journaling...

It's a strange feeling as I am sitting in my room in Rotterdam. It's on the 11th floor, and since I washed the windows this morning, I can actually see the view it provides. This made me think I should write down some of all my thoughts. This post is just a journal of my those, as they come to me..

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It's been one of the toughest week of my life, our lives, in many ways. Last Friday, 22nd of July 2011, is a date that no Norwegian alive will ever forget. It was the day when a very different reality was imposed on our dear little country than what we are used to. I have been quite reflective since then, especially about the politicians in my country, who I often criticize. What has struck me more than anything is that they have led the country. Emotionally, rationally, steadily. In fact, I have felt very blessed. Every political party has shown why Norway, in the bottom of things, is a wonderful country to be from, even though it's easy to complain about. It has been particularly difficult being away from Norway in these days. I felt, more than once, that I should just go back, just to be with my people, with my family. However, I chose to stay here, and rather use the wonders of modern technology to stream Norwegian television 5-6 hours a day at home to feel like being in my Oslo.

Often, when talking about Norway, people from abroad speak about oil-money and an "easy life". Of course, this has its merits. But in the end "being Norwegian" has nothing to do with wealth, nor with material goods at all. It's an approach to life. A way of being. A way of seeing the worl. Nothing to do with "having it easy".

This strip of land in the very North of the world has always been one of the toughest places on Earth to survive. Hard. Weathered. Cold. Windy. Stormy. Dark. Bad soil. It is not where the great civilizations of the past came to build their cities. It is not where people chose to settle out of comfort. Norwegians have learnt how to live on this little piece of the planet. Always in peace. Always quietly going about our business. Working hard in order to live well. Taking care of each other. With absolute transparency. Valuing modesty. Personal sacrifice. Family.

This week, Norway has been just about the greatest country on Earth. How do we face terrorism? "With more Democracy. With more Humanity"

I feel more Norwegian than ever.

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on a different note completely.........

One thing that just struck me is that I have settled here now. Two weeks after moving into what will presumably be my room for the next two years, I feel comfortable. And it's very interesting, because I compare it to my life the last 10 years - since I moved away from home, and actually, I have never lived as comfortably as I am right now.

It's strange to express why that is, because for sure my position as AI VP Finance is as demanding and challenging as I wanted it to be. And for sure every day, from the second I walk into the office early morning - often an hour or two before the others, until the time I leave, always as one of the last, I am working hard. Of course, to a certain extent I get stressed and challenged, but I have come to a point where I appreciate that. Of course, my project and to-do lists are long as life. The demands from the AIESEC network and internally in the team, and especially from myself are sky high. Yet.... I am comfortable.

I think it's related to logistics somehow. Living a 5 minute walk from the office, having a nice place to live, having enough to support oneself, having joined a gym and having a great team around you - does that kind of thing. It makes you comfortable. And not the kind of comfort where people should say "get out of your comfort zone". Rather the kind of comfort that allows you to be everything you can be. To find energy to be the best you can be.

As August, my favorite month of the year approaches, I feel ready. To be my best. To do my best.

My little country - Norway

Mitt lille land
Et lite sted, en håndfull fred
slengt ut blant vidder og fjord

Mitt lille land
Der høye fjell står plantet
mellom hus og mennesker og ord
Og der stillhet og drømmer gror
Som et ekko i karrig jord

Mitt lille land
Der havet stryker mildt og mykt
som kjærtegn fra kyst til kyst

Mitt lille land
Der stjerner glir forbi
og blir et landskap når det blir lyst
mens natten står blek og tyst

Mitt lille land
Et lite sted en håndfull fred
slengt ut blant vidder og fjord

Mitt lille land
Der høye fjell står plantet
mellom hus og mennesker og ord
Og der stillhet og drømmer gror
Som et ekko i karrig jord

----

My little country
A little place, a handful of peace
thrown out among mountain plateau and fjords

My little country
Where high mountains are planted
among houses, people and words
Where silence and dreams grow
Like an echo in barren earth

My little country
Where the sea pats mild and soft
like it's caressing from coast to coast

My little country
Where stars glide by
and becomes landscapes when it gets lighter
while the night stands there - bleak and silent

My little country
A little place, a handful of peace
thrown out among mountain plateau and fjords

My little country
Where high mountains are planted
among houses, people and words
Where silence and dreams grow
Like an echo in barren earth

