Being liked is rented. Being respected is owned.

Being liked depends on the mood of the room, and the rent comes due constantly: agree with this, laugh at that, never be the one who says the awkward thing. Respect works differently. It builds from people watching what you do when it costs you something, and once it exists, it survives a week of you being unpopular.

Notice which one you are chasing the next time you are about to soften something you meant. You can be warm and still be the person who says the unpopular sentence. Popularity moves around. Being someone people count on stays.