The 3 Edges That Changed My Career

In my early 40s, I hit a wall.

I’d spent the better part of two decades climbing ladders, delivering projects, leading teams, and collecting titles that looked great on paper... but deep down, I felt stuck.

Not because I wasn’t good at my job.

Not because I lacked experience or impact.

But because I didn’t feel in control of what happened next.

That’s when I started searching... not for a new job, but for an edge. Something to shift the game in my favour. Something to move me from reactive to proactive.

Looking back, three specific “edges” changed everything for me.

Let me walk you through them.

Edge #1: Strategic Leverage

There’s a difference between being busy and being in demand.

I used to equate value with hard work. I’d put in the hours, deliver what was asked, and play the team player role to a tee.

But I came to realise: leverage is what separates high performers from high earners.

It’s not about doing more — it’s about doing the right things that multiply your impact.

Here’s how I built it:

• I started saying no to work that didn’t align with my strengths

• I doubled down on frameworks, playbooks, and reusable IP

• I systemised the way I coached, ran projects, and led delivery

Instead of being the person who does the work, I became the person who enables others to deliver at a higher level.

Leverage isn’t loud. It’s subtle. But it scales — and that’s what matters.

Edge #2: Identity Work

Here’s a truth nobody tells you:

Your career will grow in proportion to how clearly you see yourself.

For years, I identified as “just a delivery guy” or “the fixer” — someone who could step into chaos and make things work.

But that label became a ceiling.

It made me play smaller. It stopped me from charging more, pitching bigger ideas, or stepping into strategic work. My imposter syndrome had roots — and they were tied to the story I was telling myself.

What changed?

I invested in identity work.

I sat down and mapped out:

• What I actually do better than most

• What problems I’m best suited to solve

• How I want to be known in the industry

I rewrote my personal brand narrative — not to impress others, but to align with who I really was.

And the moment I did?

• Conversations changed.

• Opportunities opened.

• Confidence stopped being a performance and became a baseline.

Edge #3: Career Optionality

The final edge... and maybe the most important... was building optionality.

We live in a world where restructures, AI, market shifts, and global headwinds can change your career overnight. A steady job just isn’t the safety net it used to be.

I started to ask:

“What would it look like to build a career that doesn’t collapse if one pillar falls?”

Here’s what I changed:

• I built a personal brand beyond my org chart

• I launched digital products and assets under APM

• I explored fractional and consulting work under Baltimore Advisory

• I diversified my income streams — and my identity streams

Optionality isn’t about quitting your job.

It’s about having choices.

It’s about building leverage you can take with you.

It’s about no longer being one conversation away from a career crisis.

So What Do These Three Edges Give You?

Together, these edges create what I call career sovereignty.

You stop waiting.

You stop reacting.

You start designing.

When you combine leverage, identity clarity, and optionality, you build a career that isn’t just successful — it’s sustainable, meaningful, and yours.

Now it's Your turn... Where Are You Playing Without an Edge?

Here’s what I’d ask you:

1. Where are you doing the work, but not building leverage?

2. What identity are you living in that no longer serves your next level?

3. What would optionality look like for you in the next 12 months?

This isn’t about chasing some perfect life.

It’s about engineering small edges that stack — until one day, you realise you’re in control of your time, your income, and your career again.

That’s the win.

And that’s why I created Agile Product Mastery. Not just to teach frameworks, but to help mid-career professionals build freedom, confidence, and clarity in a world that’s anything but.

Want to Start? Grab the Free Kit

If you’re ready to start carving your own path, I put together a simple, practical Career Optionality Kit — it includes frameworks, reflection prompts, and a few tools that helped me build these edges.

It’s free, and it’s a great place to begin.