I used to work a white-collar job with a strong a**-in-seat culture that was strongly perpetuated by the head boss. The core hours were 8-5, and while we didn't have to literally clock in, boss liked to notice out loud who walked in the door at 8:02.
Fast forward many years. This gentleman was very high up and well respected within the entire industry. He spent an enormous amount of time working, was a primary rain maker for a large international company and fully expected everyone he hired to match his level of time commitment to the work.
A few months ago at a relatively young age he suddenly passed away.
The marketing department at the company immediately released a commemorative photo and appreciative words honoring his lifetime efforts and impact on the local market. Days went by and people asked if there would be a service. No word from the family. Then weeks went by. No service, no obituary, no comment. Months later and still the only news of his passing was the company issued piece.
It turns out that none of this man's children, his life-partner or any of his family went out of their way to take care of any of the normal end-of-life send-off traditions for him…
I know he can't care about it now since he's gone, but to me it's such a quiet, pitiful crash and burn for someone who, in life commanded so much corporate respect and financial power. This man was so high up in his job but no one in his life outside of work cared enough to even write a few sentences for him when he died.
Just puts priorities in perspective for me, I guess.