Individualism and Family

Following a discussion I had today I thought I'd write a longer blog post on this concept. I have had talks with loads of people in my life around various aspects of this so - warning: If you don't want to read a longer post on this just move on now :-)

Basic Unit

One of the things that I have observed with interest when living in different countries is the difference of unit count. The concept that family or network means more in certain societies than others which are more individually based is neither news nor particularly exciting. However, I do have some particular thoughts on what this leads to in a society, which I consider rather hidden and unintentional. Put simple, in Italy, where I used to live, the basic unit of society is family. Family can be large or small, include grandparents and friends, or just be a single mother and her daughter. In Norway, where I am from, the basic unit of society is the individual. It doesn't matter if you are an old man, a divorced woman, a 12-year old kid or a 30 year old married man. Society is constructed around the individual. Disclaimer: This doesn't mean family is not important, or that people don't care about their closest friends - it's just a different unit. Just like it doesn't mean that in Italy people don't look out for themselves, or build their own lives, or have independence.

Relationship with the state:

In my understanding the relationship people have with the state, or government is directly correlated to the unit. Where the family is the basic unit, the loyalty lies with that extended unit - whether it extends even to a village or a region of "us". Where individuals are the unit, the loyalty lies with the state - in the sense that each individual needs the state specifically. Disclaimer: This doesn't mean that in Norway people are more or less patriotic, nor does it mean that Italians don't have a relationship with the state.

Rights and obligations:

One of the consequences I see is the development of the concept of rights of the individual versus the state: The individual has rights versus the collective, which are very strong. While the obligations are often less observed, and there is a development towards less obligations, they are still clear. It is an obligation to pay taxes. To take care of individuals by the state (meaning taxes). An obligation of politicians to be accountable. At the same time there are few obligations versus family as a unit. On the other hand these obligations are strong and clear in Italy. It is an obligation to take care of the family - sometimes against the state as well.

Good or bad?:

While there are many excellent aspects of the individualistic concept, there are also many negative consequences. I will not write much about the positive, as usually Norway is described as "best country to live in" etc. etc. The negatives, however, are worth pointing out. Often these are either neglected, not seen as part of the whole structure or culture, or simply dismissed as individual choice. I will name a few without going into detail - and they all come from the deterioration of family as a concept as I see it:

• rising divorce rates
• children outside marriage/couple structures (mum and dad concepts disappear or change)
• social interaction
• obligations towards other people (not structures)
• loneliness amongst elderly people not taken care of by their family (instead obligation of state)
• abortion as a solution to free sex
• hardship when falling outside society (drug addicts f. ex.)

Now, what does all this mean? It probably we need to revisit our concepts of freedom of choice. What structures are unintentionally broken down which society then cannot rebuild?

My 2010 so far...

The following projects I have started, been involved in or been in charge of since 1st of January 2010

• MCP elections
• MC Sales: Raised TNs
• TN delivery: Workpermit issues with UDI
• LC structure revision
• DT Projects startup
• Hunting for LCPs
• Selecting full MCe team
• IPM
• FK Project
• Financial Model Revision
• Budget 2010-11
• Start building MCe team
• UNITE National Conference
• Apply for Steering Team
• Building National Leadership Team with LCPs and President’s weekend
• MCP transition
• MCVP transition
• Design National Planning Framework

What 3,5 months.....

Expect the best in people

Having spent close to 9 months on the Executive Board of AIESEC Norway, certain things have dawned on me gradually, and others again slam your face on Monday morning.

This job is God damn hard. Very, very tough. Make no mistake about it. In fact, I think it is much tougher than I ever imagined, despite believing in advance that it would be very difficult. In the end, it is not the daily grind, the lack of money or any other resources, the LC's.. In the end it's the fact that trying to move a mountain is quite simply a very tough task.

The hopes and dreams with which we started our term have long been reduced to more "realistic" ambitions. We are focusing on what matters, and not on what doesn't.

One of the toughest part of the job has been the balance between changing an organizational culture through hardcore management, and trying to change it through emotional leadership. The first we have done consistently. The second, not so much. Part of that is due to negativity on our part - my part. Focusing on the problems leads only to problem land. When there are so many problems, it is easy to bury yourself in them - easy to overlook what's working. At the same time, we sometimes praise even small insignificant things with the negative consequence that sub performance becomes a norm.

How to set expectations of excellence that people live up to with joy in their heart?

The path goes on...

