardone – Understand how to take massive action to achieve extraordinary success.

4. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck – Understand how a growth mindset can transform your life.

5. “Relentless” by Tim S. Grover – Discover the mindset of elite performers and how to be unstoppable.