Build your operating system

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” James Clear

In the modern world, we are inundated with choices and decisions at every turn. From what to eat for breakfast to which career path to follow, the sheer volume of decisions can be overwhelming. This constant decision-making consumes a significant amount of our mental energy, leaving us drained and often leading to decision fatigue. However, there is a solution to this problem that successful people have been utilizing for years: creating a personal operating system.

This idea to this has come to me gradually over time

For over 10 years, I’ve been obsessed with the problem of how to make the best decisions.

The Problem

In terms of applying to universities, and Chinese Universities, it’s a situation where the students have incomplete data about themselves, and about their options, many of them are making decisions blind. I continually see many of them are not making the optimum decisions for them.

The process of working with us to study abroad is that we have accurate information of the market and experience helping people get in, they have an accurate understanding of themselves (although how well they know themselves can vary), and the process of working with us is the process of trying to make the best decision for them. It works far better than them doing it blind, we aim to share all we can know, but it does take time.

The same process is true for our lives. We have varying levels of understanding of ourselves, we have incomplete understandings of reality, if we learn by trial and error it’s very slow and inefficient. We need to learn and follow from those who have done it successfully before.

At the same time we are animals, we have many weaknesses and we are prone to distraction. We need to overcome this and rise to our higher selves.

What is a Personal Operating System?

A personal operating system is a set of principles, habits, and routines that guide your daily actions and decisions. It’s like a script or blueprint for your life, designed to help you achieve your full potential. By following this system, you can streamline your decision-making process, reduce stress, and focus your energy on what truly matters.

I will build a system that helps me reach my potential and I will follow it.

I will opt in to a system, and I choose to do this, giving up my free will in the day to day, learning when to ignore my emotions, so I can become far more than I can ever imagine.

The Benefits of Building Your Operating System

Efficiency: With a personal operating system, you no longer need to spend time and energy on trivial decisions. This frees up your mental resources to tackle more important tasks and goals.
Consistency: A well-defined system ensures that you consistently work towards your objectives, even on days when motivation is lacking.
Clarity: Having a clear set of guidelines helps you stay focused on your long-term vision and avoid distractions.
Personal Growth: Your operating system can include routines for learning and self-improvement, ensuring continuous personal development.

Key Components of Your Operating System

Learning: Dedicate time for acquiring new knowledge and skills relevant to your goals.
Fitness: Incorporate regular exercise and healthy habits to maintain physical and mental well-being.
Finance: Manage your finances effectively to ensure financial stability and growth.
Relationships: Nurture meaningful relationships that support and enrich your life.
Career and Purpose: Define your professional aspirations and the impact you want to make.
Time Management: Develop strategies to use your time efficiently and prioritize important tasks.

Incorporating Technology and Support

To effectively implement your operating system, consider leveraging technology and support systems. For instance, you can access online platforms that offer courses, mentorship, and resources tailored to your operating system. These platforms often feature mastermind groups where you can connect with like-minded individuals, as well as chatbots and tools to help you stay on track.

The Power of Habits

The power of habits is a fascinating and influential concept that affects nearly every aspect of our lives. Habits are the small decisions and actions we perform regularly, often without conscious thought. They shape our daily routines, influence our behavior, and ultimately determine our long-term outcomes.

1. Forming the Foundation of Our Lives: Habits are the building blocks of our daily routines. They provide structure and efficiency, allowing us to perform tasks without expending significant mental energy. This frees up our cognitive resources for more complex decision-making and creative thinking.

2. Influence on Behavior and Identity: Our habits not only reflect our current behavior but also shape our future selves. Each habit we adopt is a vote for the type of person we want to become. For example, if you consistently exercise, you reinforce the identity of someone who values health and fitness. Over time, these small actions contribute to significant personal growth and transformation.

3. The Role of the Habit Loop: The power of habits lies in the habit loop, which consists of three components: the cue, the routine, and the reward. The cue triggers the behavior, the routine is the behavior itself, and the reward is the benefit received from the behavior. Understanding this loop is crucial for forming new habits or changing existing ones.

