Sri Lanka, July 17 -- Even with the Indian Ocean stretching endlessly beyond the balcony, Ryle couldn't seem to stop racing invisible deadlines.

His phone rarely stayed untouched for more than a few minutes. Between conversations he instinctively reached for it, replied to another email, glanced at his watch and drifted back into boardrooms hundreds of kilometres away. It was one of the most peaceful places on the southern coastline, yet the man sitting opposite me carried himself as though peace had somehow forgotten his address. I remember smiling and asking whether he ever truly switched off. He smiled back, almost embarrassed by the question.

"I've forgotten how."

The conversation wandered in the way the best conversations usually...