Checks Quote by Robert Metcalfe
“If you cannot be on the project each day to check on things, then you should not try and be your own contractor.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Business Advice, Robert Metcalfe, 1990s
Delegating tasks without daily oversight leads to loss of control; better to avoid self‑contracting if you can't monitor consistently.
In simple terms: Don't manage a project you can't check daily.
Key Takeaway
Avoid self‑contracting without oversight.
Themes
management
delegation
control
Mood
cautious
practical
Type
advisory
business
When to use this quote
- startup founders
- freelancers
- small business owners
- team leads
- DIY projects
Key Concepts
Project management
accountability
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you set up effective monitoring before taking on a role?
- What tools help maintain oversight remotely?
A Different Perspective
If you delegate, you still need reliable reporting mechanisms.
![“When the fountains of government [borrowing] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the state was forced to check the extension of bureaucracy and to put a stop to public works, then and then only did the Italians realize what it…” quote by John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/908/john-t-flynn-18493_abundance_when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowi_2663.jpg)