Selecting my team

Only a month ago I was elected MCP by AIESEC Norway. More than 4 months before starting my term I have already made my first, and perhaps the most important, of all the decisions i will make this year.

You can have alot of plans and ideas and hopes and dreams about the future, but without great people a leader is going nowhere. I already feel lucky, as I have the best people.

My new team for AIESEC Norway 2010-11 is ready:

Raluca, Hege, Andreas and Elena - what a year ahead!

Running for MCP of AIESEC Norway 2010/11

Now I can announce it, to myself and to the world. Yesterday evening, I sent the application from an Internet Cafe in Lamu, Kenya - which thankfully:

1. actually was open
2. had Internet
3. had a computer working
4. had electricity
5. had opening for my pendrive

Choices:

How we make our choices has always interested me, and the last two days I was brutally exposed to my own decisionmaking. Sometimes choices are easy, but sometimes they are the hardest thing in the world. Running for MCP has been one of those choices for me. I knew all along I wanted the experience, but at the same time I was doubting about so many things.

In the morning of Christmas day, 25th of December, I was walking around in Mombasa with my girlfriend. All of a sudden I decided - "No. I am not applying". The decision felt certain, and at that moment right. I found an Internet cafe and sent a short email to my amazing MCP, who always supports me in everything I do, as I had promised him I would tell him when I (finally) decided.

Good. Done. Finito. Bravo!

No. You know the feeling of knowing a choice was wrong after only you had made it? Only a few minutes after stepping out of the Internet Cafe my mind was doubting. And an hour later I felt like I had just made the stupidest mistake of my whole life. NOOOOOOO! Of course I want to apply. It's the most amazing opportunity I will probably EVER have, and it's working for a cause I believe in with my whole heart - AIESEC Norway! What could be better?

But I had "made my decision". That night, I felt like crap. I ended up staying up, changing my whole application, living it, feeling it, imagining it - seeing the year as MCP of AIESEC Norway in my head. And I was loving it. Every minute of it.

So yesterday, on the bus to Lamu (if you ever get the "chance" to take the bus from Mombasa to Lamu, think carefully about how much you enjoy a "bumby ride" before you book - but Lamu is amazing!) I was thinking the whole day. For 8 hours during that transport it became clear to me.

I sent the application last night, and it all feels so right. I am calm (and hellish nervous!) and proud of myself. And I laugh at decisionmaking in generally and this process for me. Months of agonizing, pro's and con's, advice and non-advice (Mum!!!) and simply no decision.

Only when i had decided against did I know I should decide for. And where will the path take me? Well, first of all to Achieve in a couple of weeks time!

Now: Do you want an Exchange Revolution in AIESEC Norway?

Structure, people and focus

I am sorry. Let me rephrase that: Focus, People and Structure.

Focus: Exchange. More Exchange and better Exchange. Passion and fun of Exchange.

[yes, by doing this we develop loads of other exciting things, and by creating structured leadership experiences around the exchange we foster that as well. But there is no management without operations.]

People: If you want to be in AIESEC - do AIESEC.

[That means working your ass off every single day to make Exchange happen. Every single action should be related to this. If you think AIESEC is too much work, if you think that doing this is not too much fun or two rewarding, if you think that exams and other stuff is more important - or simply AIESEC is not for you - hey - that's fair enough. But please, leave this organization. Now. There are no excuses for why you, who are in AIESEC, cannot prioritize AIESEC. That is a choice that all those outside AIESEC make. How much work is alot of work? Every morning when you come to school, you should come to the AIESEC office and work. And during the day, between your studies you should work. And after your day, you should work. How much? If you cannot dedicate 2-3 hours per day for AIESEC (that means 15-20 hours a week) then, hey, I guess it's not for you.]

Structure: Design it around the operational actions of Exchange - not the strategic areas of "an organization"

[Talent Management, Communications, Finance are support teams to let the organization do Exchange. If necessary, reduce these teams to only a VP and let the teams that are recruiting. Get rid of ICX teams and turn them into DT Incoming raising teams (Incoming Exchange Non-Corporate: ICX NC). Make CR teams match and service their own TNs]

Now is the time. Not soon, not tomorrow, not "after we have seen abit". And definitely not "next quarter". All organizations and companies dream of next quarter as some sort of holy land of salvation, profitability and calm. Forget about it. Now is the only time that matters.

If not?

Last one out of the office, please turn off the lights.

