How do you achieve your goals within the confines of a system?

Within a system, you have to avoid complaining about things not being fair and look out for yourself, even if you have to “cheat” by taking advantages whenever possible. Like it or not there is always a game at play. I’ve noticed that merely abiding by the terrain doesn’t make you safe from internal competition, which can easily get in the way of your goals. Assuming your goals are intertwined with that group, it may be necessary to compete and climb the ranks. With this in mind, I seem to be experiencing the same set of roadblocks that I need to address.

-Firstly, how exactly does one ascend in a hierarchy without being seen as going against it?

-What are the ways to determine the nature of the system itself?

-Lastly, if nothing else works, what are some ways to form your own group?