---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think that hiring professionals is…"
description: "\"If you think that hiring professionals is expensive, try hiring amateurs\" — Red Adair"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/red-adair-33673_amateur_if-you-think-that-hiring-professionals-i_2846740.jpg"
---

#  If you think that hiring professionals is expensive, try…

![“If you think that hiring professionals is expensive, try hiring amateurs” quote by Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/red-adair-33673_amateur_if-you-think-that-hiring-professionals-i_2846740.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/red-adair-33673_amateur_if-you-think-that-hiring-professionals-i_2846740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/red-adair-33673_amateur_if-you-think-that-hiring-professionals-i_2846740.jpg)

> “If you think that hiring professionals is expensive, try hiring amateurs”

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hiring professionals may seem costly, but hiring amateurs can be even more expensive due to inefficiency and risk.

**In simple terms:** Professionals cost more but reduce risk.

Key Takeaway

Invest in expertise to avoid hidden costs.

Themes

cost expertise risk

Mood

pragmatic cautious

Type

business practical

When to use this quote

- project planning
- business strategy
- hiring decisions

Key Concepts

economics risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden costs arise from cheap labor?
- How to evaluate true value of expertise?

A Different Perspective

Amateur mistakes can cause greater loss.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Amateurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amateurs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [If you think hiring a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-think-hiring-a-professional-is-expensive-try-hiring-an-amateur/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Amateurs know that contributing something is better than contributing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/amateurs-know-that-contributing-something-is-better-than-contributing/)

[Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/)

> [Who gives a damn about being remembered? That's really for amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/who-gives-a-damn-about-being-remembered-that-s-really-for-amateurs/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [“Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/amateurs-look-for-inspiration-the-rest-of-us-just-get-up-and-go-to/)

[Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/)

> [Amateurs believe their enthusiasm will suffice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/amateurs-believe-their-enthusiasm-will-suffice/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [Amateurs... venture into scenes that a writer with more experience (and more professional concern) would bypass or eschew altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/amateurs-venture-into-scenes-that-a-writer-with-more-experience-and/)

[Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/)

> [“Inspiration is for amateurs--the rest of us just show up and get to work. - Chuck Close”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-fig/inspiration-is-for-amateurs-the-rest-of-us-just-show-up-and-get-to/)

Joe Fig

> [Waiting for inspiration is for amateurs; professionals get to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/waiting-for-inspiration-is-for-amateurs-professionals-get-to-work/)

[Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/)

> [Turning pro is a mindset. If we are struggling with fear, self-sabotage, procrastination, self-doubt, etc., the problem is, we're thinking like amateurs. Amateurs don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/turning-pro-is-a-mindset-if-we-are-struggling-with-fear-self-sabotage/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [Amateurs want to be right. Professionals want to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/amateurs-want-to-be-right-professionals-want-to-make-money/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [“...most gentlemen of breeding considered themselves amateurs at all kinds of disciplines. Go all the way back to Jefferson, who collected fossils and wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hitt/most-gentlemen-of-breeding-considered-themselves-amateurs-at-all/)

[Jack Hitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hitt/)

> [“True artists unburden their envies and work toward encouraging amateurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/true-artists-unburden-their-envies-and-work-toward-encouraging/)

[Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/)

> [“Inspiration is for amateurs,” Close says. “The rest of us just show up and get to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-currey/inspiration-is-for-amateurs-close-says-the-rest-of-us-just-show-up/)

[Mason Currey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-currey/)

> [Inspiration is for amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inspiration-is-for-amateurs/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/)

[Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/)

## More by Red Adair

> [Throughout my years, I've had the pleasure of assembling and training what I believe to be the best group of people in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/throughout-my-years-i-ve-had-the-pleasure-of-assembling-and-training/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [The only thing more expensive than hiring a professional, is hiring an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/the-only-thing-more-expensive-than-hiring-a-professional-is-hiring-an/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [It scares you: all the noise, the rattling, the shaking. But the look on everybody's face when you're finished and packing, it's the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/it-scares-you-all-the-noise-the-rattling-the-shaking-but-the-look-on/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [I’ve traveled all over the world, but I don’t think there is any place better than Texas,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/i-ve-traveled-all-over-the-world-but-i-don-t-think-there-is-any-place/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/if-you-think-it-s-expensive-to-hire-a-professional-to-do-the-job-wait/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [I've done made a deal with the devil. He said he's going to give me an air-conditioned place when I go down there, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/i-ve-done-made-a-deal-with-the-devil-he-said-he-s-going-to-give-me-an/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [The good Lord put oil and gas there for us to find and use, and we'd better do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/the-good-lord-put-oil-and-gas-there-for-us-to-find-and-use-and-we-d/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [Never fear a job, always respect it, and always leave yourself a hind door to escape. May your hind door always be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/never-fear-a-job-always-respect-it-and-always-leave-yourself-a-hind/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [With bombs and fires, you get only one mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/with-bombs-and-fires-you-get-only-one-mistake/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [Retire? I don't know what that word means. As long as a man is able to work and he's productive out there and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/retire-i-don-t-know-what-that-word-means-as-long-as-a-man-is-able-to/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [I've got cut half in two, once, and blowed up a time or two, but nothing permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/i-ve-got-cut-half-in-two-once-and-blowed-up-a-time-or-two-but-nothing/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [I’ve done made a deal with the devil,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/i-ve-done-made-a-deal-with-the-devil/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

> [I've got too many of my friends that retired and went home and got on a rocking chair, and about a year and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/i-ve-got-too-many-of-my-friends-that-retired-and-went-home-and-got-on/)

[Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

[Explore all 14 Red Adair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/)

## More Amateur quotes

> [“The amateur doesn't appreciate the need for experimentation. He wants his experts to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/the-amateur-doesn-t-appreciate-the-need-for-experimentation-he-wants/)

[B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/)

> [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/)

[James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/)

> [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/)

[Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/)

> [I did a musical when I was 17, an amateur show, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-did-a-musical-when-i-was-17-an-amateur-show-and-i-loved-it/)

[Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/)

> [Every artist was first an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-artist-was-first-an-amateur/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/)

Alan Sheinwald

> [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/)

[Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/)

> [I read a lot of 'Nancy Drew' books as a kid and considered myself a bit of an amateur detective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-read-a-lot-of-nancy-drew-books-as-a-kid-and-considered-myself-a-bit/)

[Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/)

> [Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti-environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/professionalism-is-environmental-amateurism-is-anti-environmental/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [You count a man's U.S. Amateur titles after he starts winning professional majors. That's something any intelligent golf writer with a sense of history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/you-count-a-man-s-u-s-amateur-titles-after-he-starts-winning/)

[Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/)

> [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/)

[Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/)

> [Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/amateur-boxing-is-one-of-the-safest-sports-around/)

[Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/)

> [“Amateur: One reckless enough to risk being interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barringer/amateur-one-reckless-enough-to-risk-being-interesting/)

David Barringer

> [Time management is probably the biggest thing I've had to learn to deal with being on the PGA Tour, whether it be media or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-fowler/time-management-is-probably-the-biggest-thing-i-ve-had-to-learn-to/)

[Rickie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-fowler/)

> [When people buy, rescue, or otherwise acquire a dog from unscrupulous breeders or amateur rescue groups, they are making a decision with ethical consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/when-people-buy-rescue-or-otherwise-acquire-a-dog-from-unscrupulous/)

[Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/)

Browse all 352 Amateur quotes

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