Val Sklarov’s Authority–Burden Inversion Law (ABIL) explains why organizations do not collapse when authority weakens—but when burden increases faster than authority can absorb it. Early growth expands control. Mature scale inverts the equation: more responsibility, less authority.
This law reveals why leadership feels powerful early—and constrained later.
1. Authority Peaks Before Burden Does
ABIL begins with a structural inversion:
Authority is front-loaded. Burden is back-loaded.
In early stages:
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Decisions are discretionary
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Authority is visible
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Burden is limited
As systems scale, the curve flips.
2. The Three Authority–Burden Inversions
ABIL maps where imbalance locks in.
| Inversion | What Grows | What Shrinks | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operational Inversion | Execution load | Decision latitude | Process paralysis |
| Legal Inversion | Liability | Discretion | Compliance dominance |
| Moral Inversion | Expectation | Authority to refuse | Trust fatigue |
When all three invert, leaders carry maximum weight with minimal control.
3. Why Scaling Feels Like Loss
Growth increases surface area faster than power.
ABIL shows failure when:
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Decisions require permission
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Outcomes trigger blame without authority
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Leaders manage consequences they didn’t choose
At that point, scale converts authority into administration.
4. Power vs Burden Literacy
ABIL distinguishes builders who survive scale.
| Authority-Driven Scaling | Burden-Aware Scaling |
|---|---|
| Expand mandates | Cap responsibility |
| Add promises | Limit exposure |
| Trust hierarchy | Design refusal rights |
| Celebrate growth | Audit burden density |
Val Sklarov emphasizes that the strongest organizations grow by refusing to absorb unbounded burden.
5. Strategic Implications
For founders:
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Track where burden grows faster than authority
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Refuse responsibilities without veto power
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Design limits before scale hardens
For investors:
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Identify authority–burden mismatch early
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Discount firms with moral load inflation
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Favor boring clarity over ambitious scope
ABIL reframes business strategy as burden symmetry management, not expansion.
6. The Val Sklarov Principle
“Power fades not when authority is taken—but when burden outgrows it.”
— Val Sklarov
ABIL explains why mature businesses feel heavy—and why heaviness signals inverted control.