I remember preparing for a party years ago, rushing around the house trying to finish a dozen things at once. My kids were still home then, and one of my teenage sons asked how he could help. I handed him a small task because it was what came to mind in the moment. But before he walked away, he paused and said, “Mom, the younger kids can do that. Give me something they can’t do. Do you need me to move anything? Bring something from the basement? Reach something high up?”
I’ve never forgotten that simple yet powerful reminder: make the best use of the strengths you already have.
Arturo and I apply that same principle at work. When I first got my real estate license and we started working together, we quickly realized we needed to function according to our strengths—not just our needs. Arturo enjoys driving, showing homes, negotiating, and talking on the phone. I love planning, creating, teaching, and running a business. If we swapped roles, neither of us would thrive, and we certainly wouldn’t enjoy the work.
The same is true in any relationship, whether at home, at work, or in community. When we understand our strengths—and even more importantly, when we honor them—we naturally gravitate toward the responsibilities that fit us best. It’s another way of saying that every person has things that only they can do.
For me, that includes being a mother and now a grandmother. I’m the only mother my children will ever have. So when I’m needed in that role, everything else becomes secondary. I can delegate many tasks in my life, but I cannot delegate that.
When we become clear about what only we can do—and what we do best—we become more effective, more productive, and more fulfilled. That doesn’t mean we never do hard things or tasks outside our strengths. Life requires that sometimes. But those should be the exceptions, not the norm.
There is peace and power in staying in your lane, doing what you’re uniquely gifted to do, and letting others do the same. When we do that, everyone wins.