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GOAL DIGGER

5 Effective Ways to Stay Ahead in Your Industry

September 11, 2024

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Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora

Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in a rut, wondering how to stay ahead of the curve while everyone around you seems to be making big moves?

Whether you’re feeling like you’re just getting started or you’re already established, one thing’s for sure: to lead in your industry, you’ve got to be committed to continuous growth. And that means learning, evolving, and staying sharp.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down five effective ways to stay ahead in your industry and how to feel like you’re not constantly falling behind. 

Trust me, these strategies aren’t about cramming more into your already busy schedule! Instead, they’re about working smarter, not harder, and leveling up in ways that feel intentional and aligned with your goals.

So whether you’re driving to work, walking the dog, or grabbing your morning coffee, it’s time to dive into these actionable strategies. 

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear game plan on how to stay relevant, competitive, and always moving forward in your industry. Let’s do this!

1. Hire A Mentor

Did you know 76% of people think mentors are important, but only 37% have one? a mentor has been where you want to go and can offer you a roadmap to get there FASTER

The key is to invest in the RIGHT mentor – always look for someone that has been where you want to go. If you wouldn’t trade places with them, they may not be the right fit!

Having someone outside of your perspective helps you see opportunities and challenges differently! Mentors are so valuable because they provide key feedback tailored to your unique strengths and weaknesses

2. Take An Online Course

Digital courses allow you to sharpen your skills on your OWN time. They will push you further while offering flexibility!

Think of anything you want to learn… There’s a course for that! You can learn how to better serve your clients and customers in your specific niche through an online course.

Even small investments in your education pay off in the long run… and they’re tax write-offs!

3. Do Market Research

When is the last time you spend time researching your peers in your industry or doing a deep dive on what’s working out in the wild?

Just the other day, I set a timer for 30 minutes and I spent time on Instagram looking at other people’s content to see what was working for them, what types of content they were sharing, how they were using their CTAs, etc. I think it’s good to be head down but you want to lift your eyes intentionally so you’re in the know. 

According to the Hanover Research Report, companies that frequently conduct market research are significantly more likely to report an increase in revenue over the last 12 months than those who infrequently conduct market research.

This is because one of the best ways you can be proactive is by knowing what’s happening in your industry! Market research is crucial for helping you identify trends, and being aware of your audience’s changing needs and behaviors.

Some practical ways to stay on top of your market research: set Google alerts, survey your audience on social media, and send a survey to past clients or customers.

Analyzing market trends can help you identify gaps in the market and capitalize on them!

4. Learn From Others

You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel, Goal Digger! Observe what’s working for others (especially those in OTHER industries) and adapt it to your business.

It’s so important to humbly learn from other business owners and see what’s made them successful so you can reverse-engineer it for yourself. It’s also valuable to learn from others’ mistakes so that you can avoid them!

Ways to learn from others include masterminds, accountability groups, following other leaders on LinkedIn, and joining communities.

The internet is an amazing place to connect like in free Facebook communities but there’s something really special about being in the flesh with other people and learning from them that way.

Real-world connections create opportunities for collaborations, mentorships, and learning from others outside your current network. Online interactions are great but especially when you’re first building your business, in-person connections are so helpful.

Oxford Economics published a thorough study on the importance of networking for business relationships and they found that networking is one of the most important ways to find and keep customers. The close rate for meetings is 40%, meaning that in-person meanings end in a sale or deal almost half of the time.

They also found that the refusal to network with customers can also affect business profits. Executives reveal that they’d lose 28% of their business if they stopped networking.

Industry events, conferences, and in-person workshops are a perfect for a mix of education and relationship building that could turn into a strategic partnership down the road.

The key is to be intentional about following up after each event to solidify your connections. Don’t just follow someone on Instagram and call it a day! Exchange phone numbers or emails at the very least so that you can maintain the connection.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Experimentation is crucial to move your business forward. In my business, we are constantly experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t.

On social media, I will often test out different post ideas, trending Reels, and DM automation strategies. An example of something I experimented with recently was a post for my 13th wedding anniversary, where I made a carousel with text over each wedding photos about how our wedding wasn’t perfect. This was a simple idea that ended up being one of my highest engagement posts of the year!

That wouldn’t have happened without me taking a risk and experimenting with something new. This just goes to show that experimentation can reveal the preferences of our audience, allowing us to tailor our content and even our offerings to what they show us they like!

Last year, I also experimented with a 4-day work week with my team as I shared in Episode 692: Behind the Scenes of Our 4-Day Work Week Experiment.

This was a low-risk experiment we wanted to try for 90 days and we ended up keeping it because it felt great! 

I’ve also experimented with not showing my kids faces on social media which has also become a permanent change.

Learn more about this decision in Episode 688: I Stopped Sharing My Kids’ Faces On Social… Here’s Why!

It’s Time to Get Ahead!

There you have it—five powerful ways to stay ahead in your industry by making continuous learning a priority. Whether it’s investing in a mentor, signing up for that online course, or simply staying curious by learning from others and attending events, there are so many ways to keep leveling up.

Before we wrap up, I want to remind you that you don’t need to do all five at once. You can simply start with just one that resonates with where you’re at right now, and watch how it impacts your growth.

The goal is to keep moving forward, one step at a time, so you can stay relevant, adaptable, and always ahead of the curve!


Thank you to our Goal Digger Sponsors

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I’m an expert at online marketing, a nerd when it comes to the numbers, and my obsession is teaching others how to make a living doing what they love (without it taking over their life).  One of my favorite places to be is here, sharing what I'm learning with you. I'm glad you're here!

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