But let’s be honest – what does mythology have to do with leadership, strategy, and quarterly goals?
Let me explain.
In Norse mythology, Odin is not the god of light or order. He is not your typical patriarch. He is the seeker, the manipulator, the “sacrificer” – and most of all: the one who dares to know.
Myths are not lies, but metaphors for the psychological, existential, and spiritual realities we all confront. When we read myths, we are, in truth, reading about ourselves – also ourselves going to work and everybody else, of course.
Learning a new language.
Mythology is the language through which humanity speaks to itself about its deepest truths. It is not a fairy tale for children, but a map of the “soul’s” journey. When you understand the myths, you begin to understand yourself – and you discover that you are not alone in the universe. You are part of something timeless.
And those who truly understand themselves… are often the ones building the future – not just a louder version of the past – the sustainable one.
Okay, maybe it’s a bit dramatic – but you get the point.
Willingness is a superpower.
To gain wisdom, Odin gave up his eye to drink from Mímir’s well. He hung himself from the World Tree for nine days and nights to unlock the secrets of the runes. Pain, sacrifice, and self-inflicted torment – all in pursuit of insight.
This isn’t just mythology. It’s leadership.
Knowledge has a price. Always.
Think about the executive who warns of market shifts before they hit – and is ignored.
Or:
The strategist who sees a cultural breakdown before anyone dares name it.
In business, we glorify insight – data-driven decisions, sharp foresight, strategic clarity.
But rarely do we talk about the cost of insight. True insight doesn’t just require intelligence. It demands isolation. It requires you to go further than others dare – and to carry what you see alone.
It takes the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. And perhaps most importantly – the willingness to be misunderstood, sometimes even punished, for being right too early.
Like Odin, modern leaders who see further often become unsettling presences.
Not because they’re wrong – but because they reveal what others refuse to face.
That’s the paradox:
The clearer your vision, the harder it becomes to be included.
The unbearable weight of “being right”.
In many companies, the “seer” is not promoted. They’re isolated.
Not because they lack value – but because they threaten the illusion of safety.
They disturb the status quo. They name what others only dare whisper.
They don’t just bring solutions. They also bring a mirror.
That’s the real leadership lesson from Odin:
Insight isn’t just a competitive advantage – it’s a burden.
And few are truly willing to pay the emotional, relational, or political price for it.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re a leader who sees what others don’t:
- Stop expecting applause.
- Carry your wisdom lightly.
- Create space for difficult truths.
- Surround yourself with others who’ve paid.
- Build your own World Tree – and choose who may sit beneath it.
Insight without strategy is noise.
Strategy without courage is theatre.
And courage without community is suffering.
Real leadership is what happens when you’re willing to give your eye – and still walk back into the room with it shut… but your mind wide open.
Want more?
At Muunnos, we don’t just help leaders think differently.
We help them endure the consequences of seeing clearly in a world that often doesn’t want to.
Because wisdom is only power… if you learn how to carry it without breaking.
Begin with a question that matters:
What are you willing to risk… to really know?
EN 
DA