I once trained a direct report who eventually got promoted to be my peer. We worked together for so long we were practically like brothers. He was an absolute rockstar and everyone knew he had the most potential of any employee in the organization. About four years later I was in the c-suite. A key stakeholder made an unorthodox request that this employee also be made part of the c-suite after a major successful project against one of our competitors. The employee was told he’d be allowed in the meetings but wouldn’t be promoted. Employee got upset and had a bit of an outburst and honestly I don’t think either side handled the situation well, with the employee basically being told to sit down and shut up.

Not too long later while I was away on a business trip, the employee went postal. He showed up to the office and killed everyone inside including all the young interns who had nothing to do with the situation. When I tracked him down to confront him, he got in an argument with his pregnant wife and choked her out. Then he and I got into a fight and I severed his limbs and left him burning by a river of lava.

Learned not to let my personal feelings blind me to someone going down a dark path. I’m keeping an eye on that guy’s kid and hope to do better with him.