Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

July 8, 2025

Welcome to the Workplace Multiplier newsletter. Published Monday to Friday, equipping you to achieve your professional goals faster and without burnout or overwhelm by leveraging The Triple Win Method.

Why Your Experience Might Be Working Against You

Howdy ,

A few years back, I was on the phone with a lady who worked at a not-for-profit organisation. She had years of experience under her belt and was the hub for things in the area at the organisation where she worked.

But here's the thing that's keeping her up at night: she felt that she could no longer get the kind of new roles she wanted.

"The problem is I don’t know what to do, Tola," she said. "I have spent all my career in this industry. I have the track record. Now I feel I am stuck in it. What am I missing?"

What she experienced isn't unique. It's what I call The Experience Trap – and if you're a mid-career professional, you're probably caught in it too.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Experience

Here's what nobody tells you about reaching the 5 - 7 year mark in your career: the very experience that got you here could become the biggest barrier to where you want to go.

You become "the person who does X," and suddenly, that's all anyone can see you doing. You're too valuable in your current role to be promoted. You're too specialized to be considered for strategic positions. You're stuck.

Meanwhile, it’s not impossible that less experienced professionals are leapfrogging over you into leadership roles because they're not carrying the weight of being "the expert."

You probably understand what I am saying. The most talented individual contributors often struggle the most with career progression.

But here's what I've discovered after working with professionals across multiple countries: the problem isn't your experience – it's how you're positioning it.

The Expertise Prison

A lot of mid-career professionals find themselves trapped in what I call "The Expertise Prison."

You become "the person who does X" and can't escape that label. Your competence becomes your cage.

Here's how it happens: You get really good at something. You deliver results. You become the go-to person. Then, that expertise defines you so completely that nobody can imagine you doing anything else.

Sound familiar?

If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. This is the reality for most professionals with 5 - 7 years of experience. Your expertise, which should be your greatest asset, has become your biggest liability.

The Pattern I Keep Seeing

Here's what I've noticed about the professionals who break free:

They stop thinking about career advancement as "getting better at what they do" and start thinking about it as "finding the right intersection."

They realize that career transformation isn't about working harder – it starts with making one critical shift in how you position yourself.

But here's the thing: most people continue building skills in isolation without understanding the bigger picture.

That's like trying to unlock a door when you don't even know which keys you need.

The Strategic Pivot That Changes Everything

Back to the lady I started our story about.

By the time we were done with the call, she could envision new roles for herself.

More than that, she could see new sectors she could go into, consulting, education, and training were some of the top hits.

The same skills. The same experience. Completely different positioning.

Why Most Career Advice May Fail You

Most career advice for mid-career professionals may not work for you in the world of work now.

"Build your personal brand." "Network more." "Get an MBA." "Work on your soft skills."

None of that addresses the real problem: you're positioning your experience as tactical expertise instead of strategic advantage.

You may not need more skills. You need to understand how your existing skills solve the problems that keep leadership and key players awake at night.

You may not need a bigger network. You need to position yourself where organizational needs intersect with market opportunities.

You may not need to focus on a big personal brand. You need to be the person who connects the dots that others miss.

The Mindset Shift That Changes Your Trajectory

Here's the shift that separates professionals who advance from those who stay stuck:

Instead of asking: "How do I get better at what I do?" Start asking: "How do I position myself for the opportunities I actually want?"

This isn't about abandoning your expertise – it's about leveraging it strategically.

The specific framework for making this shift? That's what Saturday's masterclass is all about.

The Reality Check You Need

Here's what will happen if you don't make this shift:

You'll continue being excellent at what you do. You'll keep getting similar projects. You'll watch others advance while you remain the "expert" in an increasingly narrow field.

Your experience will become more specialized, making you less – not more – valuable for strategic roles.

The market will continue evolving while you perfect skills that become less relevant.

But here's what happens when you do make this shift:

You become the person who solves problems others can't see. You become indispensable not because of what you do, but because of how you think. You become the bridge between tactical execution and strategic vision.

You stop being just another experienced professional and become a strategic asset.

Your Next Move

The question isn't whether you're capable of making this transition. You are.

The question is: will you continue optimizing for yesterday's game, or will you position yourself for tomorrow's opportunities?

On Saturday, I’ll be hosting the “Beyond the First 5 Years: Building Your Strategic Pivot “ Masterclass. You'll discover the framework that transforms experience into strategic advantage, and leave with a clear action plan.

July 12th, 2025 | 6 pm WAT | 12 pm EST | 5 pm GMT | 7 pm WEST

But more importantly, you'll stop being the best-kept secret in your organization and start being the person they can't imagine succeeding without.

Because your experience should open doors, not close them.

And there's a specific way to make that happen.

Keep winning at work and in life.

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor

Sign UP for "Beyond The First 5 Years" Masterclass

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Want to get in on some of the lessons I have picked up in my career? Get my eBook "21 Lessons I Learned in My Career - A Primer to Help You Become Better at Work". Get it here

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