Ever wonder why some leaders seem to carry an invisible weight on their shoulders? After two decades of leading tech teams through triumphs and disasters, I've learned that real leadership is far different from what management books teach us. It's not about frameworks or morning routines – it's about the moments that keep you awake at 3 AM and the decisions that cost you something personal.

I'm sharing my raw, unfiltered journey through the leadership trenches, from protecting team members at the expense of my own bonus to managing dying projects with dignity. These are the stories they don't tell in leadership seminars, and the lessons that only come from living with the consequences of tough calls.

"You know, Adi, I hated you that first year. Now I understand what you were trying to do. And I've spent the last decade trying to do the same for others." - Mike, former team member at his retirement party

Read the full article: "The Weight of the Crown: Real Truths About Leading People and Living With the Consequences" to discover why the best leaders are remembered not for what they built, but for who they built.