The Viking law!

19Jul08

Today seem to be a good day to start this blog. The sun is shining, it is summer. But these are not the important things right now.

I have been thinking about this blog for quite some time, and early on decided it should bring management, entrepreneurship and politics together. To the world, but as seen from Norway. I currently know no other bloggers in Norway that blog with a world perspective, but I am sure I will find out pretty soon. Feel free to comment below.

So what’s about the name? Well, the Tiger refers to the tiger sculpture in front of Oslo Central Station. Lately it has been looking at some pretty nasty drug dealing, construction work nearby and Nigerian ho’s attacking humble Norwegian (but still a bit drunk) young men on their way home by night. And the last two weeks 18 tourist couches caught fire between the tiger and our new national monument, the opera. What a beautiful country.

Now, back to the reason why this is a good day to start a blog. The real reason is today’s post in the national newspaper “Dagens Næringsliv” (Norwegian Business times) about the Nordic phenomena the ”Jante law“, a poem written in 1933 by the author Aksel Sandemose that has had quite a lot to say for building the social democracy that we have. Its English counterpart, the tall poppy syndrome should be familiar.

Apparently this ”law” has 75 years anniversary this year, but it has been replaced – actually this was done rather dramatically in a Norwegian TV show in the late 80s where they literally threw this poem in the ocean outside a management course training centre, Solstrand, and told everybody that the we should rather have faith in the Viking law. It goes like this:

1. See opportunities
2. Create winners
3. Be brave!
4. Give praise
5. Think positive
6. Take responsibility
7. Look forward
8. Pursue education and research
9. Oppose jealousy and laziness
10. Start today!

So here I am.

I just started the first day in my new life.

And look forward to bringing out my perspectives to the world.

So long,

The tiger of Norway

Filed under: On dreaming   |  1 Comment
Tags: entrepreneurship management change, jante viking law norway