Feb. 4, 2025
886. How to Make Decisions and Stand by Them
Leadership isn’t about being liked. It’s not about going with the flow or waiting for permission. It’s about making decisions—owning them, standing by them, and knowing when to adjust.
Too many people hesitate. They overthink, second-guess, and stay stuck in opinion mode instead of stepping into decision mode. And that’s exactly what we’re tackling in today’s episode.
I’m diving into a powerful lesson from Bill Walsh’s The Score Takes Care of Itself—a lesson on the strength of will. Because real leadership isn’t just about making a choice; it’s about having the conviction to stand firm when the pressure is on.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know:
✅ Why making a decision—any decision—is better than staying stuck
✅ How to tell if you're standing firm for the right reasons or just being stubborn
✅ The difference between offering an opinion and owning a decision
✅ When to stay the course and when to course-correct—without letting ego get in the way
If you’re facing a tough choice right now—whether in business, life, or leadership—this episode is for you. It’s time to stop hesitating, stop waiting, and start leading.
Let’s get into it.
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Keep it simple. Keep it moving. Never settle. Stay tough.
Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.900 --> 00:00:04.959
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to throw out an opinion?
00:00:05.538 --> 00:00:11.490
I mean, dude, everybody's got one, but making a decision that's different.
00:00:11.890 --> 00:00:12.789
That's rare.
00:00:13.529 --> 00:00:15.960
And that's what separates a leader from everyone else.
00:00:16.789 --> 00:00:18.618
A lot of people get stuck right there.
00:00:19.428 --> 00:00:25.728
They're afraid to commit, afraid to be wrong, afraid to take responsibility for the outcome.
00:00:26.368 --> 00:00:27.230
So instead.
00:00:28.074 --> 00:00:29.795
They don't make any decision at all.
00:00:30.085 --> 00:00:31.905
They stall, they hesitate.
00:00:32.283 --> 00:00:36.505
They offer opinions, but they never make a move.
00:00:37.045 --> 00:00:55.439
Today I want to push you past the hesitation phase because if you're going to lead, and when I say lead, whether it's going to be in business in your family or dammit in your own life, You have to start making decisions and you have to be able to stand by them too.
00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:59.700
This lesson comes straight from coach Bill Walsh.
00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:06.329
The score takes care of itself and it's one of the greatest books on leadership and he puts it bluntly.
00:01:06.829 --> 00:01:10.420
Leaders make decisions, not just opinions.
00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:12.659
So let's get into it.
00:01:13.825 --> 00:01:32.313
so when you're leading, whether it's your business or a team or you're just trying to turn your life around, you're going to face moments where the pressure is on sometimes the scoreboard isn't reflecting your effort and people start second guessing you.
00:01:32.894 --> 00:01:34.194
The room gets quiet.
00:01:34.884 --> 00:01:36.194
Heads begin to lower.
00:01:36.974 --> 00:01:39.950
eyes shift away cause you're not the winning horse.
00:01:39.969 --> 00:01:41.530
They're not making eye contact with you.
00:01:41.930 --> 00:01:56.609
As a matter of fact, you're kind of like you're kryptonite to everybody and you feel like that you're just standing alone and you might be walsh says, this is when you find out if you're a leader or not.
00:01:57.650 --> 00:02:02.319
It's in those tough times because leadership isn't about following the crowd.
00:02:03.329 --> 00:02:07.719
It's not about waiting for an approval or seeking validation.
00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:15.870
It's about seeing the path, gathering the best information and then making a damn decision.
00:02:16.794 --> 00:02:17.724
And let's be real.
00:02:18.534 --> 00:02:21.115
Sometimes that decision is going to be unpopular.
00:02:21.805 --> 00:02:23.085
People are going to doubt you.
00:02:23.594 --> 00:02:25.634
Some people will just walk away.
00:02:26.354 --> 00:02:36.335
But if your decision is rooted on sound logic, strong principles, in a clear process, you have to stand your ground.
