1Overcoming the Law of Jante: Trust Thyself
Du skal ikke tro at du er noe.
Du skal ikke tro at du er noe.
Du skal ikke tro at du er noe.
MENTION TO ANY Norwegian the phrase, “You should not think that you are something,” and they'll instantly recognize it as a reference to the Law of Jante code of conduct.
Overcoming the Law of Jante was at the forefront of my mind when I first contacted Marcel to chat over coffee recently. It was one of the first things I mentioned to him, seeking insights to decipher the Viking Code that I had been pondering.
“Working on a book project,” I texted via WhatsApp, “I need just five minutes of your time. Are you available? When would be a good time for you?”
Marcel's response came within minutes: “How about tomorrow night, around 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.?”
Our conversation kicked off with light chit-chat. As it turns out, Marcel had been working with a former roommate and teammate from my handball days in Germany. Having established our “connection,” I got straight to the point.
“I'm writing a book on the Norwegian high-performance culture. It's intriguing how so many Norwegian athletes have been rising to the top across so many disciplines. The working title is The Viking Code, and I'd really value your insights on it.”
I could feel Marcel's excitement through the phone. “That sounds amazing. I'd love to contribute. This is something I've pondered over the years myself.”
I went on, “Beyond their athletic success, I've observed a distinct self-confidence ...
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