[nmcfarl]

I agree with talking to your customers, however one thing you wish to avoid is talking too much with your competitors and other "industry people".

Some industries are broken because all of the players have the same mindset. If they can keep things this way they can keep new competitors from being a large threat and their old customers paying too much for substandard product. You still need to innovate even if your competitors say it can't be done.

Balancing knowledge acquisition with a desire to change things can be difficult thing.

[jtbigwoo]

Good point. If the first step is learning, the next step has to be asking, "Why is it this way?" and "What's inessential?"