“Life is lonely at the top”

"Life is lonely at the top."
A friend told me this last week.
He had recently exited the company he built, made good money, and is now busy building his next venture.

Curious, I asked him,
"Why did he say so"

He simply said, "The people."
Once he left...
The calls stopped.
The messages stopped.
His ex-employees got busy with their new companies.
Everyone had moved on.

That conversation stayed with me.
And then I asked myself an uncomfortable question.
When was the last time I called one of my ex-bosses, just to ask how they were doing?

I honestly couldn't remember!
Maybe a Diwali message.
Maybe a New Year wish.
That's all.

It made me realize something.
Most professional relationships are contextual!
We meet because we work together.
We stay connected because our paths overlap.
The moment the common context disappears...
So does the relationship!

Because life moves on.

So I decided to do something different.
I called a few of my former managers.
No agenda.
No hidden motive.
No "Can you refer me?"
Just a simple conversation.

Every single one of them sounded pleasantly surprised.
That, more than anything else, made me realize how rare such calls have become.

Sometimes the most meaningful call you can make is the one that expects nothing in return!

When was the last time you reached out to an old colleague, mentor, or manager without needing anything?
You might make their day.
And perhaps, your own too.