A system is a group of related things that work together as a whole.

In computer science, an operating system (OS) is a translator that takes what the computer does and converts it to what you see.

Your personal and professional success is largely dictated by how you operate as a person.

You could carry every degree and credential imaginable, but if you don’t "operate well" personally, you’ll never be able to capitalize on your knowledge and technical skills.

18 Tips to Create Your Personal Operating System

You have the opportunity and responsibility to be a better person today than you were yesterday.

Many people are counting on you to be your best. Maybe it's your family, or co-workers, or friends.

Maybe you will pull someone from a burning building, and you need physical strength to do that.

Perhaps it's not as dramatic as a fire rescue; however, you will also need the mental strength to lift someone's spirits when they are feeling down.

If you don't "operate well" you may still struggle to create the leanest, strongest, happiest version of yourself.

With that in mind, here are 18 suggestions to optimize your Personal OS:

1. Less looking back, more forward focus

Yes, look back and learn from the past.

Look back and celebrate good memories; however, don’t spend your time dwelling on missed opportunities.

If you spend too much time revisiting "past things you should have done differently," you might miss the current opportunities right in front of you.

Don’t worry about what could have been. Enjoy the now and look forward to the future.

2. Nobody likes a "know-it-all"

People will be interested in your area of expertise when you’ve shown an interest in them.

Don’t brag about it. But when someone asks, share.

You can’t bully someone into seeing you as an expert.

3. Be okay with you

Yes, you want to keep improving a little bit every day.

But accept that humans are flawed. Everyone has both strengths and weaknesses.

Spend more time making the most of what you have and far less time dwelling on what you don’t.

4. Not everything is important

There are some things that are important and a whole bunch of things that aren’t.

It doesn’t take long to figure out what the critical things are, but beware, because the unimportant will always outnumber the important.

Think about where you invest your time, money, and energy.

Are you getting a good return on investment (ROI) on those things?

Minimize the trivial things and do more of the things that give you the highest ROI.

5. Make deposits

Help enough other people get what they want and you’ll get what you want.

Rather than itemizing every interaction and trying to see what you can extract from it, understand that it’s not the individual act that will pay you back.

Instead, it’s your body of work that will ultimately reward you.

So be a good human and invest in others.

6. Be open minded

Nowadays, far too many people are interested in winning an argument instead of finding the best solution.

My experience is that you can learn from everyone, even if you disagree with what they say or do.

Sure, it may sometimes be learning what not to do; however, learning is improving.

7. Listen

Don’t just wait to talk.

People will tell you a lot and share quite a bit about themselves, but only if you let them.

8. Clarify your values

Values should determine the way you operate.

We all have them even if we haven’t documented them.

Take some time to clarify and document your belief system.

9. Treat others how they want to be treated

The Golden Rule is okay, as it’s better than the way most people operate; but the optimal approach is to actually treat others how they want to be treated.

Not the way you think they want to be treated.

If you're unsure, just ask: "How do you want me to treat you?"

10. Embrace challenges but solve struggles

When someone says "embrace the struggle," I think they have it wrong.

A struggle will drag you down and exhaust you. It’s never an enjoyable experience.

But "challenges" bring out the best in you.You rise to meet the challenge. They’re enjoyable even when they’re hard.

If the process always feels like a struggle, it’s the wrong process and you must find a different approach.

But if the process feels like a challenge that you’re both nervous and excited to conquer, you’re on the right track.

11. Develop skills that matter

Become better at things that will always help you. Things like verbal and written communication.

Become a better learner. Develop your perseverance.

Use caution before you invest a lot of time learning random tactics that are useful but limited.

Stick to the basics and develop a sturdy foundation that helps you in everything you do.

12. Appreciate the value of time

Time is your most important asset.

You’re not guaranteed even another moment. Time is finite.

So make sure you're careful with whoever you choose to spend your time with and wherever you decide to invest your time.

13. Focus on relationships

Family and work and health are all about relationships.

Want a better life? Invest in the relationship around you, like your friends and family.

Want to be more productive at work? Create more professional relationships and develop the ones you already have.

Want better health? Invest in mindful eating, smart training, getting a good night's sleep, managing stress, and staying accountable to everything with an experienced coach.

Pretty simple, I know, yet most don't value their health until it disappears.

Really, what is more important than your health?

14. Get better about expectations

Much of how you feel is dictated by your expectations and not what actually happens.

You expect others to act a certain way and you’re disappointed if they don’t.

Perhaps you set an arbitrary goal and are frustrated when you don’t reach it, or when it turns out to be unfulfilling.

Spend more time getting clear about what the right expectations should be and you’ll be much happier.

15. Control what you can control

You can’t control every single circumstance or event. You can’t control others either.

But you do get to control how you respond. And that makes all the difference.

Don't spend time complaining and worrying about the things beyond your control, like the stock market average or the weather.

On the other hand, you may dramatically improve your outcomes by simply reinvesting that time and effort on the things you can control, like your attitude.

16. Overestimate and underestimate

Another way of setting realistic expectations is to OVERestimate how long things will actually take.

You might craft an ambitious list of things you want to accomplish, but fail to account for how long they’ll take.

And how much time you actually have to dedicate to them.

But, at the same time, you may UNDERestimate what you can accomplish over the next 3, 5 or 10 years.

Better to set yourself up to succeed today by overestimating how long it will take to accomplish something.

After that, string together all those successes so that you accomplish far more than you likely thought possible.

17. Win the day

I talk about this a lot.

Decide what a good day is, personally and professionally, and make it happen again and again. How?

By repeating the basic habits that create your success.

Think about a particular day where you spent time with loved ones, moved you forward at work, and took care of yourself.

Get clear about what "winning" is and just do it.

Too much time is spent dwelling on the tasks undone on a never-ending "to-do" list, all the things you could do, and a bunch of other trivial stuff.

Better to decide what habits cause a successful day and then repeat those habits tomorrow.

18. You decide

You get to decide what success means for you.

You get to determine the ideal ratio of personal time versus professional time.

What type of life do you want and what role do you want to play in it?

Are you "too busy" to exercise thanks to a two-hour commute to the big city?

You decide how much personal income you need and who you’ll surround yourself with.

Too many people act as if they’re a victim of their situation… but you don’t have to be.

You decide what you want, so start taking small steps toward that today.

Hopefully these strategies help you as you dial in your Personal OS.

Summary:

If you want to achieve personal and professional success, it's important to have a personal operating system (OS). Focus on the present and future, be humble and open-minded, clarify your values, invest in relationships, set realistic expectations, and manage what can be controlled. Define your own version of success and take steps towards achieving it through consistent and positive habits.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women lose weight, gain strength, and slow aging. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to increase longevity with the best online age-management program, or you want to visit the best age-management program in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.