In whiskey-making, there’s a beautiful and costly reality called the angel’s share.
As whiskey ages in oak barrels, a portion of it evaporates into the air. Distillers never get it back. It’s gone. Over the course of 10 or 12 years, a barrel can lose up to 40% of its whiskey.
That’s staggering when you think about it. Imagine pouring almost half your investment into the air. And yet, every distiller accepts it as part of the process. Because without it, whiskey would never develop its depth, richness, or complexity. The loss makes the spirit what it is.
The Leadership Parallel
Leaders face their own version of the angel’s share.
At some point in a career, it’s not just about what you’ve gained - the titles, money, growth, and outward markers of success. The halftime moment comes when you begin asking:
What am I willing to let go of in order to pursue significance?
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Letting go of always needing to be the smartest in the room.
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Letting go of busyness disguised as productivity.
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Letting go of opportunities that look good but don’t align with your purpose.
Just like whiskey becomes unique because of what’s lost, leaders become significant because of what they choose to release.
Success accumulates.
Significance distills.
The Business & Strategy Connection
The same principle applies in organizations.
Not every project, idea, or campaign should survive. Businesses often cling to initiatives long past their usefulness, afraid to “waste” the investment. But clarity comes through subtraction, not addition.
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Random acts of marketing dilute the brand.
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Legacy programs that no longer serve the mission weigh teams down.
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Chasing every trend spreads resources thin.
When leaders make the intentional cut - letting go of distractions and non-essential efforts - strategy gets stronger. Just like the angel’s share makes the spirit more concentrated, a focused strategy creates a more powerful, distinct brand.
The Angel’s Share in Your Life and Work
So here’s the question for you:
What’s your angel’s share - that inevitable loss you’ve already experienced?
And what do you need to let go of, intentionally, so that what remains becomes more focused, more powerful, and truly significant?
Loss can feel painful. But when embraced with clarity, it becomes the very thing that shapes your uniqueness.
A Closing Pour
The angel’s share reminds us: you can’t keep everything. Distillers know that evaporation is part of crafting something remarkable. Leaders and businesses must learn the same truth.
What you release may be just as important as what you keep.