Norwegian Elections

It's the end of August and in a couple of weeks time Norway will vote in the parliamentary elections again. For those who are not Norwegian and are wondering about Norwegian System let me sum up some main points, which might be useful. For those who know - or simply don't care - scroll down!

• Norway is a constitutional monarchy: This means that while the King is the formal head of state he has mainly a formal and official role, and his leadership is non-political. The "real" government is elected
• Norway is a parliamentary democracy: This means that the government is built based on the parliament. This means that the Executive Branch and the parliamentary branch do NOT have seperate bases of legitimacy as there is only one parliamentary election.
• Norway's governments do not need a majority backing from parliament to be formed. However, they can be thrown out by a majority. In a fractured parliament, where there are not 2 clear options (ie. left-right/ socialist-conservative or whatever) governments can be formed of a minority and seek majority to pass legislation (and budget) from case to case. In fact, the majority of Norways governments the last 30 years have been minority governments (Last 4 years has had a majority)
• No single party in Norway is close to a simple majority (50%+1). This means that governments are per definition coalitions or at best weak minority governments with one party.
• The parliament in Norway cannot be dissolved. This means that "who you vote is who you get" for 4 years. For good or bad.
• Norway has only one chamber of government, that is - no upper house. Even though this chamber in theory divides into 2 for lawmatters, this is more a formal division than anything else.

Now to the blogpost

The last 4 years Norways government has been a majority government consisting of the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party, and the farmer and non-urban supported Centre Party.

Now, let's "reveal" the poltical colours of the blogger first. I am not a huge fan of either of these parties, and people who wish to classify me usually put me somewhere in a conservative or liberal box - although my opinions sometimes confuse in that they don't fit boxes very well. That be said, I am not a huge fan of any other Norwegian parties either, and although heavily interested in poltics and how to govern a country for the better, I am not very impressed with the Norwegian Poltical landscape. More on that later.

First is first and second is later. Let's start at the beginning.

I am a huge believer in individuals ability to conquer and manage their own lives, if given the opportunity, incentive and support to do so. I do not believe external factors limit very much at all, at least within a country like Norway (that, of course, might be characterized as hypocritical coming from someone born in Oslo West, having gone to private school and had all the opportunities open to him all his life)

I am not a huge believer that government can make the huge difference between an "ok life" and a "great life". For sure, government can do alot to make life "ok", however. After that the ability to impact individuals diminishes rapidly. I do not believe in majority rule. By this I mean that I do not think that what a majority thinks is the best for them or for everyone else, necessarily is. This does not, of course, mean that I believe a minority knows better. Nobody does.

I believe, however, very strongly in democracy and in elections. But not because of the saviours that are voted in, the rascals that are thrown out, or the impact the majority voted government has on the majority of poeple. I take a book out of Toquerville and John Stuart Mill. The main purpose of democracy itself, the way I see it, is the process of democracy. Democratic elections, and more importantly, the democratic debate, is one of the most important educational tools we have in the western worlds.

We can learn several things from this debate, such as:

1. People, people's views and people's opinions are different and that's something we should cherish and embrace.

2. Understanding issues is complicated. Solutions are not easy. There are no "winning arguments". The world is complicated.

3. We learn to see the limits in the external environment and the possibilites in ourselves when we formulate complex opinions about society, causality and realize we think we can do something to change that.

For these things to happen the debate, however, needs to be on a completely different level than what is happening in Norway. In Norway the debate is about money. It's about the distribution of money, the best way to allocate money, the best way of making money, and the morality of money - whether some things can be valued or not.

Money, important as it might be, is NOT what life, and especially political life, should be about. In my view it should be about a vision for the future of our society, for the citizens, for the individual. It should be about how we create a community out of individuals, that serves the individual, but also the need for community these individuals have. This is not easy, of course.

But money?

2 billion more for roads.

4 billion more in tax relief.

2 billion less in property tax

10 billion in investing in alternative energy

etc. etc.

The day I see a Norwegian politician show stops talking about money as the primary tool but starts talking about people and society I might start getting interested. Not because I do not believe in the importance of money in our societies, but because I believe our politicians have lost all sight of their role.

I want:

- A vision for Norway that I can buy into and that I believe in

- The protection of the (positive) freedom for all individuals

- Less focus on structures in society and more focus on actors in society

Back from ScaLDS

After an intensive week of delivering ScaLDS we are back in Oslo. It feels like the experience has accelerated. The team dynamics are developing quicker, the workload is becoming ever more focused and intensive and our Local Committees have taken a huge leap forwards.

