How Everyday AI Users Can Close the Gap with the Top 1%

There's a growing divide in the AI world. While most people use Grok, ChatGPT or Claude to answer quick questions or summarize articles, the top 1% of users are building custom agents, automating entire workflows, and extracting 10x more value from the same tools. The gap isn't about access — it's about knowledge.

The good news? You can close that gap faster than you think. Here's how everyday users can start leveraging AI like the power users do.

The Power User Advantage

The top 1% of AI users aren't smarter. They've just learned a few critical skills that most people never discover:

They use system prompts and custom instructions. Instead of starting fresh every conversation, they set up persistent contexts that make AI understand their preferences, style, and needs automatically.

They chain prompts together. Rather than asking one question and stopping, they build sequences where each output feeds into the next, creating sophisticated workflows.

They use AI agents and automation tools. They've moved beyond chat interfaces to tools that can execute tasks, monitor systems, and work autonomously.

They understand how to structure requests. They know the difference between vague asks and precise prompts that get exactly what they need on the first try.

They treat AI as a collaborative tool, not a magic oracle. They iterate, refine, and guide the process rather than expecting perfect results immediately.

Skill #1: Master System Prompts and Custom Instructions

Most people treat every AI conversation like meeting a stranger. Power users set up persistent contexts so the AI already knows their background, preferences, and communication style.

What to do: Set up custom instructions in ChatGPT (Settings → Personalization → Custom Instructions) or equivalent features in other AI tools. Include:

• Your role and industry

• Preferred communication style (concise, detailed, technical, casual)

• Common tasks you perform

• Output formats you prefer

• Topics you frequently ask about

Example: "I'm a marketing director at a B2B SaaS company. I prefer concise, data-driven responses with actionable recommendations. I frequently need help with email campaigns, content strategy, and competitive analysis. Always provide responses in bullet points unless I ask for prose."

This one-time setup saves you from repeating context in every conversation and immediately improves response quality.

Skill #2: Learn Prompt Engineering Basics

The difference between "write me a blog post" and a power user prompt is staggering. Power users structure their requests with:

Context: What's the situation or background? Task: What specifically do you want done? Format: How should the output be structured? Constraints: What limitations or requirements exist? Examples: What does good look like?

Weak prompt: "Help me write a cold email."

Power user prompt: "I'm reaching out to CTOs at mid-size tech companies (100-500 employees) to introduce our API monitoring tool. Write a 150-word cold email that opens with a relevant pain point about API downtime costs, introduces our solution in one sentence, and ends with a soft CTA to book a 15-minute demo. Tone should be professional but conversational. Avoid buzzwords like 'game-changing' or 'revolutionary.'"

The second prompt gets usable results immediately. The first requires five rounds of back-and-forth.

Skill #3: Build Multi-Step Workflows

Power users don't stop at one answer. They create sequences where each AI output becomes the input for the next step, building sophisticated workflows.

Example workflow for content creation:

1. "Generate 10 blog post ideas about [topic] for [audience]"

2. Pick the best idea, then: "Create a detailed outline for this post with 5 main sections"

3. "Write the introduction section using this outline"

4. "Now write section 2, maintaining the same tone"

5. Continue through each section

6. "Review the complete post and suggest 3 improvements"

7. "Rewrite with those improvements"

8. "Generate 5 headline options and 3 social media posts to promote this"

Each step builds on the last. This approach produces dramatically better results than asking for "a blog post" and hoping for the best.

Skill #4: Use AI Agents and Automation Tools

The top 1% have moved beyond chat interfaces. They're using tools that allow AI to take autonomous actions:

Zapier + ChatGPT: Connect AI to thousands of apps. Set up automated workflows like "When I receive an email with [keyword], draft a response and save it to my drafts."

Make (formerly Integromat): More advanced automation for complex, multi-step processes.

Custom GPTs (ChatGPT Plus): Build specialized AI assistants with specific knowledge bases, instructions, and capabilities. Create one for your business data, another for writing in your voice, another for technical support.

Claude Projects: Upload relevant files and set project-specific instructions. Every conversation in that project maintains context automatically.

