better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion
It is better to be in a leadership position, even if the group or organization you're leading is deemed less important than others. I think you should look for another job because you'll never get a prominent position at this big company. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion, you know?
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Prov. It is better to be the leader of a less prestigious group than to be a subordinate in a more prestigious one. Joe: I can be the headmaster of a small secondary school, or I can be a teacher at a famous university. Which job offer do you think I should take? Nancy: Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. A professional writing workshop had asked Bob to join, but he elected to stay with his amateur group, since he thought it better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.