In 922 AD, Viking Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson became the first man from Iceland to raid and pillage the English shoreline. Over the next 20 years, he would lead five more raids on England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. For his efforts in these invasions, Jóhannes was immortalized as Olaf Haraldsson, a major character in the popular History Channel series Vikings. Here are some of his best pieces of advice on how to become a Viking. How to Become a Viking – Advice from Olaf Haraldsson
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I have the power
I can change myself and my situation. I have control over everything that happens in my life. If something is not working out for me, it’s my fault; if I fail, it’s because of me, not because of some outside force that controls me. And most importantly: I am great and powerful because I know how to be happy!
Face your fears
If you want to be fearless, go look in a mirror. If there’s one thing Vikings have taught us, it’s that fear is very real. Fear of death and fear of failure are just two things that come with every decision we make (and don’t make). The biggest mistake you can make is to let your fears control you; instead of fighting against them, learn how to embrace them.
Life begins at 40
40 is often seen as an age of wisdom, with many turning 40 facing questions of whether they’ve accomplished all they want to in life. The idea that at 40 you need to be done with one period and ready for another may seem daunting, but there are things you can do at any point in your life to help you embrace change, including turning 40. No matter what stage of life you’re currently in, there are steps anyone can take to ensure they have productive and satisfying lives.
Learn to read people and know yourself
You must learn how to read people in order to know what they are thinking and how they feel. This can be used as an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how you use it. You must be able to communicate with your fellow men. People skills are an essential tool if you want to lead them, or if you wish others would follow.
Live by three words Don’t wimp out
No one is forcing you to be a Viking. You chose it because you are hardy and strong-willed enough to face both physical and mental challenges with fortitude, even if that means maiming or killing people. Speak your mind: If someone’s being boring at dinner, tell them they’re boring. Don’t care what others think of you; after all, when you die (and Odin knows it might happen soon), other people will hardly matter!
Understand your past
To honor your ancestry, research them. Many vikings had nicknames, meaning that tracking down an ancestor can be tough. To make it easier for you, here are some of our ancestors: Jóhannes Haukur (John White), Jóhannesson (John Johnson), and Jóhannesson (John Johnson). Learn more about yourself with MyHeritage.
Find joy in helping others
We all want to help our friends and family, but sometimes we can forget that those who aren’t in our inner circle need assistance, too. It’s important to seek ways to volunteer or share your talents and skills in order to give back—not only will you feel good about yourself, but your community will benefit as well. The opportunity for personal growth doesn’t stop there, though; by helping others, you also open up new doors for yourself.
Embrace change like life embraces winter
Change is inevitable, if winter never came you’d never see snow or enjoy that first snowfall. I’ve seen many who don’t want change, saying I like things how they are. Then I ask: Do you like how it feels when we get older? Do you like doing everything you did yesterday over and over again for eternity?
Listen, listen, listen… then act!
To be successful in business, you have to know your area inside and out. If you haven’t already, go through your day asking yourself what you could do better or differently. Asking why? is important, too—but don’t forget to answer it. What works in your business might not work for someone else: that doesn’t mean it was wrong!
Be well prepared
You don’t want to be caught unprepared on your journey through life. You’ll need reliable maps, supplies, weapons and armor; you’ll need backup in case things go awry.
