My mentor reminds me often that my job is to create value for my organization and the people around me. The value I choose to create will vary across responsibilities and situations, but ultimately, my job is to improve the world. The same is true for you.

The challenge many professionals face isn't just creating value—it's ensuring that value is recognized and properly compensated. This brings us to an important economic concept that can help frame how you think about your value and contributions to your organization.

Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Bank chair, recently reported that the U.S. economy is at risk of experiencing slowing growth coupled with persistent inflation. This economic predicament is what economists call stagflation—a stagnating economy that simultaneously faces rising prices.

Powell's candid assessment was met with sharp rebuke and even threats of termination from the administration. This political pressure comes at a critical moment when the Supreme Court is evaluating whether the president can fire chairs of independent agencies, including the Federal Reserve. The timing couldn't be more consequential for our economic stability.

In an increasingly competitive and uncertain job market, the difference between those who thrive and those who merely survive often comes down to one factor that business schools rarely teach—building and maintaining your professional support network. Over decades of mentoring, I've observed hundreds of careers. I've identified a clear pattern: those who intentionally build what I call a "hype team" consistently outperform equally talented peers who try to navigate their careers alone.

But, how do you develop this team?

Learn more here.