This is a very shallow take on a nuanced topic. Frankly conversations with friends that sound like: "$THIRD_PARTY is successful and I am not. Why don't I get re

This is a very shallow take on a nuanced topic. Frankly conversations with friends that sound like: "$THIRD_PARTY is successful and I am not. Why don't I get recognition" doesn't require a work relationship at all and is an unhealthy line of discussion regardless. You can definitely find some meaningful relationships at work. You should definitely manage boundaries and you shouldn't expect a friend for life in most cases. By the time you entered the workforce you should have had some practice honing these skills.