Run a business that doesn't run you.
Twenty years inside trade and field service operations, including fourteen years at Simpro. Trade Like a Viking is the philosophy, the tools, and the hands-on work that helps trade business owners build something that outlasts them — without needing them in every room, every day.
You've built a real business.
Your systems haven't caught up.
If even one of those landed, keep reading — what follows is built specifically for where you are right now.
Why "Trade Like a Viking"?
Say "Viking" and most people picture chaos — raiding, no plan beyond the next fight. That's not who they were. They were navigators who never sailed without a heading, shipbuilders who refused shortcuts, traders whose word outlasted the deal. They built things that lasted, by design.
Twenty years inside trade businesses, I kept meeting the same pattern: brilliant at the work, drowning in everything around it — not from lack of skill, but because nobody gave them a system built for how their world actually works. The Viking Code is that system: eleven ways of operating that once built legacies, mapped onto what separates the trade businesses that thrive from the ones that don't.
It's built specifically for construction and trade businesses — that's where it was tested, and where it lives. But the eleven principles aren't only for trades. They work for any business, and honestly, for anyone trying to build something that outlasts them.
Enablement, not dependency
"I don't create dependency. I build capability. My goal is to make you so good at your own business operations that you genuinely don't need me anymore."
That belief runs through everything here. Every tool, every session, every part of this work is built around one thing: making you and your team genuinely capable, so the business runs well whether I'm in the room or not.
That's why the Viking Toolkit is free. That's why the Longship Program hands your team a Crew Manifest and a Delegation Ladder built for your business, not mine. Real capability, given away freely, is worth more than a client who needs me forever. Systems serve people — not the other way around.
The Viking Code
Eleven principles, drawn from real Viking history, for building a trade business that runs without owning you. Not raiding — operations. Vikings planned their voyages, built ships strong enough to survive storms, and trusted their crews to sail without a captain shouting every order.
"A business that depends on one person is fragile. A business built on a crew you trust is a legacy."Take the Viking Rank diagnostic — free →
Meet Ragnar — Your Free Viking Code Coach
Ragnar is a free AI coaching companion built directly on the XI Viking Code. He doesn't give you a five-point plan or a generic pep talk — he asks the questions you haven't thought to ask yourself yet. Direct. Private. Available at 6am when you need it most. No login, no data stored, no record kept.
"He won't give you the answer — he'll ask the question you weren't brave enough to ask yourself."
Ask Ragnar — Free →Pick Your Seaworthy Experience
A hands-on process that maps your business's workflow and customer journey — together. Front office, back office, the systems behind it — mapped clearly, so you can finally see where it's breaking down. Every tier below produces your own Viking Chart; they differ in depth and format.
| Tier | What it is | Format |
|---|---|---|
| The Book | Trade Like a Viking — the philosophy and eleven principles | Read |
| The Workbook | All eleven tools as fillable activities | Self-guided |
| The Online Course | Structured, sequenced learning from the book | Self-paced |
| The Webinar | A taste of the Viking Code, group setting | 60 min |
| The Shipyard Kit | DIY — run your own mapping session, no facilitator | Self-guided kit |
| The Leak Test | You know the problem — go deep, solo or team | 90 min, online |
| The Leak Wall | Your team surfaces and votes on what's broken | 90 min, online, team |
| The Full Build | Flagship — build the ship, storm-test it, patch it | 3 hrs, online/in-person |
| Full Build + Scoping | The Full Build, plus a pre-implementation scoping package | 3 hrs + deliverables |
| The Full Voyage | Full Build + hands-on implementation support | Multi-session |
The Viking Toolkit
Eleven tools, one for each principle — free, interactive, built to use right now.
The Longship Program
Every principle. The whole business. An online course covering all eleven Viking Code principles, built from the ground up — with optional coaching alongside it for businesses who want a hand on the tiller. For the business ready to stop patching and start rebuilding properly.
Packages and pricing coming soon.
