---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green…"
description: "\"My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green Beret - always looked nice and wore these bright Sansabelt pants. He always said, \"You have two options: You can ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg"
---

#  My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green Beret - always…

![“My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green Beret - always looked nice and wore these bright Sansabelt pants. He always said, &quot;You have two options: You can be a follower or you can be a leader. And you don't ever want to follow anybody.&quot; And that's kind of become my philosophy about everything.” quote by Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg)

> “My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green Beret - always looked nice and wore these bright Sansabelt pants. He always said, "You have two options: You can be a follower or you can be a leader. And you don't ever want to follow anybody." And that's kind of become my philosophy about everything.”

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

## About This Quote

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

Leadership demands choosing to guide rather than follow, rejecting passive conformity in all pursuits

**In simple terms:** Be a leader, not a follower

Key Takeaway

Adopt a proactive, decisive mindset

Themes

leadership self-reliance determination

Mood

determined confident

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- team projects
- personal goal setting

Key Concepts

agency choice personal philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What does true leadership look like in teamwork?
- When have you resisted following and succeeded?

A Different Perspective

Leaders must also listen and collaborate, not just dominate

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Green beret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-beret/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Two options](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-options/)

## Related quotes

> [If you love your dad, it’s tough when he dies. If you don’t like your dad, it’s tough when he dies. Because you lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-iovine/if-you-love-your-dad-it-s-tough-when-he-dies-if-you-don-t-like-your/)

[Jimmy Iovine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-iovine/)

> [Merlin's pants! shrieked Hermione, getting up and running up stairs. Merlin's pants? said Ron, looking amused. She must be really upset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/merlin-s-pants-shrieked-hermione-getting-up-and-running-up-stairs/)

[JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/)

> [“But I don't just want you to get into my pants," he said. " I want you to get into my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wilgus/but-i-don-t-just-want-you-to-get-into-my-pants-he-said-i-want-you-to/)

[Nick Wilgus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wilgus/)

> [“I walked in front of him, stopped, bent over, pulled down my pants, and said, “Did I just catch you looking at my ass?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-walked-in-front-of-him-stopped-bent-over-pulled-down-my-pants-and/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [I think about my dad and how tough he had it. They treated us a lot better in our minor league system, especially with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-about-my-dad-and-how-tough-he-had-it-they-treated-us-a-lot/)

[Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/)

> [She ran her gaze over his chest with frank appreciation. Then he shivered, realizing he hadn't really considered the weather. It was forty-five degrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/she-ran-her-gaze-over-his-chest-with-frank-appreciation-then-he/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [ “Those boys just want to get in your pants," he said. "You know that, right?" \[...\] "That's not true," Tiffany said. Well, of course… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/those-boys-just-want-to-get-in-your-pants-he-said-you-know-that-right/)

[Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/)

> [“I spoke on a panel once with a famous new age author/guru in leather pants and she said that the problem with women is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-spoke-on-a-panel-once-with-a-famous-new-age-author-guru-in-leather/)

[Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/)

> [I'm a very tough dad. I mean, I'm a fun dad, but I'm a tough dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/i-m-a-very-tough-dad-i-mean-i-m-a-fun-dad-but-i-m-a-tough-dad/)

[John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/)

> [My father wasn't a cruel man. And I loved him. But he was a pretty tough character. His own father was even tougher -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-father-wasn-t-a-cruel-man-and-i-loved-him-but-he-was-a-pretty/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [ She'll really tell me \[what she thinks\]. Like today I'm wearing brown suede pants, and she said, 'I don't like your pants.' But then… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/she-ll-really-tell-me-what-she-thinks-like-today-i-m-wearing-brown/)

[Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/)

> [Had that poor Reilly kook really been proud of Levy Pants? He had always said that he was. That was one good sign of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/had-that-poor-reilly-kook-really-been-proud-of-levy-pants-he-had/)

[John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/)

> [Dad was a tough cookie. He expected a lot from people when they were employed to do a job. If they don't do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/dad-was-a-tough-cookie-he-expected-a-lot-from-people-when-they-were/)

[Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/)

> [Dad's such a tough guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/dad-s-such-a-tough-guy/)

[Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/)

> [My dad was a tough man. I think that would be putting it mildly. Short on praise, short on communications. Long on leading by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-france/my-dad-was-a-tough-man-i-think-that-would-be-putting-it-mildly-short/)

[Brian France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-france/)

## More by Bubba Watson

> [I'm not afraid of anything. My two favorite colors are lime green and hot pink. I mean, I really like pink. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-m-not-afraid-of-anything-my-two-favorite-colors-are-lime-green-and/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [Who listens to golfers? They're boring. If I want to wear camouflage on the golf course during a tournament, I will. And I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/who-listens-to-golfers-they-re-boring-if-i-want-to-wear-camouflage-on/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [I want to keep playing good golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-want-to-keep-playing-good-golf/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [If I have a swing, I have a shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/if-i-have-a-swing-i-have-a-shot/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [My dad was a hard worker, very dedicated to his family - very smart. Didn't like to be told what to do. Kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/my-dad-was-a-hard-worker-very-dedicated-to-his-family-very-smart-didn/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [Paris is a beautiful city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/paris-is-a-beautiful-city/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [It's about hitting the ball in the center of the club face and hitting it hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/it-s-about-hitting-the-ball-in-the-center-of-the-club-face-and/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [There is a lot of learning I have to do and a lot of growing up I have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/there-is-a-lot-of-learning-i-have-to-do-and-a-lot-of-growing-up-i/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [I don't play golf for fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-don-t-play-golf-for-fame/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [My life is fulfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/my-life-is-fulfilled/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [When a professional baseball team asks you to throw out the first pitch, that's an honor, and you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/when-a-professional-baseball-team-asks-you-to-throw-out-the-first/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [I am uncomfortable with heights, I'm scared of the dark and I am scared of big crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-am-uncomfortable-with-heights-i-m-scared-of-the-dark-and-i-am/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [I'm as good as I can be right now, i don't see anything that I need to really change or do differently. I'm on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-m-as-good-as-i-can-be-right-now-i-don-t-see-anything-that-i-need-to/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [I'm mostly just getting used to the idea that people want to hear what I have to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-m-mostly-just-getting-used-to-the-idea-that-people-want-to-hear/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

> [I’m here to win a championship. I’m not here to goof around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/i-m-here-to-win-a-championship-i-m-not-here-to-goof-around/)

[Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

[Explore all 54 Bubba Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/)

## More Dad quotes

> [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/)

[Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/)

> [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/)

[Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/)

> [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/)

[Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/)

> [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/)

[Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/)

> [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/)

[Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/)

> [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/)

[Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/)

> [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/)

[Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/)

> [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/)

[Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/)

> [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/)

[David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/)

> [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/)

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

> [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/)

[Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/)

> [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/)

[Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/)

[Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green Beret - always looked nice and wore these bright Sansabelt pants. He always said, \"You have two options: You can be a follower or you can be a leader. And you don't ever want to follow anybody.\" And that's kind of become my philosophy about everything.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bubba Watson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret-always-looked-nice-and-wore/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret-always-looked-nice-and-wore/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/970/bubba-watson-12522_dad_my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret_2785217.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My dad - who was a tough guy, a Green Beret - always looked nice and wore these bright Sansabelt pants. He…” — Bubba Watson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Bubba Watson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My dad - who was a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret-always-looked-nice-and-wore/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/my-dad-who-was-a-tough-guy-a-green-beret-always-looked-nice-and-wore/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
