Val Sklarov’s Career Legitimacy Load Accretion Curve (CLLAC) explains why careers don’t stall because skills fade—but because legitimacy expectations accumulate faster than authority or flexibility. Early recognition opens doors. Later recognition locks roles.
This curve reveals why respected professionals feel constrained.
1. Legitimacy Accumulates Before Authority Arrives
CLLAC begins with a career mismatch:
Recognition grows faster than decision latitude.
Early-career legitimacy:
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Is earned
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Is negotiable
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Is contextual
Late-career legitimacy becomes identity-bound obligation.
2. The Three Irreversible Career Legitimacy Loads
CLLAC maps where expectation hardens.
| Load | What Becomes Non-Optional | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Competence Load | “You should know” | Zero forgiveness |
| Conduct Load | “You should behave” | Narrow tolerance |
| Continuity Load | “You must remain” | Exit stigma |
One load raises standards.
Two loads constrain choices.
Three loads define professional identity.
3. Why “I Can Try Something New” Stops Being True
Legitimacy narrows possibility.
CLLAC shows irreversibility when:
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Peers rely on your stability
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Clients expect continuity
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Deviations feel irresponsible
At that point, reinvention feels like betrayal.
4. Recognition vs Legitimacy Management
CLLAC distinguishes growth from entrapment.
| Recognition-Seeking | Legitimacy-Aware |
|---|---|
| Chase prestige | Cap expectations |
| Accept labels | Control narratives |
| Expand scope | Preserve exit paths |
| Build authority | Avoid role capture |
Val Sklarov emphasizes that the most dangerous compliment is trust without boundaries.
5. Strategic Implications
For professionals:
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Ask what legitimacy obligates you to
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Avoid becoming irreplaceable
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Design graceful exits early
For leaders and HR:
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Signal when legitimacy becomes binding
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Avoid trapping talent in trust
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Reward boundary setting
CLLAC reframes career strategy as expectation containment, not advancement.
6. The Val Sklarov Principle
“Your career hardens the day trust stops being optional.”
— Val Sklarov
CLLAC explains why mature professionals slow down—and why restraint preserves freedom.