Ask about the Longship Program →The Thing — Leadership Circle
Running a trade business is one of the loneliest jobs there is. The Thing is where that changes — real peer rooms, monthly, online, built on a real historical Viking institution where leaders were held accountable to their peers.
Two circles: The Operator's Thing (ops managers, team leads) and The Leader's Thing (owners). Awarded, not bought — earned through a strong Viking Rank score or proven engagement with any service. Free for founding members.
Register your interest →Future Trade Leaders
The trades don't just need better systems today — they need young people who can see a real future in them. Future Trade Leaders is about the pipeline coming in: helping the next generation find their way into an industry worth joining, and helping businesses ready to receive them well.
Get in touch →The Trade Operations Trilogy
Three books, one complete operating system for a trade business — Why, How, and Who.
Trade Like a Viking
The eleven principles for building a business that lasts (Why)
Stop. Think. System.
The operational framework for systems that stick (How)
Different Boots, Same Ground
A field guide to the five generations on your job site (Who)
Buy links will be added here once each book is published.
Services Built for Trade Operations
Every engagement is specific to your business, your team and your growth stage. Platform expertise across Simpro, Fergus, AroFlo and ServiceM8 — whichever system your business runs on, the work is the same: making sure it serves the people using it.
A facilitated diagnostic of your business as it actually runs, with a written report and a clear recommended path. The starting point for every engagement.
Independent scoping before you commit to any platform — what you actually need, what to test in a demo, and the questions vendors hope you won't ask.
The groundwork before build day — data cleanup, stakeholder alignment, a realistic go-live plan. The single biggest predictor of a successful implementation.
End-to-end implementation, configured correctly, data migrated properly, your team genuinely ready to use it.
Building the change narrative, activating your Change Champion, training your team by role, structured hypercare through go-live.
Documenting how your business actually runs, and how it should. Role-specific, plain language, built to onboard new staff from day one.
Connecting your operational data to the numbers that matter — margin, utilisation, job performance, cash position, in real time. Delivered in partnership with BI Sense →
Structured 30, 60 and 90-day reviews against the original business case — catching drift early, keeping the change alive beyond go-live day.
Full implementation support across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US and Ireland — different time zones, same quality standard, always.
Discuss your platform →Who This Is For
Trade and construction businesses ready to grow with intention — Electrical, Plumbing & Gas, HVAC & Refrigeration, Building & Construction, Fire Protection, Solar & Renewables, Security & Access, Facilities Management, Property Maintenance, and other field services.
This is not for everyone. I work with business owners who are genuinely ready to invest in change — not just in a system. If you're looking for someone to configure a platform and disappear, there are cheaper options. If you want an operational transformation that lasts, let's talk.
The Person Who Built the Playbook
I didn't learn trade operations from the outside. Before implementation consulting, I worked in operations inside three trade businesses — understanding firsthand what it means to run a team, manage workflows, and keep a trade business moving when everything is pulling in different directions.
From there I moved into implementation consulting, then Global Implementation Manager, then Chief Learning & Development Manager, and ultimately Director of Customer Success — travelling across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, implementing systems, training trainers, and assessing businesses at every stage of growth.
I saw every way an implementation could succeed, and every way it could fail. The ones that failed almost always had the same root cause: the technical work was done without enough attention to the people doing it, and the people work was done without enough rigour around the technical foundation. The Viking Code is what I built from that insight.
What clients say
"Erika has been integral to us taking our Simpro set up to the next level! She is a true partner and mentor — very knowledgeable across a number of software platforms, general business operations and is a great communicator."
"During our transition to new software, I faced resistance from employees struggling with change. Thanks to Erika, everything fell into place. She was knowledgeable, organised, and incredibly patient."
"We were fortunate to have Erika assist us with our business application integration. Her consultation was invaluable. You'll always be our go-to for future assistance!"
Let's talk
Whether you're not sure where to start, know exactly what's broken, or you're ready for the whole voyage — there's a starting point that fits.
Book a call with Erika →