00:02:37.405 --> 00:02:39.384
Now here's where it's going to get tricky for you.
00:02:40.294 --> 00:02:41.905
A leader must never quit.
00:02:43.025 --> 00:02:45.125
A leader must also know when to quit.
00:02:45.944 --> 00:02:46.835
Both are true.
00:02:47.514 --> 00:02:57.895
And knowing the difference is going to be everything in leadership for you because there's a fine line between the strength of will and blind stubbornness.
00:02:58.564 --> 00:03:06.044
Some leaders refuse to change course, not because they're right, but because they're too proud to admit that they're wrong.
00:03:07.145 --> 00:03:11.305
History is full of people who doubled down on a bad decision.
00:03:12.330 --> 00:03:14.349
It took everyone else down with them.
00:03:15.349 --> 00:03:22.270
You don't hear about many of those because those leaders, they fail and they fade away into obscurity.
00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:25.590
So how do you know when you're on the right path?
00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:29.000
Walsh gives a simple checklist.
00:03:29.468 --> 00:03:38.800
Number one, are you making this decision based on sound logic, strong principles and a deep belief?
00:03:39.925 --> 00:03:48.985
Number two, are you persisting for the right reasons not to prove yourself right or someone else wrong?
00:03:49.344 --> 00:03:51.185
See, that's done all out of ego.
00:03:51.435 --> 00:04:02.245
When you're trying to prove that you're right, just sheer out of ego and you don't have sound logic, strong principles and a deep belief.
00:04:02.544 --> 00:04:04.705
You're just trying to prove that you're right.
00:04:05.145 --> 00:04:06.324
That's baseless.
00:04:06.895 --> 00:04:08.034
It's rudderless.
00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:21.589
And you're ultimately going to end up in defeat, but also if you have vindication out because it seems like someone's opposing you and you're trying to prove them wrong, dude, you've lost sight of the mission.
00:04:22.464 --> 00:04:34.915
Because sound logic, strong disciplines, and a deep belief in making forward progress are the reasons why you should continue on and stay the course.
00:04:35.884 --> 00:04:39.095
And number three, have you thought through your worst case scenarios?
00:04:39.574 --> 00:04:41.345
And can you still stand by your choice?
00:04:42.490 --> 00:04:43.600
This is so important.
00:04:44.050 --> 00:04:51.220
Kevin Systrom, who is the founder of Instagram said a lot of times people, it's not that they make the wrong decisions.
00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:55.348
It's that they didn't factor in all of the different scenarios.
00:04:55.860 --> 00:05:02.519
So when you're making a decision, you can't just look at what you believe is going to be the outcome.
00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:09.689
You also have to look at other possible scenarios, blindside moments and factor in those things.
00:05:09.689 --> 00:05:14.600
And if you can live with that decision, Stand with the decision and move forward.
00:05:15.750 --> 00:05:25.370
If you can't then make the adjustment, not out of fear, not out of pressure, but because that's what a real leader does.
00:05:26.410 --> 00:05:27.870
I see it happen all the time.
00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:31.250
People get stuck in what I call the decision gap.
00:05:31.838 --> 00:05:35.478
They hesitate, they analyze, they get more opinions.
00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.050
They wait for the perfect moment and then they do nothing.
00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.158
See, they think that having an opinion is enough.
00:05:44.809 --> 00:05:45.410
It's not.
00:05:46.095 --> 00:05:47.495
Everybody's got an opinion.
00:05:48.055 --> 00:05:50.314
My coach used to tell me that in football all the time.
00:05:50.774 --> 00:05:53.605
Marsh opinions are like assholes.
00:05:53.913 --> 00:05:55.074
Everybody's got one.
00:05:55.624 --> 00:05:57.463
It's the leader who makes a decision.
00:05:58.103 --> 00:06:01.434
See leaders don't sit on the sideline critiquing the game.
