It’s a small world, with even smaller industries.

With online businesses, it can feel like we operate in an echo chamber at times.

You have a fresh, creative idea… wait, did someone else already say it and trademark it?

You want to share a post about XYZ… but every angle on the subject feels like it’s already been shared.

If you’ve found yourself in any of these situations, it’s time to go outside of your industry to infuse a big bolt of lightning into your thinking as a CEO.

When we’re in a consumption-cycle of the same people, places, and things it can feel like a limiting echo-chamber. But when you get outside of your space and hear how other people are doing business & life, it can be the greatest spark to your unique creativity & content.

Attend Events or Tradeshows from Industries Outside of Your Own

If you’ve got a little extra wiggle room in your schedule, one of the best things you can do for your business is connect and learn from people far outside your own industry. It’s time to get curious, and find opportunities to get up close and personal with new-to-you businesses. Find local tradeshows, conventions, and industry events that allow outside attendees and go with the intention of getting more insight on how other businesses operate and problem solve.

What you’ll find is that while an industry or niche may be vastly different than yours, the principles of growth and problem solving can often be transfered between spaces. So that industrial design conference in your city- attend it. The tech software tradeshow- mingle on the event floor. The professional beauty and consmetics manufacturing conference- grab a seat for the keynote speakers. A great way to find these events is by following your local convention centers, business bureaus, and facebook groups for conventions/tradeshows in your area.

Get Certified

Remember that subject in school that wasn’t quite your cup of tea, but you had to do it nonetheless? Every now and then a lesson from that subject would just click in your mind, despite it not being your forte, and you felt like you were on top of the world.

This kind of mental stretching is vital to our consistent growth as entrepreneurs. So find something that’s outside of your niche, whether a few steps away or a whole world away from what you currently specialize in, and take a certification course in that subject. A great jumping off point is searching through LinkedIn Learning, Google Skills, and Meta Certification… but if something outside the box is more your speed, we say go for a full on SCUBA certification.

Subscribe to Non-Business Podcasts

The benefit of a great entrepreneurship podcast can’t be understated- yet it’s important to stack our listening deck with shows that take our minds off of business, even if for a few moments. Find a new favorite podcast that takes you through a good mystery, breaks down a historical scandal, or even teaches you why humans love the smell of rain.

It comes down to allowing yourself to be exposed to something that’s out of the norm for you, a story , an idea, or a method of problem solving that you never would have thought of before. From there, see how your brain is able to formulate ideas for your own business through the newfound inspiration from outside your realm. Oh and the answer is yes, even your favorite celeb gossip podcast counts here – you never know when you’ll learn from a clever PR move via the latest celebrity news.

---

You want to really be able to lean OUT of your current comfort zone and into another field, and challenging yourself to learn alternative methods of operation and thinking can prove to be invaluable for your business.