# Chapter 194

Loneliness and melancholy are likely gonna be your companions. They probably already were, but the higher you fly up the leadership ladder, the more you will find them sitting on your door stoop. I have seen this consistently in the leaders that I have work with and alongside of these past four decades. Knowing it is typical takes some of the bite out of it. Knowing that it is coming will also let you know that you are in good company! Most leaders have felt it and experienced it, because who are they going to talk to? Who could they even tell the truth to and be understood? These are very real problems for the leader at the top.

And don’t think that this is a malady only for one genre of leaders or one type of leaders like politicians, just because Lincoln was transparent about it doesn’t mean he was the only one struggling with it. I find business owners, CEO’s, CFO’s CIO’s, Civic leaders, church leaders, researchers, non-profit leaders, and all others to also experience this and struggle with it when it comes. Hell I struggle with it when it comes as much as anyone! Being misunderstood and misconstrued and misaligned and all the other mis’s, brings it on in droves.

Its ok, this too will pass, but you don’t get a bye on experiencing it. This comes and goes like most other things in life. Hang in there!