00:06:02.324 --> 00:06:03.684
They step into the arena.
00:06:03.963 --> 00:06:04.973
They make the call.
00:06:05.973 --> 00:06:08.384
And they take full responsibility for the outcome.
00:06:09.603 --> 00:06:12.244
And look, you're not always going to get it right.
00:06:12.624 --> 00:06:13.584
You will fail.
00:06:14.043 --> 00:06:15.004
It's part of the game.
00:06:15.454 --> 00:06:18.723
It's the part of a competitive landscape in being a leader.
00:06:18.884 --> 00:06:21.204
It's just part of it, but here's the truth.
00:06:21.214 --> 00:06:25.473
Failure in motion is better than hesitation in place.
00:06:26.314 --> 00:06:27.293
You want to be a leader?
00:06:27.934 --> 00:06:29.173
Start making decisions.
00:06:29.744 --> 00:06:31.814
Stop waiting for someone else's approval.
00:06:32.124 --> 00:06:33.653
Stop waiting for certainty.
00:06:35.029 --> 00:06:42.139
If you know in your head and you believe in your heart and it's based on sound logic and principles.
00:06:42.593 --> 00:06:45.564
And you have a process, then dammit go.
00:06:46.103 --> 00:06:52.733
And if it doesn't work, learn from it, adapt, adjust, and then make another decision.
00:06:53.324 --> 00:06:55.884
And that first decision is to go.
00:06:57.353 --> 00:06:57.744
Own it.
00:06:58.408 --> 00:07:00.579
Leadership is not comfortable at all.
00:07:00.918 --> 00:07:01.968
It's not easy.
00:07:02.418 --> 00:07:17.598
It's not always going to be rewarding, but if you want to be the kind of person that shapes his own future, who doesn't just sit there watching things happen, but one who makes things happen, then you got to make a damn decision.
00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:27.168
Not just have an opinion, not just sit on the fence, make the call, live with it, adjust if needed, but damn it own it.
00:07:27.504 --> 00:07:31.733
Because at the end of the day, the score always takes care of itself.
00:07:32.624 --> 00:07:34.024
Thanks for sharing today's episode.
00:07:34.033 --> 00:07:35.043
Remember, keep it simple.
00:07:35.043 --> 00:07:35.644
Keep it moving.
00:07:35.644 --> 00:07:36.184
Never settle.
00:07:36.184 --> 00:07:36.704
Stay tough.
00:07:36.723 --> 00:07:37.103
Peace.
00:00:00.900 --> 00:00:04.959
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to throw out an opinion?
00:00:05.538 --> 00:00:11.490
I mean, dude, everybody's got one, but making a decision that's different.
00:00:11.890 --> 00:00:12.789
That's rare.
00:00:13.529 --> 00:00:15.960
And that's what separates a leader from everyone else.
00:00:16.789 --> 00:00:18.618
A lot of people get stuck right there.
00:00:19.428 --> 00:00:25.728
They're afraid to commit, afraid to be wrong, afraid to take responsibility for the outcome.
00:00:26.368 --> 00:00:27.230
So instead.
00:00:28.074 --> 00:00:29.795
They don't make any decision at all.
00:00:30.085 --> 00:00:31.905
They stall, they hesitate.
00:00:32.283 --> 00:00:36.505
They offer opinions, but they never make a move.
00:00:37.045 --> 00:00:55.439
Today I want to push you past the hesitation phase because if you're going to lead, and when I say lead, whether it's going to be in business in your family or dammit in your own life, You have to start making decisions and you have to be able to stand by them too.
00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:59.700
This lesson comes straight from coach Bill Walsh.
00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:06.329
The score takes care of itself and it's one of the greatest books on leadership and he puts it bluntly.
00:01:06.829 --> 00:01:10.420
Leaders make decisions, not just opinions.
00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:12.659
So let's get into it.
