Brynhild’s Professional Wisdom
Ancient tragedy, contemporary advice.
Have you ever known exactly what you were supposed to do…
…And then did the exact opposite?
This is the tragedy of Brynhyld, the Valkyrie.
As the lover and fated guide of Sigurd the Dragon-slayer, she is one of the most tragic figures in Norse myth — which is saying a lot, in a mythology that revels in the tragic from bottom to top.
Brynhild helps shape the dragon-slayer’s destiny, then orchestrates his death — earning herself the status of Swan Maiden, one of the ‘choosers of the slain’.
Brynhild then throws herself on the funeral pyre of the man she killed —
but this isn’t Brynhild’s greatest tragedy.
Her greatest tragedy… is hypocrisy.
She dies because she cannot live by her own advice.
The irony might have been deliberate:
She wins the hearts and minds of the hero and the audience with her deep knowledge. Brynhild’s authoritative voice inspires admiration and trust. She preaches patience, loyalty, and restraint —
then burns it all down in a hellish storm of passion, pride, and vengeance.
By disregarding her own wise counsel, the wisest of counselors was undone.
Her story is a warning — one that still rings with the force of a hammer striking an anvil.
How often have we watched leaders, mentors, and colleagues stumble into the very traps they warn us against?
How often have we done this to ourselves?
Brynhild’s actions leave a wake of ruin that ripples across generations — but a modern audience can salvage treasure from the ashes of her terrible vengeance:
Her lessons in honor, restraint, and leadership remain shockingly relevant.
The Business of War has given way to the War of Business, so here is some LinkedIn Broetry inspired by Norse Myth:
Brynhild’s Professional Wisdom for the Modern Workplace
adapted from Jesse L. Byock’s 1990 translation of The Saga of the Volsungs:
- On Loyalty and Patience🤝
“Do well by your kinsmen and take little revenge for their wrongdoings. Endure with patience, and you will win long-lasting praise.”
Investing in strong relationships at work and at home means playing the long game.
- Short-term retaliation erodes long-term credibility, making you look reactive rather than strategic. Stop, breathe, and focus on the bigger picture.
- Anger does not signal authority. Instead, it’s a sign of emotional fracture. It signals to the crew that they can no longer trust the hands guiding the wheel. The keyword is composure.
- Nursing a grudge tells others that satisfying resentment means more to you than the success of the group. Good leaders don’t seek revenge — they seek meaningful resolution.
Resisting impulse is how you build endurance — in habits and in relationships.
It’s also how you build a reputation that endures.
Brynhild’s Core Business Truth:
Patience builds trust; trust builds influence; influence builds organizational endurance.
2. On Love and Professional Boundaries ❤️🔥
“Beware of ill dealings, both of a maid’s love and a man’s wife; ill often arises from these.”
In modern terms, “don’t dip your pen in the company ink”. This one is painfully obvious, but it bears repeating — because this is still one of the easiest ways to lose everything.
Just ask Brynhild.
- Manipulation, betrayal, and job loss are real risks.
- Prioritize your ambitions. The willingness to sacrifice everything for a fling is a strong indication that you have none.
- Your reputation is currency — guard it as fiercely as Fafnir guarding the Nibelung Treasure.
In Brynhild’s world, blurring the lines between romance and duty led to shocking violence. In ours, it’ll more likely lead to career derailment — which is a form of social and economic violence directed toward oneself.
Maybe there are exceptions — but things get real messy, real quick. This is how you get a Valkyrie plotting your death.
Brynhild’s Core Business Truth:
Choose professionalism over passion. One builds kingdoms; the other burns them.
3. On Representation and Restraint 🍷🧠
“If you hear foolish words from drunken men, do not dispute with those who are drunk on wine and have lost their wits.”
In the office and outside of it, you represent both yourself and the organization.
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It’s tempting to relax, to unmask, to indulge in the pleasures of a loose tongue — but reckless words pay dividends.
