“There are three ways to get something done: do it yourself, hire someone to do it for you, or forbid your children from doing it” is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. “There are three ways to get something done—do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your kids to do it” was printed in many newspapers on August 12, 1972, in a feature by Field Enterprises, Inc. Authorship is unknown.
   
       
12 August 1972, Register-Star (Rockford, IL), pg. TV-18, col. 3:
There are three ways to get something done—do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your kids to do it.
 
12 August 1972, The Star (Terra Haute, IN), “Outside Wilson,” pg. 10, col. 3:
There are three ways to get something done—do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your kids to do it.
(This feature is credited to Field Enterprises, Inc.—ed.)
 
13 August 1972, Daily Press (Newport News, VA), “Earl’s Laugh” by Earl Wilson, pg. E3, col. 3:
There are three ways to get something done—do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your kids to do it.
   
16 November 1976, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Smile,” Tempo, sec. 2, pg. 1, col. 4:
There are three ways to get something done: do it yourself, hire someone, or forbid your kids to do it.
   
Google Books
14,000 Quips & Quotes:
For Speakers, Writers, Editors, Preachers, and Teachers
BY E. C. McKenzie
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House
1990, ©1980
Pg. 5:
There are three ways to get something done: do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your kids to do it.
   
Google Books
Today’s Chuckle:
2500 Great One-Liners for Every Occasion
By Paul Harlan Collins
New York, NY: Perigree Books
1993
Pg. 40:
There are three ways to get something done: do it yourself, hire someone, or forbid your kids to do it.
 
Google Groups: news.admin.net-abuse.sightings
[email] There are three ways to get something done: do it yourself; hire someone; or forbid your kids to do it. yin
Rick Troha
12/6/04
The address this was sent to has NEVER been opted-in to anything.
   
Google Books
The Little Red Book of Dad’s Wisdom
Edited by Nick Lyons and Tony Lyons
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2011
Pg. 171:
There are three ways to get something done: (1) Do it yourself. (2) Hire someone to do it for you. (3) Forbid your kids to do it. —AUTHOR UNKNOWN
 
Twitter
Thomas Bullinger
@tbulli
There are three ways to get something done: (1) Do it yourself. (2) Hire someone to do it for you. (3) Forbid your kids to do it.
2:13 PM - 30 Jul 2018