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In Episode 236, hear the dramatic story of the Vasa, Sweden’s ill-fated warship, and the lessons it holds for leadership, decision-making, and engineering.

In this episode of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares the remarkable story of the Vasa, a 17th-century Swedish warship that sank just one kilometre from shore on its maiden voyage due to a fatal design flaw. Mark and Shawn explore the leadership and business lessons hidden within this historic blunder—what happens when ambition overrides expertise, the consequences of ignoring warnings, and the downside of power in decision-making.

The conversation then shifts to the importance of storytelling in business, the role of personal stories versus historical narratives, and the small shifts that can make storytelling easier—illustrated by Mark’s unexpected beachworm-catching revelation.

Tune in for a value rich discussion on storytelling, leadership, and overcoming story blocks.

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Tags: Leadership, Decision-Making, Storytelling, Strategy, Historic, Creativity

This story starts at 2:23

In 1628, Sweden’s King Gustavus Adolphus was determined to build the most powerful warship the world had ever seen. Sweden was in the midst of the Thirty Years’ War, and the King wanted a grand, imposing warship to showcase Sweden’s naval dominance. The result was the Vasa, a lavish, extravagant, and massively over-armed vessel, featuring 64 cannons, towering masts, and intricate carvings that made it a floating work of art.

The ship was an engineering marvel—but also a disaster waiting to happen. It was too top-heavy, dangerously unstable, and riddled with design flaws. Even before it set sail, the warning signs were clear. To test its stability, 30 men were ordered to run back and forth across the deck. After just three passes, the ship nearly capsized right there in port.

Despite these obvious red flags, the King, eager to see his prized warship in action, ignored all warnings. He had invested too much into the Vasa’s construction, and he wanted results—no delays, no modifications.

On August 10, 1628, the Vasa was finally launched from Stockholm’s harbour. A gentle breeze filled its sails, and the ship teetered slightly. Then, a stronger gust of wind hit. The ship lurched to one side, then to the other. Within minutes, water poured in through the cannon ports, and the ship capsized completely, sinking just one kilometre from shore. Thousands of spectators who had gathered for the grand send-off watched in shock as the mighty warship disappeared beneath the water.

A formal inquiry was launched to investigate the disaster, but, unsurprisingly, no one was held accountable. Blaming the King was not an option, and no engineer or shipbuilder was willing to take responsibility. The failure was quietly swept under the rug, left as an embarrassing cautionary tale.

For 333 years, the Vasa remained at the bottom of the sea, perfectly preserved in the cold, briny waters of Stockholm’s harbour. Then, in 1961, it was raised from the depths, astonishing historians with its remarkably intact structure. Today, the Vasa Museum in Stockholm houses this legendary ship, where visitors can see firsthand the result of unchecked ambition, ignored expertise, and the consequences of prioritising grandeur over practicality.