How to Start Thinking Like the 1%

Most people will never make it to the top.

Not because they aren’t smart. Not because they don’t work hard. But because they never change how they think.

They move through life reacting to things instead of creating things. They wait, hesitate, and overanalyze while the people who actually make it just start.

If you want to be in the 1%, you need to start thinking like them. Here’s how.

The Shift: Stop Playing Life on Defense

Most people are in defense mode all the time. They wait for things to happen, then react. The 1%? They’re on offense. They don’t ask for permission, they move first and figure it out as they go.

• 99% Thinking: “I need more time, money, or experience before I start.”

• 1% Thinking: “I’ll start now and figure it out along the way.”

That’s the difference between staying stuck and actually getting somewhere.

How the 1% Think Differently

1. Problems = Opportunities

Most people hit a roadblock and stop. The 1% hit a roadblock and ask: How can I flip this in my favor?

• Recession? They buy assets while everyone else panics.

• Lost your job? Time to pivot and create something better.

• Getting criticized? Use it as feedback, not failure.

Most of what you see as a problem is really just an open lane if you shift how you see it.

2. Speed Beats Perfection

Most people overthink, analyze, delay. The 1% launch before they’re ready, then improve as they go.

• Jeff Bezos built Amazon before it was anywhere near perfect.

• Elon Musk pre-sells ideas before he even builds them.

• Every major company iterates after launching, not before.

The 1% know that taking action now beats waiting for perfect.

3. The Long Game Always Wins

Most people chase quick wins—fast money, shortcuts, instant gratification. The 1% set things up so they win big over time.

• They build skills before chasing money.

• They reinvest instead of spending.

• They play moves that pay off years later, not just tomorrow.

The Difference? The 1% Execute.

Most people are stuck in learning mode—watching, reading, thinking. The 1% actually do.

They don’t overconsume. They don’t overanalyze. They just move.

Right now, there’s something you’ve been overthinking. A move you know you need to make but keep putting off.

Pick one thing today and just do it. No hesitation. No waiting for the right moment.

That’s how you start thinking like the 1%.

Talk again soon,
Alex, Founder of The Capital Circle