There’s a line from the new book The Power of Mattering that stopped me in my tracks:

“People don’t burn out because they’re working too hard. They burn out because they feel invisible.”

That truth hit me harder than I expected. It brought back memories, both of how I led early in my career and how I experienced leadership under others. It also reminded me why the “new” Advanced Resources exists and what we’re striving to build.

When Performance Was Everything

When I was new to leading others, I thought leadership was about goals, metrics, and winning. I assumed that if I was focused, driven, and delivered results, others would naturally follow. Although I worked to understand what truly motivated my team, often I was looking through my own biased lens. I didn’t ask about their purpose or their dreams. I didn’t realize that not everyone feels valued just by being part of a winning team or by simply making a good living.

Living the Dream… and Still Feeling Invisible

Years later, I found myself on the other side of the equation—no longer just building my own dream as a leader, but helping founders scale theirs. I poured everything I had into it. In one case, I knew the business better than the founder himself and helped bring his vision to life. It was deeply rewarding to build something lasting. Together with my team, we built a high-quality firm, respected, and recognized as best in class. What my team and I created together became a textbook example of how to scale a company the right way.

On a personal level, I was living the American Dream and genuinely having a blast alongside a team I loved.

But despite how proud I was of what we built, I’ll never forget how it felt to never hear two simple words: “thank you.” No recognition. No appreciation. Just an unspoken assumption that I’d keep showing up and giving my all.

And I did—every day—not for my boss, but for my team. Yet over time, the lack of acknowledgment wore me down. No matter how much I accomplished, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was invisible.

That’s when it hit me: recognition doesn’t cost a thing, but its absence can cost everything.

Why This Book Matters

The Power of Mattering puts words to what so many people experience in silence. It’s a wake-up call for leaders who think performance alone will sustain teams. The truth is, people stay where they feel seen. They engage when they feel connected. They give their best when they know they matter.

This insight isn’t just something I believe, but now as the owner of Advanced Resources it’s something I’ve built into the fabric of our company.

Why the “New” Advanced Resources Exists

When I took ownership of Advanced Resources, I knew I wanted it to be more than a traditional staffing or consulting firm. We’ve worked hard to become the most dynamic human capital firm in Chicago—but that’s just part of the story.

Our prime directive is to make a meaningful, positive impact on our team, our clients, and our community.

Over the years, we’ve refined our strategy and doubled down on our purpose. We realized that if we truly want to drive change, we have to go beyond filling roles or completing projects. We have to help senior leaders build world-class cultures—places where people feel like they matter, are inspired to grow, and, in turn, create prosperity for others.

There are many opinions about our industry, and candidly, some of our competitors have set the bar fairly low. However, at Advanced Resources, we embrace the responsibility of enriching the lives of the people we place and supporting the clients we help with critical initiatives.

We exist to help organizations bring their vision to life. We make things happen—and we always evaluate our decisions through one simple lens: Will this action make a positive impact on our client, consultant, team, or community?

We work diligently to ensure people feel seen, heard, and valued. When we do that, we don’t just help people and companies succeed—we help elevate the entire community around them.

A Personal Reminder for Every Leader

If you’re in a position of leadership, ask yourself:

• Who on my team is quietly giving everything they have… and feeling invisible?
• When was the last time I told someone, “You matter”?

Sometimes the smallest gestures leave the greatest impact.

Because in business—and in life—being seen is everything.

About Advanced Resources

Advanced Resources partners with leading organizations providing solutions and staffing services to address specific challenges directly impacting human resources and accounting & finance.

Over the past 30+ years, Advanced Resources has been recognized as a perennial Top Workplace while helping clients secure the best talent to meet their strategic goals.

The team of Advanced Resources is comprised of accomplished industry professionals that understand people are the heart of all organizations. Advanced Resources offers a personalized approach and proven processes to help with strategy execution.

To learn more, visit www.advancedresources.com, subscribe at Advanced Insights, or follow us at Advanced Resources LinkedIn.