Once you lose your influence e.g. status, fame or a job,
Your phone will go silent.
The many calls you were used to receiving, until you muted your ringtones, suddenly die.
The calls you were ignoring are not there anymore.
The message inbox becomes dry.
You change your ringtone from "silent" to "sound with vibration" so that you don't miss any ringing,
- But nobody is calling,
That is when it hits you that the people who were surrounding you with choruses of praises, were just people.
They already shifted their allegiance to the next influential person.
They were there because of what they were gaining from your influence, not you.
You become forgotten as fast as you rose to the position you just lost.
Therefore,
If you are still in a position of influence,
Remain modest.
Use your influence to support someone's life.
Become the candle in someone's dark moments.
Refuse to be proud and arrogant.
Ignore your haters. Don't respond to insults.
Most importantly, don't vomit on the shoes of those beneath you.
You will one day borrow their shoes to cross the bridge of your rock-bottom.