---
title: Inbound 2017 - 14 Ideas on Creative Thinking Skills, Branding, and Leadership
description: Inbound 2017 - 14 Ideas on Creative Thinking Skills, Branding, and Leadership
---

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# [Inbound 2017 - 14 Ideas on Creative Thinking Skills, Branding, and Leadership](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/inbound-2017-14-ideas-on-creative-thinking-skills-branding-and-leadership)

 Written by [Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/author/mike-brown) | Oct 2, 2017 9:50:37 AM

We are back from the Inbound 2017 conference sponsored by Hubspot.

Last week’s Inbound conference was intense and productive. For a quick summary of the week, here are quotes pulled from across most of the Inbound 2017 keynotes and breakout presentations I attended.

### Creative Thinking Skills

"It is [easier to correct errors than to try to prevent them](https://www.brainzooming.com/strategic-thinking-what-kind-of-perfection-are-you-looking-for/18740/) all." - *Ed Catmull of Pixar*

"Every picture you've ever loved from Pixar sucked for a year." - *Brené Brown on hurdles that stand between an idea and celebrated creativity*

"We didn't like the media landscape, so we changed it. [Don't fight the systems that exist, create new ones](https://info.brainzooming.com/disruptingthinking)." *- Piera Gelardi of Refinery29 on unabashedly reinventing monoliths that don't suit you*

"What seems ordinary to you may be extraordinary to others." *- Kareem Taylor of Headnod Music on the reason you need to stop that inner voice saying, "You're not special."*

### Growth

"Your network is who knows you, not who you know." *- Emcee Mark Jeffries explaining why everyone seems to want to be a star*

"Companies are more likely to [die from overeating than starvation](https://www.brainzooming.com/2-keys-to-prioritizing-strategic-opportunities/27560/)." *- Hubspot Co-Founder Brian Halligan relating advice from a board member advocating for starting fewer things*

"Always test the assumptions you are making about your audience. The goal is results, not guessing." *- Garrett Moon of CoSchedule with an important reminder for freewheeling startup types*

"What do people do before they reach out to you?" *- Matthew Barby of Hubspot offering a suggestion for attracting your prospects EARLY in the buying process*

### Branding

"What story will you tell about your brand?" *- George Thomas of Sales Lion *

"Listen to your audience's exact words, write them down, and then test them. Bucket them into dreams, pains, and barriers." *- Scott Tousley of Hubspot with a powerful suggestion for outside-in language*

### Leadership

"If you're going to lead, you have to lead with grace." *- Former First Lady Michelle Obama telling it like it is*

"Stop doing stupid shit." *- Leslie Ye of Hubspot with the "duh" QOTD*

### Marketing Chops

If you're going to do video, you "need to think like a film editor." - *Salma Jafri pointing out a critical step all video must go through to fit a specific social platform*

Today, you need marketers with "broad experience and the ability to go deep in a few areas. You need a Jack or Jill of all trades, and a master of some."* - Stefanie Grieser of Unbounce with hiring advice *– *[Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/?page_id=1197)*

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