The AIESEC Norway vision for the year is underway and running. Let's make it happen:

Since we came back my activities have been bulked:

Monday: Sleeping (in fact, when I woke up tuesday morning I had spent 18 out of last 24 hours sleeping)

Tuesday: Tuesday morning monday meeting (monday was off) and getting up to date with running

Today: Coaching by Coaches Training Institute which was truly mindblowing. Rest of day: Sales

Tomorrow we were going to have our first meeting with our Board of Directors, to present our plan, strategies and current situation. Unfortunately this was postponed, meaning it probably will not take place until september. Until then we better have produced more tangible results - in my case: TN raisings!

First day in office

Today our term started officially as the National Executive Board (MC) of AIESEC Norway. For the next 12 months we are responsible for everything that happens or does not happen in AIESEC Norway. It kind of dawns on you, all of a sudden, that the opportunity and challenge of a lifetime is also a responsibility of a lifetime.

Today we went through some important teambuilding processes. Less of the fluffy, bonding, huggy, touchy stuff - more of the "dry" but extremely important fabric of any relationship. Let me explain with an analogy.

If you have ever been in a relationship with a person you truly love you know that between you and your beloved there is a special understanding of eachother in deep and meaningful ways. You would trust the person with your heart and soul - and often, in fragile moments, you do. It's quite simply special. But that doesn't make cleaning the toilet bowl special, even if it's your beloved who you are sharing it with. It doesn't make dirty laundry a lovefilled afair of roses and "personal connection".

How is doing the laundry this week? Which side of the bed is MY side? Why do you leave plates in the livingroom? You never cook! Stop watching tv - let's talk!

Some (or none) of this may or may not sound familiar. Now let's switch universes again. Back to the office, back to the team. You know you share depplying and beautiful passion with your teammembers. You know they are amazing people and you will do anything to support them - any time.

But who sits where in the office? When are lunches? How do we agree to disagree (decision making)? How do manage information? Which phone extension is yours? How much powers does the boss have? How are holidays allocated? Flexible working hours versus fixed working hours? When are meetings? When are breaks during meetings? What is allowed to do during breaks during meetings?

You get the picture. Yeah, it's not inspirational. Yeah, it seems like a bloody bore. It's not. It's some of the most important decisions you ever make in any relationship. It's the support that makes dreaming big, collaborating and working together seemlessly towards big goals possible!

Switch again: I looooooooooooooooooooooooove you, sweet dariling baby baby..................... - BUT CAN'T YOU TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF BEFORE YOU ENTER THE LIVING ROOM?

Switch back: Exchange, growth, leadership. Results, accountability and vision......... BUT CAN YOU STOP SINGING OUT LOUD WHILE I AM WORKING?

:-)

It's quite funny, no? Agree or disagree - that's not the point. Set the rules. Agree on a set of behaviours and processes. And the tough decisions become easy. Don't - and the easiest decisions become principal arguments with no end in sight.

Anyway: Our first day was more of this. Sometimes we were laughing. Sometimes people were pulling funny faces. And sometimes we were discussing hypothetical things that might or might not suspend a part of an unused rules in cases where hell freezes over.

But we got there. And it feels good. Random point. Hardest "discussion" of the day was where to sit in the office. I don't really mind these things so much in general - except that I am 1.93 meters tall and due to this have LOOOONG legs. As anyone with long legs will tell you, airplanes, cinemas, busses, trains......and offices without enough legroom is HELL! It would basically be like a regular height person sitting on a childrens chair and table (you know those from kindergarden?). Yeah - it might be physically possible. Yes - it makes alot of sense to distribute "fairly". But when you have your legs (and let's face it - I'm not about to cut them off!!) this is an absolute point of non-flexibility. My legs are not flexible! So suddenly I was faced with a compromise where I was sitting in a place in the office with no leg-room for between 4-6 months. Yeah, it was fair. But.... God! I was SCARED! I was already imagining every minute of it.... Throw me onto the deep - challenge me any way you want - but lack of legroom?

Now you have crossed the line mister! :-)

I escaped - thank God. Hopefully I wasn't seeming like a child and an idiot as I was coming up with suggestions...

People like me know ALL THE legroom tricks in the book

On a more simple motion. First day of the office was then marked by our Internet connection mistakenly having been shut down... not great. So for about an hour we were working on things with no connection - probably a good thing - right? :-)

Tomorrow we will go into planning. Vision building. WOW