The Human Operating System.

In Pursuit of Quality. #14.

DALL-E has its own ideas about what The Human OS could look like. Not bad!

Welcome back to the 14th edition of In Pursuit of Quality, the first of 2024.

This week marks a special anniversary for me—five years since I said goodbye to corporate America and hello to a venture of my own: The Human Operating System, or Human OS for short.  Stepping away from the security of established companies was intimidating.  But it was a massive leap towards personal authenticity and fulfillment. 

Still, the questions come in daily: Why leave the comfort of working at YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram?  Why forgo that steady income and the prestige?  And what in the world is a Human OS anyway?! 

Life is always complex and messy, but my vision for the Human OS has never been clearer.  It's the answer to why I turned my back on a scripted professional life to craft a path defined by purpose and passion. 

Human OS, Explained.

The end of corporate life swirled with turmoil, but it was from this chaos that the Human OS took shape.  It began with rediscovering rest, embracing the tranquility of mornings, and engaging in heartfelt conversations with those striving to find their place in the world.  It involved confronting grief for my father's violent and untimely death and, gradually, learning to share that journey with others. 

My career in technology taught me the value of a solid operating system.  Just as our devices rely on a core OS to function—you couldn't read this without one!—I recognized the need for my own reboot.  My operating system was outdated, so I needed a renewed Human OS rooted in a profound understanding of self, values, and the essence of a quality life well-lived. 

So the Human OS began as an introspective framework but evolved in something greater—a visual model for self-realization and foundational brand building: 

Just as an atom is the building block of life, the Human OS is the building block of any thriving person, team, or business.  And like any technology OS, it too must be built, installed, and updated. 

I visualize the model as a series of interconnected orbits, each representing a fundamental aspect of our personal and professional selves.  At the center is the Heart, symbolizing your core reason for being—what drives you at your very essence.¹  

Surrounding the heart are three orbits:

YELLOW: End Goal & Approach.  Your Approach is the path you take daily toward your aspirations, while the End Goal is the ultimate destination you're striving for—the vision that guides your journey.  This holds even if your destination is about the journey itself.

BLUE: Beliefs & Behaviors.  Your Beliefs capture what you stand for, your non-negotiable principles.  Behaviors are the tangible, observable expressions of these beliefs, how you consistently act and present yourself. 

GREEN: Communication.  It has two layers; the idea of what you want to say, which is your message's essence, and the details of that message, which shape how it's received by everyone.  

Each orbit intersects, suggesting that these elements are not standalone but work in tandem to define who we are and how we navigate our world.  And the model isn't just theoretical—it's practical, actionable.  It's helped me and dozens of clients peel back layers of jargon and corporate double-talk to reveal the authentic personal or professional brand at the core.²  

It Really Matters.

Building and installing my own Human OS has transformed my quest for success.  It shifted from a race for more to a journey towards meaning.  Less quantity, more quality.  I realized the roles I played in companies, though lucrative, often strayed far from my core beliefs and personal convictions. 

Since then, The Human OS has enabled me to curate a portfolio of work and life that truly energizes me.  It's not just about making a living; it's about making a difference through aligning my day-to-day with outcomes that resonate on a deeper level.   

And as my clients will attest, this framework has brought clarity and revitalization to their brands and lives.  It's helped to carve new directions; simplify chaos; move from fuzzy notions to foundational words; resolve internal tensions; breathe new energy; and inspire new investments in their time, money, and attention.  It's not just hyperbole.  It's the reality of embracing a system that prioritizes integrity and realness.  

The Next Upgrade.

Yet my journey doesn't end here.  It's time for another OS update—a system upgrade to include more radical collaboration.  I'm reaching out to join forces with innovators, creators, and leaders who aspire to change the world, whether on a grand scale or through subtle shifts in the everyday.  

So, I'll leave you with questions and a provocation: What does your Human OS look like?  Is it time for a system refresh?  If your spirit is nodding in agreement—if you're driven to build a life of purpose and impact—let's join forces.  Let's embark on this journey of radical collaboration together. This is what I mean by being in pursuit of quality. 

So until we meet again in the next edition, I urge you to keep refining your systems for the quality of life you deserve. And reach out anytime.

With warmth, respect & gratitude. 

1. That often sounds scary, so it’s the center of the OS but I usually save it for last.

2. And no short, easy-to-read post could possibly go into the details of how to do this; so let me know if you’d like to learn more!