7 Uncommon Habits That Truly Set High Performers Apart

We often hear about the common habits of successful people, like waking up early or exercising daily. While those are important, they are only part of the story. You clicked here because you are curious about the less obvious, almost secret habits that give top achievers their edge. This article delivers on that promise by exploring the rare habits that truly separate high performers from everyone else.

1. They Practice Systematic Ignorance

In a world overflowing with information, most people try to consume as much as possible. High performers do the opposite. They practice what is sometimes called an “information diet” or “systematic ignorance.” This means they are incredibly selective about the news, social media, articles, and even meetings they allow into their day.

Why it works: Constant information overload creates mental clutter, drains energy, and leads to reactive decision-making. By intentionally ignoring irrelevant information, high performers protect their most valuable asset: their focus. This allows them to direct all their cognitive energy toward their most important goals and problems. For example, instead of scrolling through ²⁴⁄₇ news cycles, they might read a weekly summary from a trusted source like The Economist or rely on a curated industry newsletter. This isn’t about being uninformed; it’s about being strategically informed.

2. They Schedule Time to Think

Most people’s calendars are filled with meetings, calls, and tasks. They are packed with “doing.” High performers, however, schedule time for “thinking.” They block out specific, non-negotiable time slots in their week simply to think without a specific agenda.

Why it works: Breakthrough ideas and strategic insights rarely happen when you are rushing from one task to the next. They require space. Bill Gates is famous for his “Think Weeks,” where he isolates himself twice a year just to read and think. You do not need a full week. Starting with just a 30-minute block on your calendar labeled “Strategic Thinking” can make a huge difference. This is the time to zoom out, connect disparate ideas, anticipate future challenges, and question your own assumptions. It is the proactive work that prevents future fires.

3. They Actively Teach to Learn

When most people want to learn something new, they read a book or watch a video. High performers take it a step further: they learn with the intention of immediately teaching the concept to someone else. This is often called the Feynman Technique, named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman.

Why it works: The act of preparing to teach forces you to simplify complex topics and identify gaps in your own understanding. You cannot explain something clearly to another person until you truly understand it yourself. This active learning process moves knowledge from short-term memory to deep, long-term comprehension. High performers might do this by writing a blog post, explaining a concept to a colleague, or even just summarizing a book out loud to themselves as if they were presenting it.

4. They Embrace Productive Discomfort

Many people seek comfort and avoid difficult situations. High performers intentionally seek out “productive discomfort.” This means they regularly put themselves in situations that are challenging and just outside their current skill level.

Why it works: Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. By consistently taking on projects that are a little too hard, having conversations that are a little uncomfortable, or asking for critical feedback they know might sting, they accelerate their learning curve exponentially. This is different from simply working hard. It is about strategically choosing challenges that force them to adapt and improve. For example, a great salesperson might volunteer to take the lead on a negotiation with a notoriously difficult client specifically because it is uncomfortable.

5. They Conduct Personal Retrospectives

In the world of software development, teams conduct “retrospectives” after a project to review what went well, what did not, and what should be changed. High performers apply this exact same system to their own lives and careers on a regular basis, such as weekly or monthly.

Why it works: Without a formal review process, it is easy to repeat the same mistakes and miss opportunities for improvement. A personal retrospective provides a structured way to learn from the past. It involves asking simple but powerful questions:

• What was my biggest win this week? Why?
• What was my biggest challenge or failure? What can I learn from it?
• What will I start doing, stop doing, or continue doing next week?

This habit replaces vague feelings of progress with concrete data, allowing for intentional, continuous improvement.

6. They Practice Second-Order Thinking

Most people think about the immediate consequences of their decisions. This is first-order thinking. High performers have mastered second-order thinking, which involves asking, “And then what?” They think through the chain of effects over time.

Why it works: A decision that looks good in the short term can have disastrous long-term consequences. For example, taking a shortcut on a project (first-order benefit: saves time now) might lead to major technical problems down the line that cost ten times as long to fix (second-order consequence). Investors like Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital have famously built their careers on this principle. By habitually thinking about the long-term ripple effects, high performers make more robust, strategic, and sustainable decisions.

7. They Maintain a "Failure Resume"

Everyone focuses on building an impressive resume of accomplishments. A truly rare habit is to also maintain a “failure resume,” a document that lists your biggest mistakes, rejected ideas, and professional missteps.

Why it works: This practice does two things. First, it destigmatizes failure. By writing it down, you acknowledge it as a normal and necessary part of growth, which builds resilience. Second, it creates a powerful learning tool. Reviewing your failure resume helps you identify recurring patterns in your judgment or behavior that you need to correct. It turns your most painful lessons into your most valuable assets for future success. It is a powerful exercise in humility and self-awareness.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to form a new habit? The old idea of “21 days” is a myth. Research from University College London suggests it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic, but the range can be anywhere from 18 to 254 days depending on the person and the complexity of the habit. The key is consistency, not speed.

Should I try to adopt all these habits at once? No, that is a recipe for overwhelm and failure. The best approach is to pick just one habit that resonates with you the most. Focus on implementing that single habit consistently for a month or two until it feels natural. Once it is established, you can move on to the next one.