00:01:13.825 --> 00:01:32.313
so when you're leading, whether it's your business or a team or you're just trying to turn your life around, you're going to face moments where the pressure is on sometimes the scoreboard isn't reflecting your effort and people start second guessing you.
00:01:32.894 --> 00:01:34.194
The room gets quiet.
00:01:34.884 --> 00:01:36.194
Heads begin to lower.
00:01:36.974 --> 00:01:39.950
eyes shift away cause you're not the winning horse.
00:01:39.969 --> 00:01:41.530
They're not making eye contact with you.
00:01:41.930 --> 00:01:56.609
As a matter of fact, you're kind of like you're kryptonite to everybody and you feel like that you're just standing alone and you might be walsh says, this is when you find out if you're a leader or not.
00:01:57.650 --> 00:02:02.319
It's in those tough times because leadership isn't about following the crowd.
00:02:03.329 --> 00:02:07.719
It's not about waiting for an approval or seeking validation.
00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:15.870
It's about seeing the path, gathering the best information and then making a damn decision.
00:02:16.794 --> 00:02:17.724
And let's be real.
00:02:18.534 --> 00:02:21.115
Sometimes that decision is going to be unpopular.
00:02:21.805 --> 00:02:23.085
People are going to doubt you.
00:02:23.594 --> 00:02:25.634
Some people will just walk away.
00:02:26.354 --> 00:02:36.335
But if your decision is rooted on sound logic, strong principles, in a clear process, you have to stand your ground.
00:02:37.405 --> 00:02:39.384
Now here's where it's going to get tricky for you.
00:02:40.294 --> 00:02:41.905
A leader must never quit.
00:02:43.025 --> 00:02:45.125
A leader must also know when to quit.
00:02:45.944 --> 00:02:46.835
Both are true.
00:02:47.514 --> 00:02:57.895
And knowing the difference is going to be everything in leadership for you because there's a fine line between the strength of will and blind stubbornness.
00:02:58.564 --> 00:03:06.044
Some leaders refuse to change course, not because they're right, but because they're too proud to admit that they're wrong.
00:03:07.145 --> 00:03:11.305
History is full of people who doubled down on a bad decision.
00:03:12.330 --> 00:03:14.349
It took everyone else down with them.
00:03:15.349 --> 00:03:22.270
You don't hear about many of those because those leaders, they fail and they fade away into obscurity.
00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:25.590
So how do you know when you're on the right path?
00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:29.000
Walsh gives a simple checklist.
00:03:29.468 --> 00:03:38.800
Number one, are you making this decision based on sound logic, strong principles and a deep belief?
00:03:39.925 --> 00:03:48.985
Number two, are you persisting for the right reasons not to prove yourself right or someone else wrong?
00:03:49.344 --> 00:03:51.185
See, that's done all out of ego.
00:03:51.435 --> 00:04:02.245
When you're trying to prove that you're right, just sheer out of ego and you don't have sound logic, strong principles and a deep belief.
00:04:02.544 --> 00:04:04.705
You're just trying to prove that you're right.
00:04:05.145 --> 00:04:06.324
That's baseless.
00:04:06.895 --> 00:04:08.034
It's rudderless.
00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:21.589
And you're ultimately going to end up in defeat, but also if you have vindication out because it seems like someone's opposing you and you're trying to prove them wrong, dude, you've lost sight of the mission.
00:04:22.464 --> 00:04:34.915
Because sound logic, strong disciplines, and a deep belief in making forward progress are the reasons why you should continue on and stay the course.
00:04:35.884 --> 00:04:39.095
And number three, have you thought through your worst case scenarios?
00:04:39.574 --> 00:04:41.345
And can you still stand by your choice?
00:04:42.490 --> 00:04:43.600
This is so important.
00:04:44.050 --> 00:04:51.220
Kevin Systrom, who is the founder of Instagram said a lot of times people, it's not that they make the wrong decisions.
