We will live a fast-paced world where self-interest and personal gain at every level is the most important metric of any relationship.

This post has been inspired by a series of inputs that I have received in the last couple of weeks that have left me shocked, pained, humbled but most importantly better prepared for the future. Couple of real-life anecdotes to make the point on how less we seem to be caring these days

This is a story of a friend of my mine who worked for a good company for over 8 years and rose in the ranks to become a senior leader and was extremely successful in the company. He had a coterie of subordinates, peers, friends who used lavish praise and respect for him at every opportunity. After 8 years for better prospects he left his company to join another promising start-up..for some reason his stint in the new company did not work out the way he wanted and he had to leave. What he than went through was gut-wrenching period where no one from the earlier company even accepted his calls and when his mother died only two people called him and one person made it to his mother's funeral. What changed  ?

Another similar story of a person..who was the senior most person in his company (300 people) and worked for over 15 years - gave his heart, sould and life during that time to the company. One fine morning he realised he had been superseded as part of a restructuring exercise and he decided to leave the company. Guess the number of people who came to say goodbye to him when he left - 2 people...in a company where every employee was available at his beck & call couple of months ago only 2 people felt the need to wish him goodbye - why?

I don't think their is anything right/wrong here the central point is that this can happen to you too. The reality of relationship's in corporate life with most of your colleague will be driven  mostly by your ability to make a difference to them based on your position/skill and that will be the primary metric for the relationship. Please remember that your self-image of being successful or good is function of your company's brand image and is "alive" till the time you are useful for the company and not applicable once you leave that company;(

I am an eternal optimist and I think each one of us will do better if we care more for other. Its one of my longest post but will like to end with a few recipes on how we can care better for others

-  Stay in touch with your friends/colleagues, customers and partners as it means everything. Even if you don't have anything to say or report just call - don't worry about what to say topics will come up naturally may be they will have something to say.- just remember to listen.

- When someone close has a tragedy ..don't just send a card/sms/flowers - send yourself. They won't remember what you said but they will never forget you came

- Kindness and genuine self-interest in others is the most valuable trait in building lasting relationship

No one really cares how much you know until they know how much you care!!