API Integration: For developers, connecting AI directly to your tools and databases unlocks entirely new possibilities.

The shift from "asking AI questions" to "having AI execute tasks" is where the real productivity gains live.

Skill #5: Build a Personal Knowledge Base

Power users don't rely on AI's general knowledge alone. They feed it their specific information:

Upload reference documents to tools that support file uploads (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini). Include:

• Company style guides

• Product documentation

• Past successful work examples

• Industry-specific data

• Personal notes and research

Use RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) tools like Notion AI, which can reference your entire workspace, or build custom solutions with tools like LangChain.

Create prompt libraries. Save your best-performing prompts and build on them. Successful prompts are assets — treat them that way.

The AI becomes exponentially more useful when it has access to your specific context, not just generic knowledge.

Skill #6: Iterate and Refine Aggressively

Average users accept the first output. Power users know that iteration is where quality happens.

After getting a response:

• "Make it 30% more concise"

• "Rewrite section 3 with more specific examples"

• "Change the tone from formal to conversational"

• "Add data points to support the main claims"

• "Remove jargon and explain concepts more simply"

Each refinement takes 10 seconds. After 3-4 rounds, you've transformed decent output into exactly what you need.

Skill #7: Understand What AI Can and Can't Do

Power users have realistic expectations. They know AI excels at:

• Drafting and editing content

• Brainstorming and ideation

• Reformatting and restructuring information

• Explaining complex topics

• Writing code and debugging

• Analyzing patterns in data you provide

They know AI struggles with:

• Real-time information (without web search)

• Complex mathematical calculations (without tools)

• Highly specialized domain expertise

• Nuanced ethical or strategic decisions

• Tasks requiring verifiable accuracy without human review

They use AI for its strengths and verify outputs for high-stakes decisions.

Skill #8: Leverage Emerging AI Tools

The AI landscape changes monthly. Power users stay current on:

Code generation tools: GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Replit AI for programming assistance

Research tools: Perplexity, Elicit, Consensus for academic research and citations

Design tools: Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion for image generation

Video tools: Runway, Descript for video editing and generation

Voice tools: ElevenLabs for voice synthesis, Whisper for transcription

Productivity tools: Motion, Reclaim, Trevor for AI-powered scheduling and task management

The top 1% aren't using just one AI tool — they're orchestrating multiple specialized tools for different tasks.

The 30-Day Challenge to Close the Gap

Want to move from average user to power user? Here's a progressive plan:

Week 1: Foundation

• Day 1-2: Set up custom instructions in your primary AI tool

• Day 3-4: Write and save 10 detailed prompts for tasks you do regularly

• Day 5-7: Practice the Context-Task-Format-Constraints prompt structure

Week 2: Workflows

• Day 8-10: Build your first multi-step workflow for a common task

• Day 11-12: Create a document library of reference materials to upload

• Day 13-14: Experiment with iteration —take one output through 5 refinement rounds

Week 3: Advanced Tools

• Day 15-17: Set up one automation using Zapier or Make

• Day 18-20: Create a Custom GPT or Claude Project for a specific use case

• Day 21: Test 3 new AI tools you haven't used before

Week 4: Integration

• Day 22-24: Apply your new skills to a real project start-to-finish

• Day 25-27: Document what worked and build a personal prompt library

• Day 28-30: Teach someone else what you've learned (teaching solidifies knowledge)

The Real Divide

The gap between everyday AI users and the top 1% isn't talent or technical expertise. It's intentionality. Average users treat AI like a search engine — they ask a question and move on. Power users treat AI like a highly capable assistant that needs clear direction, context, and iterative feedback.

You have access to the same tools as the top 1%. The difference is how you use them.

Start with system prompts. Build better prompts. Create workflows. Automate repetitive tasks. Iterate ruthlessly. Within 30 days, you'll be extracting 5-10x more value from AI than you do today.

The tools are democratized. The knowledge gap is closeable. The only question is whether you'll put in the hours to learn skills that will compound for the rest of your career.

The AI productivity gap isn't permanent. Close it.

Everything = Everything

g