Here in Stockholm, “success” is an interesting concept. Unlike America, not every office meeting is a chance to speak the loudest in the room, not every conversation is a reason to one-up your coworker, and not every job is a competition. Success is not about reaching a steadfast point at the top of a social hierarchy. Instead, the Swedes see success as a much more rounded idea.
One of the most meaningful concepts I have learned while abroad is the idea of “Lagom”. Now, there is no real direct translation of this word into the English Language. However, it is essentially the idea that one should have “just enough” in life. Eliminating greed and competition, Lagom is a concept that should spark confidence, peace of mind, and guide one throughout their life. In Sweden, Lagom is making enough money at work to have the essentials to live, but not too much that we demote to the human nature of greed, corruption, and power.
When Lagom refers to having enough to live, this does not mean things like food, water, and clean air. This means you have enough to actually live your life. You can take a month’s vacation with your family in July and step away from your office. You have enough resources to spend a little extra money on a hobby, or that coffee you wanted to try, or go to the cinema and watch the latest movie. But, it is not the competition to be “first,” overachieving and chasing dollar bills until we can spend money recklessly with negligence.
Success to Swedes encompasses this term Lagom. It is not about having the most expensive car or watch, but about working hard in order to choose where you would like to spend your money. Materialistic goods do not define your achievements, the ability to live your life the way you would like to does.
The Swedish workplace does however have milestones of success such as completing tasks in a thorough manner, or doing your work so well that your company prospers directly. Yet, a successful employee takes breaks and interacts socially with the other employees. Being a well rounded and understanding employee is just as valued as someone who finishes all their work on time.
In America, I find it is more common to place value on materialistic achievements and proof of good work such as the quantity of documents or files you submit. But here, value is much more within the employee themselves, with quality of character factoring into workplace success equally to the amount of work produced.
Each one of my coworkers has a strong work ethic balanced with a curiosity for other cultures. At our lunch table discussions, we often become enthralled in each other’s separate lives, beliefs, and practices away from Sweden. There are French, Boznian, Swedish, American, and English employees, all who were raised with different religions and cultural understandings. Yet, all of them work in Stockholm, so we all share a broad global view and understanding of work-life balance. It is very interesting to hear what other governments and family lives are like, as we are each so unique from one another.
My time in Sweden has definitely allowed me to see a very different perspective of life. I have always believed in life outside a cubicle, but the Swedes actually live with this idea as a central part of success. They are much more reserved and individualistic of a society than America, which has its pros and cons. Either way, America’s success is very tangible and observable on the outside, but the Swedes succeed internally as much as externally.
Their openness and acceptance to others, their quality of life, and their motivation and loyalty speaks much louder than what America screams. I have learned quite a bit about how other culture’s values and beliefs shape their surroundings and affect every last aspect of life.
Personally, I believe America has a lot to learn from Sweden, and vice versa, but Lagom remains one of the strongest keys to a prosperous life.
I am in no way a Swedish expert, but working in another country gives such an interesting immersive experience. You are honestly thrown into a vastly different way of life, including a professional workplace which gives such a variety of experiences that are truly irreplaceable.
Sweden is full of hard working, dedicated, and truly remarkable people who understand there is more to life than a computer screen and keyboard.
Until next time!