I would add spend as many points on economics as possible when putting your race together, including getting the federalist party. This also means morale and pop growth bonuses (unless you are a super breeder, which is the ultimate pop growth bonus)
Also put a higher priority on galactic resources than the AI does, you can get your unfair share if you do.
On bigger maps, put out more survey ships.
Stop colonizing before the AI and turn towards building up your internal infrastructure with an eye towards being ready to start a war before the AI does (and obviously start that war) so that you start picking up techs from the AI that you didn't have to discover.
Learn the all factory strategy.
The better you get at the above the closer you will ride the edge and the more advantage you get. I tend to go from no military to a leading, if not the leading military in only a month or two.
This is only a small sampling...Search the forums for more topics along these lines, there is a ton of stuff in back posts.
You might also want to join one of the empires, most of them are open empires and anyone can join. Browse the metaverse forum for empire postings and see if any appeal. They often have private forums and more useful stuff in their back posts.
Plus the more specific you make the question the better others can help you.
BTW
Jalong,
I haven't seen you over at our private forum...If you get the chance you should check it out.
http://www.thegalacticcore.com
Let one of the moderators know you are a Galactic Diplomat and they will grant you access.

