Recently, I was watching a group of women climb a boulder. Some were doing well, but one woman was stuck, and I recognized immediately what the problem was.

She was trying to pull herself up with her arms instead of lifting herself with her legs, which were much stronger.

I see this too often in business. We try to do our heavy lifting with our weakest muscles—striking out in new areas instead of utilizing the strengths we’ve already developed.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try new things—especially if you haven’t been doing what you truly love to do.

I just think it’s far too common for women, especially, to discount what we know. We think that what we already know isn’t good enough or strong enough, when it’s often the most valuable gift we could offer.

Or we fail to see how valuable our contribution is, and, thus, don’t set the investment to work with us at a level that is equal to the transformation our work provides.

So the next time you’re inclined to discount your expertise, think of that woman on that rock, and reconsider your strengths.

Acknowledge the powerful muscles you’ve already developed, and lift yourself up from there.