Book excerpt: How can you - a single individual - make a significant impact on your organization? - How could the Vikings "discover" and set foot on the New Continent 500 years before Columbus? - How could a supposedly primitive people establish the first real democracy on the fringe of the Arctic Circle in 905 A.D.? - How could a relatively small social organization articulate values 1,000 years ago that permeate and guide our society even today? The answer is The Viking Ethic. The Viking Ethic, with its tripartite elements of Excellence, Team Work and Adventure, is centuries old. But its application is important, essential and relevant to organizations today. After more than three decades of real world, organizational experience, the author has identified, and simply stated, lessons from the ancestors that are critical in today's world in their application to organizations. And the key ingredient is the individual in the organization. This book provides hope and inspiration to those individuals - to you - and provides a simple formula that you can apply to the growth and success of your organization, and the individuals within it. From fascinating factual historic examples, to translation into simple yet powerful individual actions today, this book is a must read for every member of contemporary organizations - from CEO to entry level employee.