00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:55.348
It's that they didn't factor in all of the different scenarios.
00:04:55.860 --> 00:05:02.519
So when you're making a decision, you can't just look at what you believe is going to be the outcome.
00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:09.689
You also have to look at other possible scenarios, blindside moments and factor in those things.
00:05:09.689 --> 00:05:14.600
And if you can live with that decision, Stand with the decision and move forward.
00:05:15.750 --> 00:05:25.370
If you can't then make the adjustment, not out of fear, not out of pressure, but because that's what a real leader does.
00:05:26.410 --> 00:05:27.870
I see it happen all the time.
00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:31.250
People get stuck in what I call the decision gap.
00:05:31.838 --> 00:05:35.478
They hesitate, they analyze, they get more opinions.
00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.050
They wait for the perfect moment and then they do nothing.
00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.158
See, they think that having an opinion is enough.
00:05:44.809 --> 00:05:45.410
It's not.
00:05:46.095 --> 00:05:47.495
Everybody's got an opinion.
00:05:48.055 --> 00:05:50.314
My coach used to tell me that in football all the time.
00:05:50.774 --> 00:05:53.605
Marsh opinions are like assholes.
00:05:53.913 --> 00:05:55.074
Everybody's got one.
00:05:55.624 --> 00:05:57.463
It's the leader who makes a decision.
00:05:58.103 --> 00:06:01.434
See leaders don't sit on the sideline critiquing the game.
00:06:02.324 --> 00:06:03.684
They step into the arena.
00:06:03.963 --> 00:06:04.973
They make the call.
00:06:05.973 --> 00:06:08.384
And they take full responsibility for the outcome.
00:06:09.603 --> 00:06:12.244
And look, you're not always going to get it right.
00:06:12.624 --> 00:06:13.584
You will fail.
00:06:14.043 --> 00:06:15.004
It's part of the game.
00:06:15.454 --> 00:06:18.723
It's the part of a competitive landscape in being a leader.
00:06:18.884 --> 00:06:21.204
It's just part of it, but here's the truth.
00:06:21.214 --> 00:06:25.473
Failure in motion is better than hesitation in place.
00:06:26.314 --> 00:06:27.293
You want to be a leader?
00:06:27.934 --> 00:06:29.173
Start making decisions.
00:06:29.744 --> 00:06:31.814
Stop waiting for someone else's approval.
00:06:32.124 --> 00:06:33.653
Stop waiting for certainty.
00:06:35.029 --> 00:06:42.139
If you know in your head and you believe in your heart and it's based on sound logic and principles.
00:06:42.593 --> 00:06:45.564
And you have a process, then dammit go.
00:06:46.103 --> 00:06:52.733
And if it doesn't work, learn from it, adapt, adjust, and then make another decision.
00:06:53.324 --> 00:06:55.884
And that first decision is to go.
00:06:57.353 --> 00:06:57.744
Own it.
00:06:58.408 --> 00:07:00.579
Leadership is not comfortable at all.
00:07:00.918 --> 00:07:01.968
It's not easy.
00:07:02.418 --> 00:07:17.598
It's not always going to be rewarding, but if you want to be the kind of person that shapes his own future, who doesn't just sit there watching things happen, but one who makes things happen, then you got to make a damn decision.
00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:27.168
Not just have an opinion, not just sit on the fence, make the call, live with it, adjust if needed, but damn it own it.
00:07:27.504 --> 00:07:31.733
Because at the end of the day, the score always takes care of itself.
00:07:32.624 --> 00:07:34.024
Thanks for sharing today's episode.
00:07:34.033 --> 00:07:35.043
Remember, keep it simple.
00:07:35.043 --> 00:07:35.644
Keep it moving.
00:07:35.644 --> 00:07:36.184
Never settle.
00:07:36.184 --> 00:07:36.704
Stay tough.
00:07:36.723 --> 00:07:37.103
Peace.