--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody's got an opinion. Leaders are…" description: "\"Everybody's got an opinion. Leaders are paid to make a decision. The difference between offering an opinion and making a decision is the difference bet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/bill-walsh-8609_decision_everybody-s-got-an-opinion-leaders-are-p_680665.jpg" --- # Everybody's got an opinion. Leaders are paid to make a… ![“Everybody's got an opinion. Leaders are paid to make a decision. The difference between offering an opinion and making a decision is the difference between working for the leader and being the leader.” quote by Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/bill-walsh-8609_decision_everybody-s-got-an-opinion-leaders-are-p_680665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/bill-walsh-8609_decision_everybody-s-got-an-opinion-leaders-are-p_680665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/bill-walsh-8609_decision_everybody-s-got-an-opinion-leaders-are-p_680665.jpg) > “Everybody's got an opinion. Leaders are paid to make a decision. The difference between offering an opinion and making a decision is the difference between working for the leader and being the leader.” [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must move beyond offering opinions to making decisive choices, distinguishing leadership from merely following. **In simple terms:** Leaders decide, not just comment. Key Takeaway Make decisive choices. Themes leadership decisionmaking authority responsibility Mood determined confident assertive Type advice motivational leadership. When to use this quote - business meetings - team sports - project management - crisis response - policy formation Key Concepts strategic thinking accountability power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you transition from opinion to decision? - What risks do you face when deciding? A Different Perspective Decisions can be risky and may alienate team members if not communicated well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Make Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decision/) [Making A Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-decision/) [Making decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-decision/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) [Offering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offering/) [Offering Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offering-opinion-2517222/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-leaders-136765/) [Opinion Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-making-5025387/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) ## Related quotes > [Never make a decision when you are angry and never make a promise when you are so happy, re-think before making a decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-nwakama/never-make-a-decision-when-you-are-angry-and-never-make-a-promise/) [Anne Nwakama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-nwakama/) > [“Contrary to what most people think, making a decision is one of the easiest decisions in the world, as is more than proved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/contrary-to-what-most-people-think-making-a-decision-is-one-of-the/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [The left has lost touch with popular opinion, thereby making it possible for the right to present itself as the party of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lasch/the-left-has-lost-touch-with-popular-opinion-thereby-making-it/) [Christopher Lasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lasch/) > [“Don’t expect people to recognize and compensate for their own blind spots. I constantly see people form wrong opinions and make bad decisions, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/don-t-expect-people-to-recognize-and-compensate-for-their-own-blind/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“Sometimes people confuse offering their opinion as “I’m just being honest.” What’s left out of this sentence is “… about what I think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lloyd-morgan/sometimes-people-confuse-offering-their-opinion-as-i-m-just-being/) [J. Lloyd Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lloyd-morgan/) > [But it's more an up-versus-down issue because the research has shown that opinion leaders, whether they're elected officials, journalists, business leaders - it's academics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-krikorian/but-it-s-more-an-up-versus-down-issue-because-the-research-has-shown/) [Mark Krikorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-krikorian/) > [“Traditional opinion leaders, from political parties to faith groups, lacked the persuasion machinery to compete with the Omegas’ media empire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/traditional-opinion-leaders-from-political-parties-to-faith-groups/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [I think, unfortunately, many opinion leaders in Germany - including government officials, politicians, social service bureaucrats and so forth - they are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lauterbach/i-think-unfortunately-many-opinion-leaders-in-germany-including/) [Karl Lauterbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lauterbach/) > [The true essence of reconciliation is more than making friends with nonindigenous people. Our motto is united Australia, one that respects the land and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-huggins/the-true-essence-of-reconciliation-is-more-than-making-friends-with/) [Jackie Huggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-huggins/) > [We are watching industries crumble, Wall Street firms disappear, unemployment spike, and unprecedented government intervention. And our designated opinion leaders want to know: Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/we-are-watching-industries-crumble-wall-street-firms-disappear/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Reaching a conclusion has to start with what the parties are arguing, but examining in all situations carefully the facts as they prove them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/reaching-a-conclusion-has-to-start-with-what-the-parties-are-arguing/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/true-grit-is-making-a-decision-and-standing-by-it-doing-what-must-be/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [“But he was able to understand one thing: making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-he-was-able-to-understand-one-thing-making-a-decision-was-only/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“But he was able to understand one thing: making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-he-was-able-to-understand-one-thing-making-a-decision-was-only-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) ## More by Bill Walsh > [Instilling the right culture almost always takes time. And inevitably there will be some who balk against your standards. But, you must have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/instilling-the-right-culture-almost-always-takes-time-and-inevitably/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just because it's completely crazy is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do-but-the-idea-that-something/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [A harsh reality of newspaper editing is that the deadlines don't allow for the polish that you expect in books or even magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/a-harsh-reality-of-newspaper-editing-is-that-the-deadlines-don-t/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [All successful leaders know where we want to go, figure out a way we believe will get the organization there, and then move forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/all-successful-leaders-know-where-we-want-to-go-figure-out-a-way-we/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [The ability to help the people around me self-actualize their goals underlines the single aspect of my abilities and the label that I value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/the-ability-to-help-the-people-around-me-self-actualize-their-goals/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [The running game in pro football has gotten so boring. There's just four or five plays they can run. I think the whole thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/the-running-game-in-pro-football-has-gotten-so-boring-there-s-just/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Everybody isn't everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/everybody-isn-t-everybody/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [You can only succeed when people are communicating, not just from the top down, but in complete interchange. Communication comes from fighting off my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/you-can-only-succeed-when-people-are-communicating-not-just-from-the/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Your enthusiasm becomes their enthusiasm; your lukewarm presentation becomes their lukewarm interest in what you're offering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/your-enthusiasm-becomes-their-enthusiasm-your-lukewarm-presentation/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Victory is produced by and belongs to all. Winning a Super Bowl results from you whole team not only doing their individual jobs but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/victory-is-produced-by-and-belongs-to-all-winning-a-super-bowl/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [One of the common traits of outstanding performers-coaches, athletes, managers, sales representatives, executives, and others who face a daily up/down, win/lose accounting system-is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/one-of-the-common-traits-of-outstanding-performers-coaches-athletes/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Consistent motivation usually comes from a consuming desire to be able to perform at your best under pressure, namely, the pressure produced by tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/consistent-motivation-usually-comes-from-a-consuming-desire-to-be/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Invest in great relationships, they will pay a lifetime of dividends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/invest-in-great-relationships-they-will-pay-a-lifetime-of-dividends/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [There is a weird phenomenon where technology seems to be getting dumber in some ways as it gets smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/there-is-a-weird-phenomenon-where-technology-seems-to-be-getting/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the results, the process rather than the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/concentrate-on-what-will-produce-results-rather-than-on-the-results/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) [Explore all 79 Bill Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody's got an opinion. Leaders are paid to make a decision. 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