Lagom
is best or is it?
January
20, 2001
Anyone
who has grown up in Sweden learned early on that "lagom
är bäst", lagom is best. Lagom, which does
not have an exact equivalent in English, translates
approximately to "just enough" or "everything
in moderation." To a Swede it means the ideal place,
where everything is as it should be.To understand the
Swedes, one must understand lagom.
The
concept of lagom colors Swedish attitudes and beliefs
and is used in all possible contexts. For Americans,
who strive for that which is biggest, most
and best, and for whom "the sky is the limit",
the Swedish desire for lagom often seems very
limiting.
If
the basic belief is, "lagom is best", it is
not difficult to understand the Swedes' lack of appreciation
of anything that appears to be excessive. So, what happens
when the Swedish lagom approach encounters the
American attitude, which often thrives on pushing the
limits?
One
example, frequently mentioned by Swedes in the U.S.,
relates to how to prepare a resume. Most career counselors
in the U.S. reccommend making accomplishments sound
as impressive as possible in order to make the job seeker
stand out from other applicants. To the Swede, for whom
anything that feels like an exaggeration is uncomfortable,
the resume is usually a factual account of experiences
and skills. As a result, the resume by the Swede, although
accurate, may appear less than impressive when compared
with a resume by an American with the same qualifications.
Both the Swede and the American will benefit by being
aware of this and by making appropriate adjustments.
The
value of lagom, if you consult a Swede, is indisputable;
it does after all keep things from getting too extreme.
It also offers a comfortable guideline for conducting
one’s life. However, from an American perspective, lagom
often seems less than ideal. How can you excel if your
aspirations must be held in check? Why should you settle
for less if you don't have to.
Lagom
may be a little word, but its impact can be great.
Whether you believe that it represents an ideal rule
for living - that lagom is indeed best, or see it as
an obstacle to reaching greatness, one thing seems clear
- for Swedes living in the U.S., the best policy may
be to be lagom lagom!
And for the American who wants to impress a Swede, cutting
back on the superlatives is not a bad idea.
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