Great Article Steve. Want to add few words to what others are saying...it is *likely* people realize your worth sometimes when you are gone, it is also likely to go one or two ways..one they get along without you and figure you are not needed, two they realize you are important and don't particularly like it since they may not be contributing as much and don't want to. Am just suggesting all the different gray areas there are in office politics. That said have a poem on my desk for a long time.. i dont know the author but i think i took it out of Dale Carnegie's 'How to win friends and influence people' and it has always inspired me.

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do and there's lesser to do,

And the task we must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,

If you can't be the sun be a star;

It isn't by size that you win or you fail--

Be the best of whatever you are!