Delegation Isn’t Lazy—It’s Smart
Yesterday, I read something that gave me a fresh perspective on the idea of delegation. It reminded me that we all get the same 24 hours in a day—it’s how we use those minutes and seconds that makes the difference. And lately, I’ve been binge-watching (okay, more like binge-listening) to The Food That Built America. I’m fascinated by how many of our household-name food brands came into existence—and more importantly, how they reflect the evolution of how we save time.
Think about it: human history has been one big experiment in buying back time. Back in our cave-people days, we spent most of our waking hours hunting and gathering food. That was survival mode—no spare time for hobbies or deep thinking (unless your hobby was inventing fire).
Then came agriculture. Suddenly, not everyone had to hunt. Some could farm, others could build, trade, or daydream about inventing sliced bread. With the invention of food-processing and ready-to-eat meals, we shaved even more time off daily survival. Next, cooking equipment came along—microwaves, toasters, air fryers—giving us hot meals in minutes. Fast food and restaurants took it a step further. And now? We tap a screen and DoorDash or Uber Eats brings dinner to our door without us even needing to put on real pants.
All of this is delegation in action.
We’ve gone from spending hours making meals from scratch to outsourcing food prep to businesses, technology, and services—all so we can spend that saved time on other parts of life: our goals, our families, our peace of mind.
And no, delegation doesn’t mean hiring a full-time personal assistant or living like a billionaire (though hey, we can dream). It can be as simple as buying pre-cut veggies instead of whole ones. Or picking up a deli-prepared meal instead of cooking every night. These may seem like tiny changes, but they can add up—minutes saved become hours, hours become days, and soon, you’ve bought back weeks of your life.
Here’s the key: delegate with purpose.
Not everything needs to be outsourced. Maybe you love folding laundry or find peace in vacuuming. Great—keep doing that! But if cleaning the bathroom feels like the ninth circle of hell, maybe it’s time to budget for a cleaning service once a month. It’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.
Personally, I’ve had to come to terms with my own limitations. I wish I could help my son with all his homework, especially math. But with my blindness, it’s a challenging (and time-consuming) process. Yes, I could do it—but it’s not the most efficient use of our time. Instead, I’ve started looking into a tutor or after-school learning center to make sure he gets the best support possible. I had to let go of that picture-perfect “dad helping with homework” moment—and I’m okay with that, because what matters most is his success.
In my business, I delegate the visual tasks to my team while I focus on backend operations—because that’s where I shine. We all have strengths. Play to them.
Even history shows us that delegation is natural. We’ve outsourced laundry to washers and dryers. We let robots vacuum our homes. (Thank you, Roomba.) The trick is not to feel guilty about it.
Yes, there’s the cost factor—I get it. I don’t have the budget to Uber everywhere either (though if I did, trust me, I’d be rolling up everywhere like a VIP). But even if you can’t afford to delegate everything, you can probably afford to delegate something.
Start small. One task at a time. Let go of the ego that says “I must do it all.” You don’t. You shouldn’t. You were meant for more than just doing dishes.
So what are the little switches you can make in your life to reclaim some time? What can you let go of today that frees you up to focus on your true purpose?
Because at the end of the day, delegation isn’t about doing less—it’s about making space to do what matters more.
Blind Can You Can 