--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we buy somebody, we cut the head…" description: "\"When we buy somebody, we cut the head off. We keep the operators who are looking - I hate to use this term - they're looking for a leader. We lead very..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/tilman-j-fertitta-15232_better_when-we-buy-somebody-we-cut-the-head-off_1051779.jpg" --- # When we buy somebody, we cut the head off. We keep the… ![“When we buy somebody, we cut the head off. We keep the operators who are looking - I hate to use this term - they're looking for a leader. We lead very well. And we immediately spend money on them and make them better. Everybody wants to be led. Except for me. I want to lead.” quote by Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/tilman-j-fertitta-15232_better_when-we-buy-somebody-we-cut-the-head-off_1051779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/tilman-j-fertitta-15232_better_when-we-buy-somebody-we-cut-the-head-off_1051779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/tilman-j-fertitta-15232_better_when-we-buy-somebody-we-cut-the-head-off_1051779.jpg) > “When we buy somebody, we cut the head off. We keep the operators who are looking - I hate to use this term - they're looking for a leader. We lead very well. And we immediately spend money on them and make them better. Everybody wants to be led. Except for me. I want to lead.” [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes between being led and leading, expressing a preference for personal leadership over being led. **In simple terms:** He prefers leading rather than being led. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal leadership qualities. Themes leadership autonomy control Mood assertive confident Type motivational business When to use this quote - corporate culture - entrepreneurship Key Concepts self‑direction management style Questions to Reflect On - Do you lead or follow? - What qualities define effective leadership? A Different Perspective Leadership can become authoritarian if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody wants to be led. Except for me. I want to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/everybody-wants-to-be-led-except-for-me-i-want-to-lead/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [When I joined Walmart, I just had a team mindset, but I look back on it now, and I realize some of those early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/when-i-joined-walmart-i-just-had-a-team-mindset-but-i-look-back-on-it/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [That's a tough thing when you've got a team that's looking at you as a leader and you're a rookie. You've got to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/that-s-a-tough-thing-when-you-ve-got-a-team-that-s-looking-at-you-as/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who's gonna be intent on destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonna-sit-across-the-negotiating/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Whenever a high-profile leader dies, people immediately attempt to summarize that person's life in a sentence. Often, critics and commentators get caught up looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/whenever-a-high-profile-leader-dies-people-immediately-attempt-to/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I believe that the people are looking for a leader who has experience, who has courage, who has vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/i-believe-that-the-people-are-looking-for-a-leader-who-has-experience/) Matthew Coon Come > [People are looking for a leader independent of powerful, wealthy special interests that always push to the front of the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/people-are-looking-for-a-leader-independent-of-powerful-wealthy/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [When I'm looking for a leader who's going to fight ISIS and keep America secure, I don't want some meek and mild leader or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-going-to-fight-isis-and-keep/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [People imitate their leader. Lead by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/people-imitate-their-leader-lead-by-example/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [If you want to be a leader, go lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-want-to-be-a-leader-go-lead/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [You supposed to be in charge. You supposed to the leader. Lead us to some breakfast then nigga!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-freeman/you-supposed-to-be-in-charge-you-supposed-to-the-leader-lead-us-to/) [Riley Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-freeman/) > [“Iggy: So what are we going to do? Yeah leader, lead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/iggy-so-what-are-we-going-to-do-yeah-leader-lead/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [A leader has to lead otherwise he has no business in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/a-leader-has-to-lead-otherwise-he-has-no-business-in-politics/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/one-of-the-most-important-actions-things-a-leader-can-do-is-to-lead/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [It is time for a leader who will lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-is-time-for-a-leader-who-will-lead/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) ## More by Tilman J. Fertitta > [We're all born with different talents. I'm really not that smart, but I can see things - financially and development-wise. It's just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/we-re-all-born-with-different-talents-i-m-really-not-that-smart-but-i/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [I know all three facets of the business: the development side, the operations side, and I know how to borrow the money and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/i-know-all-three-facets-of-the-business-the-development-side-the/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [When you have to stay late, you stay late, and when you don't have to stay late, you go home. But, you do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/when-you-have-to-stay-late-you-stay-late-and-when-you-don-t-have-to/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [You have to know your strengths and weaknesses. If you don't have a particular strength, you need to go out and replace that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/you-have-to-know-your-strengths-and-weaknesses-if-you-don-t-have-a/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [We will do whatever it takes to keep Tom Herman at the University of Houston. We're not going to lose Tom Herman because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/we-will-do-whatever-it-takes-to-keep-tom-herman-at-the-university-of/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [You've got to stay strong to be strong in tough times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/you-ve-got-to-stay-strong-to-be-strong-in-tough-times/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [For years, people have been trying to talk to me about doing a show, and I wouldn't do one because I'm a serious business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/for-years-people-have-been-trying-to-talk-to-me-about-doing-a-show/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [I have no issue with raising minimum wage, but then the customer can't say to us, 'Why are you raising your prices?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/i-have-no-issue-with-raising-minimum-wage-but-then-the-customer-can-t/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [I always ask candidates two things: 'How many times have you been fired?' and, 'Do you watch your clock when it's time to go?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/i-always-ask-candidates-two-things-how-many-times-have-you-been-fired/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [Everybody notices if you're the last one in in the morning and the first one to go in the evening. Always remember that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/everybody-notices-if-you-re-the-last-one-in-in-the-morning-and-the/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [Don't ever let your business get ahead of the financial side of your business. Accounting, accounting, accounting. Know your numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/don-t-ever-let-your-business-get-ahead-of-the-financial-side-of-your/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [We don't use consultants at Landry's. We're our consultants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/we-don-t-use-consultants-at-landry-s-we-re-our-consultants/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [I must have a God-given talent, which is the ability to multitask, plus I have great retention. I'm not the smartest guy, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/i-must-have-a-god-given-talent-which-is-the-ability-to-multitask-plus/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [People throw in the towel because they don't know how to fight. You'd be surprised how much fight you have in you if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/people-throw-in-the-towel-because-they-don-t-know-how-to-fight-you-d/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [I ask people what they do in sales, how much money they made last year, what their cost of sales is, and they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/i-ask-people-what-they-do-in-sales-how-much-money-they-made-last-year/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) [Explore all 43 Tilman J. Fertitta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. 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I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we buy somebody, we cut the head off. We keep the operators who are looking - I hate to use this term - they're looking for a leader. We lead very well. And we immediately spend money on them and make them better. Everybody wants to be led. Except for me. I want to lead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tilman J. 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