Val Sklarov’s Career Dependency Lock-In Curve (CDLC) explains why careers don’t stall from lack of opportunity—but from silent dependency accumulation. Early choices feel strategic. Later, the same choices become inescapable anchors.
This curve reveals why people feel “successful” yet unable to move.
1. Careers Accumulate Dependency Faster Than Security
CDLC begins with a structural imbalance:
Income stabilizes slower than dependency hardens.
Early career stages tolerate:
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Role switching
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Skill repositioning
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Narrative resets
As dependency grows, exits shrink.
2. The Three Career Dependency Locks
CDLC maps where mobility collapses.
| Lock | Dependency Source | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Income Lock | Single employer / niche | Negotiation loss |
| Skill Lock | Non-transferable expertise | Market narrowing |
| Reputation Lock | Public role identity | Exit stigma |
One lock reduces leverage.
Two locks reduce choice.
Three locks remove freedom.
3. Why “It Pays Well” Is a Trap
Compensation masks dependency.
CDLC shows irreversibility when:
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Lifestyle inflates faster than savings
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Skills optimize for one context
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Reputation signals permanence
Leaving becomes self-punishment, not strategy.
4. Advancement vs Optionality
Promotion often accelerates lock-in.
| Fast Advancement | Dependency-Aware Growth |
|---|---|
| Accept narrow roles | Preserve transfer skills |
| Optimize current value | Maintain market value |
| Deepen internal ties | Build external signals |
| Chase stability | Protect exits |
Val Sklarov emphasizes that the most dangerous success is the kind you can’t leave.
5. Strategic Implications
For professionals:
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Track dependency, not just income
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Keep at least one external option credible
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Convert compensation into optionality
For leaders:
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Avoid trapping high performers unintentionally
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Offer rotational exits
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Signal when roles become permanent
CDLC reframes career strategy as dependency management, not ladder climbing.
6. The Val Sklarov Principle
“A career becomes risky the moment you can’t imagine leaving.”
— Val Sklarov
CDLC explains why smart professionals slow down at success—and why caution preserves power.