When Shooting Stars Burn Out

Australian Financial Review, 6 June 2002 p. 1,72

Growing numbers of corporate executives and professionals are finding that having reached the top they don't always like the view

…the decision to quit corporate life and study was made with the positive mindset, and after working in an industry that provided enough wealth to do so.

This is a sentiment not lost on Andrew Horsley, director of executive search and management evaluation consultancy Horsley & Company

"They work hard to get to the top and then they don't like it there," Horsley says. "It is true that life is lonely at the top. The view from the top is quite often not as interesting as the ascent. Struggle is quite often what it's about and once the struggle has been addressed and taken care of, what then?"

However there is a question as to how long a burnt out supernova can stay away. Horsley says "many executives who quit their job go on to suffer limelight deprivation syndrome. "It's like politics" he says, "the half life is very short indeed - you quickly become irrelevant".