When you hear destruction in a business context, do you picture failure? If so, let’s change that mental image.

Destruction done with clarity and heart isn’t failure—it’s leadership. It’s part of a natural, even sacred cycle that cultures across time have honored. Everything ends; it is inevitable.

Destruction & Creation Go Hand-In-Hand

The Hindu deities Shiva and Kali, for example, represent the fierce and powerful force of destruction that clears the way for renewal. In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is the great cosmic battle that ends the old world, so a new and better one can rise from the ashes. Even Mother Nature knows the value of a good clean sweep—think of wildfires (the healthy kind) that clear out old growth so forests can thrive again.

And in modern business? Destruction done right has sparked some of the greatest innovations we’ve seen.

Destruction Is Part of Success

Everything in business—products, systems, beliefs—has a lifespan. Clinging to what no longer works doesn’t make you loyal. It makes you stuck.

• Netflix didn’t cling to DVDs out of nostalgia—they dismantled their original model to pioneer streaming.

• Lego is actively phasing out oil-based plastics, a core part of its production, to build a more sustainable future. 

• Microsoft gave Internet Explorer a fond (and long-overdue) farewell, clearing the way for better technology. 

• Patagonia discontinued profitable lines that harmed the environment. 

• Ford is shutting down plants to pivot boldly into electric vehicles.

These aren’t acts of chaos—they’re acts of courage.

The Art of Blowing Things Up

Before you grab the metaphorical dynamite, pause. Ask: Am I doing this from wisdom or frustration? Healthy destruction comes from love and clarity, not ego or impatience.

Destruction worth doing:

• Eliminates what drains time, energy, and integrity.

• Creates space for healthier, more aligned practices.

• Honors the past, then lets it go with gratitude.

Destruction not worth doing:

• Is driven by reactivity, not reflection.

• Creates confusion or chaos.

• Comes from wanting to prove something rather than improve something.

Destruction Makes Space for Innovation

Destruction isn’t just about letting go. It’s about what you make room for. When you release what’s outdated or draining, you create fertile ground for fresh ideas.

Destruction sparks innovation when done thoughtfully. The key is to destroy what no longer serves—and trust in what can arise.

• What in your business (or leadership) are you holding onto out of habit or fear?

• Where could you be bravely making space for the new?

• How might your organization thrive if you cleared out what no longer serves?

5 Amare Steps to Blow Things Up – Lovingly

1. Identify what’s draining you. Pinpoint one outdated belief, process, or product that clogs progress. Maybe it’s “We’ve always done it this way,” or that clunky approval system that slows everything down. Shine a light on it—and name it honestly.

2. Destroy it with intention. Now, let it go purposefully. Shred it. Hold a playful farewell ceremony. Express your gratitude for how it once served you. Bury a symbolic token in the ground. Release it with clarity, not resentment.

3. Savor the empty space. Resist the urge to fill the void immediately. Feel the lightness and creative potential that comes with clearing out the old. Give it time and space.

4. Create a better replacement. Choose a new belief, system, or practice that reflects who you and your organization are now. Anchor it through small wins, rituals, and celebrations that reinforce the new way.

5. Set a new norm and empower it. Make the practice of healthy destruction an integral part of your organizational fabric. Give your team ownership to uphold and evolve it. Encourage feedback and collaboration to keep it alive and ensure it remains strategically aligned.

An Invitation To You and Your Leadership

May you lead with the wisdom of nature, cultures, and traditions that understand that destruction, done with heart and purpose, isn’t an ending. It’s the beginning of what’s next.

So take a breath. See what no longer serves. And have the courage to let it go, making space for the innovation, joy, and impact that are waiting for you on the other side.

You’ve got this.

Moshe

Learn to Let Go with the “Strong Start” Coaching Program

Consider my “Strong Start” 3-month coaching program as a low-risk, high-value way to grow and flourish as the leader you are called to be. For more information, contact me here.

   

Today’s Amare Wave Wednesday Quote

“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” 

— Pablo Picasso

   

Click here and read more Amare Wave Wednesday newsletters on related topics:

Stop Ruminating, Start Savoring: A 5-Step Mindful Shift for Leaders

Creative Disruption: Crafting Breakthroughs from Breakdowns

Too Busy to Grow? 5 Amare Steps to Get Out of the Grind & Reclaim Your Leadership

3 Steps to Destroy Your Way to Business Success

Big Change Starts Small: How Purpose-Driven Leaders Overcome Overwhelm and Navigate Uncertainty 

   

Original article published on Inc.com.