In a recent LinkedIn post, Callum Laing challenges conventional career advice, urging professionals to shift from seeking existing opportunities to creating their own. Laing, a proponent of proactive career design, argues that waiting for permission or external validation is a limiting mindset that hinders true professional growth and impact.
Laing introduces a core mantra from the Veblen Director Programme: “Don’t apply for board seats, create them.” This central theme extends beyond corporate governance, encompassing a broader philosophy of taking agency in one’s professional and personal life.
“It’s not just about board seats, it’s about agency.”
The post elaborates on the common tendency for individuals to spend their careers anticipating external validation. Laing contrasts this passive approach with the mindset of high achievers who actively shape their own paths.
From Passive Application to Active Creation
Callum Laing argues that true career transformation comes not from competing for limited openings but from designing and building new opportunities. This involves a fundamental shift in perspective, moving away from seeking approval to proactively demonstrating value and building platforms for others.
The Agency Shift
According to Laing, the pivotal change is moving from the question, “Will they pick me?” to a declaration: “Here’s the value I’m creating, here’s the room I’m building, come join me.” This assertive stance, he suggests, redefines an individual’s position from a supplicant to a leader and creator.
“Too many people spend their careers waiting for permission. Waiting for someone else to open the door, to hand them the title, to play by rules they didn’t write.”
Laing emphasizes that this principle of creating opportunities rather than competing for them is not confined to board positions. He posits that this philosophy is equally applicable across various domains of life, including career advancement, business development, relationship building, and even personal health management.
A Universal Principle of Creation
The insights shared by Laing suggest a broader framework for personal and professional development. By encouraging a move towards self-directed opportunity creation, he empowers individuals to take control of their trajectories and define success on their own terms.
“The people who really change their trajectory don’t play someone else’s game. They design their own. They create opportunities rather than compete for the scraps.”
Laing concludes by posing a direct challenge to his audience: identifying areas in their own lives where they might still be waiting for permission, rather than actively creating the opportunities they desire. This call to introspection and action underscores his belief in the power of proactive agency.
“So the question is, where in your own life are you still waiting for permission, when you could be creating the opportunity instead?”
Callum Laing’s perspective offers a compelling alternative to traditional career progression models, advocating for a more empowered and self-determined approach to achieving professional and personal goals.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Callum Laing on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on January 7, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →