Design a Personal Operating System
Without an operating system, a computer is just a bunch of hardware, nuts and bolts taking up space on your desk. Add an operating system, like Unix, OS2 or Windows and that pile of junk becomes a gateway to the world. With an operating system, the computer works. You too can design an operating system that will allow you to work successfully in every area of your life.
Have you ever thought about what makes you successful? Are you aware of the fundamental elements that consistently lead to your success? Did you know that you have the key to your success? And that you may even be taking your ability to succeed for granted?
One of the first places to look when designing a personal operating system is to focus on your strengths. Our strengths come easily to us. In fact, we tend to overlook them because we do them so naturally. Are you curious? Sensitive? Nurturing? Good with details? Do you love to learn and absorb new information? Are you a great problem solver? Are you a great communicator? Are you a "people" person? These are all strengths and can become the foundation for your personal operating system. The great part about focusing on your strengths is that they already come easily to you.
Here's an example of operating in this way: Let's say you are great with people. You enjoy communicating. Listening to others comes easily to you. And people find this quality attractive in you. Because of this quality, your relationships are effortless. Let's apply these strengths to marketing. Rather than focusing on writing letters as a way to market yourself, your company or project, why not focus on ways and places to meet others? You sparkle when you are in direct contact with others. It is a strength and it's fun. Why do it any other way? Focus on what works easily for you and do it.
Observing your behavior is another way to design your operating system. As an experiment, observe your behavior for a week. Watch yourself and see what works for you and what doesn't. Use this week to learn how you naturally operate.
For example, are you linear or non-linear? Most non-linear people work in a free form style. Non-linear people tend to reach their destinations via the least direct route. So, if this is how you operate, give yourself time to explore and be indirect as you work through a project or challenge. Here's another example of incorporating how you naturally operate, let's look at people who like to "think out loud". Some people thrive when they have the opportunity to work things out verbally or to bounce their ideas off others. Ultimately, they take action on their own, but their process includes working things out verbally. If you are one of these people that "thinks out loud", build this into your personal operating system. The point in observing your behavior is that if it allows you to flourish -- do it.
Another way to approach the design of your operating system is to review your accomplishments for the last five years. What made them work for you? Were you consistent and persistent? Was flexibility a key? Did you learn new skills that made a situation or job easier? Did you trust your inner wisdom? Was thorough preparation the cornerstone of your successes? Most often, the abilities that allowed you to succeed in these situations can be transferred to new challenges.
Many actors move to New York or LA from other parts of the country. Instead of doing the things that brought them success originally, they "throw out the baby with the bath water". For example, if an actor has found that doing work has been the way to meet people in the industry and to move their career forward, then that's the approach to take in New York or LA. For them, work breeds work. Another example of this is someone who is promoted or starts a new job. The very things that worked in the previous job will most likely work in the current job as well. If you are known for consistency and have the ability to follow through, these skills will transfer to the new job or position.
The value in designing a personal operating system is that you can create a formula for success in your life. The keys to designing a personal operating system are:
- honor your way of being,
- build on what works for you
- and focus on what you enjoy.
Your system is yours, unique as you are. Once you are aware of what works for you, you will be able to replicate the things that allow you to succeed. And what you will be creating is your version of success, not someone else's.
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