- Think of a senseless argument as a snare set by your opponents to deplete your credibility by forcing an emotional response.
- Never waste energy arguing with those who lack clarity. Walk away from unreasonable people — in life and in the comments. This is wisdom, not weakness.
- Whether you are intoxicated by ego, alcohol, or impulse, your words betray every weakness. Sometimes it’s better not to speak.
How you represent yourself in public is about strategic restraint. In chess terms:
You don’t have to make every move that the board offers.
Brynhild’s Core Business Truth:
It’s not about having the loudest voice. It’s about how well you measure your response.
4. On Facing Conflict Head-On ⚔️🔥
“It is better to fight with your enemies than be burned at home.”
In the military, soldiers are taught to address potential threats rather than avoid them. This is a core survival technique in zones of active combat, but the same principle can (and should) be applied at home, in the workplace, and in everyday life:
- A strange sound in the house? Investigate.
- A funky smell in the fridge? Track down the source.
- Mice in the kitchen? Find out how they got in.
Many of the problems we encounter on a day-to-day basis will come in the form of other people, and we all learn the hard way: avoiding friction by defaulting to people-pleasing doesn’t solve anything.
- Passive aggression festers, poisoning the work and home environment.
- Avoiding uncomfortable conversations only compounds the damage.
- Confrontation is often the only way to keep a small issue from becoming a full-blown crisis.
There is no such thing as sidestepping your problems. They tend to multiply when you ignore them. This is as true in interpersonal relationships as it is in pest control.
In Brynhild’s time, courage meant the clash of armies and the reddening of weapons. The weapons we use and the battles we fight look much different today, but the essence of courage is still the same:
Success in business, in life, and in combat often means the willingness to face conflict head-on.
Brynhild’s Core Business Truth:
The fire you avoid today will consume your hall tomorrow.
5. On Integrity and Oaths 🤝⚖️
“Do not swear a false oath; hard vengeance follows the breaking of truce.”
What endures must rest on a solid foundation. Historically, the swearing of oaths and the rituals of honor provided that foundation.
Oaths once bound entire empires. Today, we have binding contracts and fine print.
Even without the swearing of formal oaths, the ability for people to take your word at face value remains priceless — because in relationships and in business, trust is a reserve currency.
An everyday example: If you are consistently late, calling off, or shifting priorities, your inconsistency will invite deeper doubts: What else can’t you be trusted with?
- Conduct your life so that your name carries weight — the authority of one whose word is bond.
- Honor your promises. An oath kept builds equity among associates.
- Always fact-check yourself. Accuracy is integrity in practice.
For the ancient Norse, oath-breaking was the greatest shame — a stain worse than cowardice.
In the Volsung Saga, broken oaths led to Sigurd’s death, the annihilation of the Burgundians, and the extinction of entire bloodlines.
Though we are far from the corpse-laden fields of battle, we would do well to center our lives on this ancient principle: that the oaths we keep are the benchmarks of personal integrity.
Brynhild’s Core Business Truth:
Character speaks louder than contracts.
Brynhild’s saga, like any great myth, can be viewed as a compass to help us navigate the crucible of daily life.
Her example teaches us that wisdom alone is not enough.
- Authority unbound from action may spell the end of even the wisest of counselors;
- An unkept promise may break even the boldest of heroes;
- Oaths disregarded may burn down even the mightiest of empires.
The pillar of flames that Sigurd and Brynhild are married in is as much a warning as it is a beacon of inspiration:
The oath-keepers, the ones who practice restraint while showing courage, are the ones whose legacy endures.
Valhalla belongs to those who choose honor over impulse.
It might be a lot to ask of ourselves, but what are the alternatives?
📜 DON’T BE DISCOURAGED 📜
This is the function of wisdom poetry — to learn, to practice, to emulate.
These virtues are heroic, belonging to the godlike.
Most of us do not possess them. Instead, we strive for them.
Keep practicing!
🛡️ Stand your ground: Where in your work or life can you choose honor over regret?
