Even the world’s most successful leaders and top performers, whether Fortune 500 CEOs or a chart-topping artists, view the pursuit of mastery as a continuous journey, not a destination. What separates the top 1%, though, isn’t just their initial success, but their relentless commitment to growth long after others plateau. Think Warren Buffett, who is still learning at 94, Madonna, reinventing her music decades into her career, and Gordon Ramsay or Heston Blumenthal, who constantly push culinary boundaries. All these legends embody this principle because the more skilled you become, the more you see the subtleties, possibilities, and depths you hadn’t noticed before.
“The gap between good and extraordinary isn’t talent, it’s the tiny, deliberate choices that compound over time,” says Jacqueline van Rooijen, Transformation Coach and Founder of Ycagel. “Most people optimise for comfort; the top 1% optimise for growth.”
She reveals 10 little-known mindsets and micro-habits the top 1% use to stay ahead, with insights you can adopt right now.
1. Strategic Vulnerability
Admitting “I don’t have all the answers” isn’t weakness, it’s a catalyst for innovation. When Satya Nadella became Microsoft’s CEO in 2014, he openly acknowledged areas he hadn’t mastered. That humility ignited a culture shift toward collaboration and reignited the company’s growth.
2. Daily Mind Audits
A nightly “win/loss” journal where you record one triumph and one misstep builds self-awareness. Lady Gaga credits this simple reflection practice for her ability to reinvent herself and deliver hit after hit. It builds the self-awareness that separates good performers from great ones.
3. Worst-Case Rehearsals
Rather than fearing failure, challenge yourself to map out exactly how you’d respond if the worst-case scenario happens. Jeff Bezos famously required Amazon teams to conduct ‘pre-mortem’ sessions – imagining their project had failed and working backwards to identify and prevent potential causes.
4. Micro-Mentorship
You don’t need boardroom heroes – wisdom lies everywhere. Turn everyday interactions in unexpected places into five-minute mentoring Pharrell Williams (well-known musician) has said his best musical insights often come from non-artists, like cab drivers or store clerks. He listens for mood, rhythm, and emotion in everyday speech.
5. “Over-Overcommunication” of Vision
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings believes that over-communication of context far outweighs persuasion. He famously published the company’s internal “culture deck” for the world to see, making it available not just to employees, but to investors, competitors, and anyone curious enough to click. His goal? To ensure total clarity on where the puck is headed.
6. Harness the Habit
Track one tiny habit, like reading a paragraph of a classic each day, and celebrate each small win. Serena Williams treated her serve routine as a ritual: with five bounces on first serves and two on second, helping her stay focused and consistent under pressure.
7. Mastering Deep Work
Reserve two 90-minute “deep work” sessions per week with no distractions. Warren Buffett spends around 80% of his time quietly reading and thinking, immersed in financial reports and books, purposely avoiding social media to focus on his long-term investments.
8. Embedded Generosity
Multiply your impact beyond profit. Marc Benioff entrenched giving into Salesforce’s DNA with his 1-1-1 model (1% equity, 1% time, 1% product), creating a culture that boosted both employee engagement and customer loyalty.
9. Preemptive Planning
Draft your “what if something goes wrong” analysis prior to starting a big project. Before launching Barbie’s 2023 rebrand, Mattel ran scenario planning exercises to anticipate backlash and missteps before a single ad went live. This pressure-testing helped the team fine-tune messaging and strategy, turning potential pitfalls into global success.
10. Thriving Rhythms Over Work Life Balance
Forget a rigid 50/50 split. Design weekly rhythms that let different facets of your life shine on different days – family night on Mondays, creative Fridays. Richard Branson credits his adventurous pursuits for fuelling his creativity.
“Leadership development isn’t optional”, concludes van Rooijen. “It’s the lifeblood of sustained success. Use these strategies as your blueprint to elevate performance, spark innovation and cultivate resiliency; and even share it with colleagues and contacts who refuse to settle for ‘good enough’