4. Habits and Success: Successful individuals often attribute their achievements to the cultivation of positive habits. Consistent routines, such as setting goals, practicing discipline, and maintaining a growth mindset, are common among high achievers. These habits create a foundation for sustained success and continuous improvement.

5. Changing Habits: While habits are powerful, they are not unchangeable. With intention and effort, one can modify existing habits or establish new ones. This process involves identifying the cues and rewards that drive the behavior and implementing strategies to alter the routine. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to experiment with different approaches.

6. The Ripple Effect: The power of habits extends beyond individual behavior. When we change our habits, it can have a ripple effect on our relationships, communities, and even society. Positive habits can inspire others, foster healthier environments, and contribute to collective well-being.

Learning from Successful Models

The concept of buying back your time, as advocated by Dan Martell in his book “Buy Back Your Time,” aligns perfectly with the idea of a personal operating system. By automating and delegating tasks, you can focus on high-impact activities that align with your system. Additionally, Bryan Johnson’s “Blueprint” emphasizes the importance of designing your life with intention, which is the essence of creating your operating system.

Quotes

John C. Maxwell: “Systems permit ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results predictably.”

Ray Kroc: “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”

W. Edwards Deming: “If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Michael Gerber: “Most entrepreneurs are merely technicians with an entrepreneurial seizure. Most entrepreneurs fail because you are working IN your business rather than ON your business.”

Atul Gawande: “Good checklists, on the other hand, are precise. They are efficient, to the point, and easy to use even in the most difficult situations. They do not try to spell out everything – a checklist cannot fly a plane. Instead, they provide reminders of only the most critical and important steps – the ones that even the highly skilled professionals using them could miss. Good checklists are, above all, practical.”

Albert Einstein: “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Benjamin Franklin: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

Leonardo da Vinci: “Learning never exhausts the mind.”

Confucius: “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”

Mahatma Gandhi: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Socrates: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”

Marie Curie: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

Winston Churchill: “Personally I’m always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.”

Bruce Lee: “Be a student of life and a lifelong student.”

Step by Step

Creating a personal operating system involves several steps. Here’s a step-by-step checklist to guide you through the process:

Self-Assessment:
- Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, values, and passions.
- Identify areas of your life you want to improve or focus on (e.g., health, career, relationships).
Goal Setting:
- Define clear, specific, and achievable goals for each area of your life.
- Break down larger goals into smaller, actionable steps.
Prioritization:
- Determine which goals and activities are most important and align with your values.
- Use prioritization techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks.
System Development:
- For each area of your life, develop routines, habits, and processes that support your goals.
- Create a daily schedule that includes time for work, rest, and personal activities.
Decision-Making Frameworks:
- Establish criteria for making decisions that align with your goals and values.
- Develop strategies for handling common challenges or decisions you face.
Tools and Resources:
- Identify tools, apps, and resources that can help you stay organized and track your progress.
- Consider using project management tools, habit trackers, and financial planning apps.
Implementation:
- Start incorporating your systems and routines into your daily life.
- Focus on consistency and gradually building habits.
Review and Adjust:
- Regularly review your progress and reflect on what’s working and what’s not.
- Make adjustments to your systems and goals as needed to stay aligned with your evolving priorities.
Seek Feedback:
- Get input from mentors, coaches, or trusted individuals to gain perspective and improve your system.
- Join a mastermind group or community for support and accountability.
Continuous Improvement:
- Stay open to learning and adapting your system as you grow and encounter new experiences.
- Celebrate your successes and learn from your failures to refine your approach.

Remember, building a personal operating system is an ongoing process that requires flexibility and a willingness to adapt to changes in your life and goals.

How to actually build it?

I think you should be able to build it by:

Buying the OS software template – you can buy it and upload it to your personal domain, devices, and connect it to your social media
Taking the comprehensive questionnaire – it fills up the operating system automatically, and it trains your AI coach
It gradually starts to take control of you
You guide and build it, creating your dream life in the process

Conclusion

Building your personal operating system is a powerful strategy for achieving success and fulfillment. By defining your principles, goals, and routines, you can navigate life with greater ease and purpose. Embrace the concept of designing your life, and watch as your personal operating system propels you towards your full potential.

It’s not the amount of work you do, but your rate of learning, that mattes.