Some are higher up the food chain, but many are men and women who'd probably be subordinates (or subordinates of their subordinates). Yet, like I said, these are people managers turn to for advice, an expert opinion, or even to use as a sounding board.
Do you know what they have in common?
They're all respected authorities in their professional field or industry.
And you can take it to the bank:
If any of these men or women lost their jobs this afternoon, they'd be poached in a heartbeat. It'd be like throwing meat to a pride of starving lions.
Why?
Because managers always want people like that on their team.
If they don't have a position open, they'll create one. If they don't have the budget, they'll find a way to free up (or create) the required cash.
This is how it works when you're the prize.
Twenty years ago, job security was something companies took seriously and honored. If you put in 30 years of service, your employer looked after you.
Those days have disappeared.
Job security doesn't exist anymore. Not like it did before.
That said, managers will always seek out, poach, and do their best to hold onto prize professionals, especially those who are well-known and respected among their peers. It's the way things have always been.
Here's where I'm getting at with all this:
You should think about becoming a respected authority in your field.
It's not as difficult as you might think -- though, I'll be the first to tell you, it does require time, perseverance, and hard work.
In my opinion, it's one of the best long-term investments you can make in yourself.