Supervisory Group

The last couple of days we have had our quarterly Supervisory Group meeting. The SG is an advisory group in nature, which plays a role of keeping AIESEC International accountable. it lacks the formality of a board itself, mainly as AIESEC is to remain a purely student-run organization. However, it does play many of the same roles a board would, including oversight and report back to our 'shareholders' the Member Committees.

In life, asking for advice, feedback and consultancy is a tricky thing. If you don't ask the right questions, or frame the right context, you might not actually get what you are looking for. If you frame it too strongly, you might take away the space of someone pointing out your blind spots- the questions you didnt't think of, but you should have.

For the last couple of years we have tinkered with the model of our SG meetings to truly get the best out of them. The combination of reporting, presentation, questions, case studies- how to get it exactly right?

In this process we are approaching sone sort of balance, I believe. Again we left the SG with some key insights and perspectives, as they challenge us and pull from their vast experience.

For my own sake its the fourth year that I am reporting to a board of some sort, our Board of Directors when I was in AIESEC Norway, and our SG on AI. I think I have gotten used to the fact that there is someone keeping me fundamentally accountable, while at the same time having significant, almost absolute, daily decision making power over what to do, what to focus on. I like that combination, very much. But thinking about it, that combination is pretty rare in life.

As an entrepreneur, which I aspire to become, freedom is the name of the game, but corporate governance is usually lacking, at least in an early phase. If I go into a company as an employee, I will be expected to report upwards, of course, but with more restrictions and scope of action.

All this just reminds me how lucky I am to be living the experience I am. Thank you AIESEC.

Quarter 1 review

I came to Rotterdam , to be Vice President of Finance of AIESEC International on the 1st of May 2011. That is now 17.5 months ago - and age and a half in AIESEC lingo - where most positions only last 12 months.

Since then I have found it difficult to talk and write about my experiences and my learning. In fact I have found it difficult to write about my path to leadership. I realized this morning why that is.

During this time I haven't always been on that path. Perhaps I strayed other places on the way, into the woods and territory which I didn't want to talk about. At least that is how I have felt. Leadership, to me, is a set of values and a set direction and the commitment, courage and ability to follow that path. Hence, it is always a path.

For many reasons, the period in Rotterdam has not always been that to me.

It's interesting, because I think that if I evaluate my own professional performance it has been good. I have been in the executive leadership body of the world's largest student run organization, with a stated impact of providing a platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. But what happens when I am no longer exploring and developing mine? Or more accurately - when I do not feel that I am doing that?

Well, then it becomes difficult to talk about it - to write about - to share about it. Instead I have focused on execution. Execution of my job, my role, my tasks. Doing stuff - to ensure that the organization is healthy and running well. I am proud of that. I stand by that.

But that is not enough.

I cannot explain exactly what happened to me, in this sense, but it affected a number of arenas, as things always do. My long term relationship ended, my family became more distant again, and my ability to be the best leader I can be diminished. I have spent a lot of time and efforts understanding myself in this period. How can I suddenly become something I do not want to be? What triggers this? What can I do about it.

Why am I writing again now - so openly and clearly?

I am clear in my mind, my heart, my head. I am back on the path. In my second year on AIESEC International, I have again rediscovered the true me. That doesn't mean not making mistakes - but it means having the right direction and values.

Yesterday we reviewed the first quarter of AIESEC International, from July through September. I feel, and I think the team feels, extremely proud of the first quarter. I believe our direction is the right one for this organization. I believe our strategies are the right ones. And I believe we have succeeded so far. Of course there are things we need to adjust and improve. There are some aspects that are working better than others.

But it's empowering - to be part of such a team, so many leaders who carry this organization on their shoulders. It gives me energy - it gives me pride.

Today, a Saturday, I woke up at 08.15, with a clear mind and enthusiasm. This despite working long hours for many months, not least this last week. I have energy and I am happy. For anyone who knows me in the morning, this must come as a shock - so I guess you can imagine.

I am back on my path to leadership. And I hope to be able to write about.

Thank you for your patience.

Leading by Example

I don't post here so often anymore, as somehow much of my development seems to be stuck somewhere inside of me. Not sure if this year I can really point to the path of development I am on. I am sure, however, that I am learning a lot. There is something extremely tangibly about combining strategic potential with day-to-day living.

On AIESEC International, in theory, you can do anything. The question I always ask when confronted about one thing or another is: "If you were in my place, what would you do?"

I think this is one of the most powerful and empowering questions in the world. At the same time it is a really hard question to ask people, as it disarms them completely. But I truly wonder, tonight, as I am talking to my roommate D. what that VP F in the parallel universe across the galaxy is doing tonight. To myself, the disarming question has become, "What would he do?:"

My self image is that he is currently doing better than me. That his leadership is stronger, that he is performing better. I guess that comes from high ambitions - or perhaps just poor self assessment. Right now I am pushing a lot - pushing myself to "perform". But what does performance right now look like?

I have already laid down some main building blocks and goals in my life for the next 2-3 years, which is very interesting. Never before have I been so certain and decided on my immediate future is . Yet, doubts always creep in. Are the choices right? Am I seeing the full picture? Am I judging too much? Assessing the right things?

This path to leadership is long. Longer than I initially thought, I guess. I always described leadership as a journey, and I guess that is what it is. It means you need to have both a map and a compass. If you don't know where you are going, it's certain you won't get there.

I choose to look to Robert Frost again:


Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Kyoto

Took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto today. Exploring Japan and discovering a new world here. Wonderful

Blogging from my ipad

I am now blogging from my ipad. Lets see if this will make any sense

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..

--

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.

-------

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