In this episode, Erik Solbakken, a CPA-turned-Viking philosopher and business coach, unpacks the hidden software running your life. We dive deep into why high performers unknowingly operate from outdated mental programming—and how to start reprogramming your mindset through awareness, identity excavation, and emotional truth.
You’ll learn:
Why conditioning—not circumstance—is the biggest growth blocker.
The power of reframing hard experiences as fuel, not failure.
The overlooked role of emotional expression in sustained performance.
Why the most effective growth often starts without a “method.”
This is a mental reset for founders, coaches, and high performers ready to evolve.
Guest Bio
Erik Solbakken, CPA, CA, BA, is an accomplished entrepreneur, executive business coach, and strategic advisor based in North Saanich, British Columbia. With over three decades in public practice and business leadership, Erik is renowned for his transformative impact on the accounting profession and his commitment to helping individuals and organizations unlock their fullest potential.
Erik’s career began in accounting, where he quickly distinguished himself as the youngest partner in his firm’s history. Over 26 years, he provided accounting, tax, and advisory services to more than 1,000 business owners, building a reputation for excellence and innovation. After selling his first accounting firm in 2015, Erik founded the Accountant Success Formula™, a pioneering executive coaching program that empowers CPAs to modernize their business models and deliver greater value to clients.
Currently, Erik is a partner in Strategic Advisory at MBA CPA and an associate coach with Strategic Coach, where he mentors entrepreneurs and professionals nationwide. His mission is to help business owners and CPAs realize their unique abilities and achieve lasting success through purposeful transformation.
Erik is also the creator of Viking Academy, a groundbreaking platform dedicated to personal and professional growth through the exploration of the three dimensions of being human: body, mind, and spirit. Inspired by the spirit of the ancient Vikings, the Viking Academy offers immersive experiences, knowledge, and tools designed to help individuals “wake up the Viking within” and live with passion and purpose.
The Academy features a vibrant community, a podcast interviewing global experts in personal development, and resources that guide members on a journey of self-discovery and mastery. As Chief Exploration Officer, Erik brings contagious energy and deep insight, inspiring others to embrace their true selves and lead lives of meaning and impact.
Erik is the author of The Accountant Success Formula and the host of The MBA Way podcast and the “Erik ‘The Viking’ Solbakken” YouTube channel. Through these platforms, he shares actionable strategies on entrepreneurship, business innovation, and holistic personal development.
A strong advocate for work-life balance, Erik enjoys boating with his family in the Puget Sound and is passionate about soccer. He is also the lead singer and drummer for the Eighties metal band Reign Down, embodying his belief in living life with creativity and authenticity.
Erik’s work is guided by the conviction that business owners and professionals are key drivers of positive change. Through his ventures-including the Viking Academy-he empowers others to explore, experience, and embrace their unique gifts, helping them contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriksolbakken/
www.vikingacademy.com
www.accountantsuccessformula.com
www.mbacpa.com
Resources & Mentions
Viking Academy Podcast: Exploring Greatness (Personal Development) with Gina Mollicone-Long