Last Friday I attended Leadercast for the first time. I looooove being at conferences, and was especially excited to be a newbie at this event. The funny thing is that I was there at the same Arena just a week earlier for my company’s conference. But it was really cool to see how differently they used the space, and what they had going on that we could learn from.

The theme, “The Brave Ones,” was awesome and inspiring. It was definitely what I needed to hear right now, and I was also excited to share it with friends who came to mind as I sat there in my seat.

Here are some of my takeaways. I hope they can help you to be more brave too.

Andy Stanley

• Bold leadership isn’t just for bold, fearless, super-talented or ultra smart people. Bold leaders have clarity, focus, be stubborn and stay resourceful.
• Bold leadership is the clarity around an unreasonable commitment to what should be.
• Bold leaders refuse to be cowed by “how.” You can “how” an idea to death.
• Ask yourself this question from Joel Backer’s book, Paradigm, ” What do I believe is impossible in my field, but would fundamentally change my business or industry?”
• Think about Nehemiah. His work was almost interrupted by a meeting. But he said, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”

Bill McDermott

• Don’t obsess over your competition. Obsess on the areas they can’t or won’t cover. Do it better.
• Trust is the ultimate currency.
• The best part of you is you—your uniqueness.

Commander Rorke Denver

• Limit your field of view and you’ll actually see more.
• Make bold corrections.
• Bravery doesn’t have to be a solo experience.
• Choose the amount of work you’re going to take on wisely.
• Don’t avoid the pain. Bravery is there. Lean into it. It’s a growth opportunity.

Malala Yousafzai – THIS is who I came to see, and she didn’t disappoint!

• This war will be fought with books and pens, not swords and guns.
• I still believe in a happy ending.
• If I didn’t speak out, I thought I might have to live that way forever.
• Don’t wait for the fight to be taken up by someone else. Why not you?
• In every field of life we find brave people. Bravery has no limit.
• It’s your duty to speak up for what’s right or just.
• We are all living here together. We must think of others as brothers and sisters. We must speak up from all sides.
• We can all make a better world. Everyone has a role to play.

Peyton Manning

• If you wait for someone else to make the change, you are a follower.
• Learn to thrive on uncomfortable situations.
• Invest in a coach.
• Set personal goals that contribute to the team’s overall success.
• Understand the power of your influence, but realize your accomplishments are never made alone.
• Surround yourself with people who will give you honest feedback.
• Earn your platform.

Seth Godin

• Bravery isn’t just for other people. It’s for us too.
• We don’t need people who copy. We need people who create.
• To make art, you must be all in.
• When Gutenberg launched the press, the illiteracy rate was 93%. He didn’t wait until he had a market for it. He had a dream that he pursued.
• It’s always too soon. We can be prepared, but we can never be ready.
• We can make change, but we can’t change everyone.
• Change creates: Tension, obsession, connection, direction and compassion.
• Treat every opportunity like its your last.
• Do work that matters.
• Own your unreasonableness.

Ed Catmull

• Creativity is the process by which we solve problems.
• Focus on the dynamic of the team, not the ideas.
• Create shared ownership.
• Give good and honest notes.
• Failure is necessary for something new.
• To be successful, you must be wiling to take the first step.
• Creative people usually discover their talents over time, by continually being wiling to take the hard problems.

Aja Brown

• Bravery is a decision to live not just exist. Brave leaders just make the decision and do what needs to be done.
• Peace is one of the most powerful things that cannot be bought.
• Brave leaders ask the basic question, “If not me, who?”
• Be brave enough to believe in a different future.
• Brave leaders overcome the fear of failure. It’s not that brave leaders never fail, it’s that they never quit. the worst case is not failure, but it’s living in the invisible prison of fear.
• Elevate your expectations in order to elevate your organization. If your team lacks momentum, elevate your vision.
• Dream a vision that’s too big for you to achieve by yourself.
• Brave leaders serve for the purpose, not the praise.

Rudy Giuliani

• One of my rules of leadership is to always go to the scene of the incident.
• People who succeed have strong beliefs and big ideas.
• To be a leader, you have to be an optimist. Be a problem solver. Every problem may not have a solution, but every problem comes with perspective.
• To be a leader, you have to have courage. If you’re not afraid, something is wrong with you.
• Relentless preparation takes the fear out of leadership.
• Teamwork—it’s never about you.
• If you want to be a leader, you have to communicate. People cannot know what you think and want. You have to tell them, and you have to tell them again.