Find people who are leaders in your field and stay abreast of what they know and how they work. And keep your eye on young people, a great source of unexpected insights. Second, develop a personal learning plan. If you're serious about benchmarking, you'll discover gaps in your skill set. To close those gaps set goals for learning.
Smart goals are specific, measurable, and achievable.
Finally, never turn down a request for an informational interview. Break out of this prison of familiarity by disrupting your habitual thought patterns. Write a love poem in the middle of the night. Eat ice cream for breakfast. Wear red sox.