One Way You’re Missing Out on Huge Growth Opportunities? Staying Inside Your Bubble.

It’s easy to stay focused on your own company, team, and work—especially if you’re at a larger, well-resourced organization. But if you’re only learning from the people around you, you’re limiting your growth and missing out on fresh ideas, new perspectives, and career-changing connections.

Why National Industry Groups Weren’t the Best Investment for Me

Early in my own search for professional development, I started with memberships in national industry organizations and, when I could get my company to cover the cost, attending their annual conferences.

After a few, I realized something: they weren’t the most valuable experiences.

💰 They’re expensive – Registration, travel, and hotel costs add up fast.  📚 They’re content-heavy, but not always impactful – With back-to-back sessions, I’d hit mental fatigue before the event was even over.  📢 Too many vendor sales pitches – Many sessions felt like thinly veiled product demos for expensive solutions I’d never be able to justify.

Sure, I walked away with a few valuable nuggets of learning, but for the time and money spent, the return wasn’t worth it. While I still maintain a membership or two, I’ve found a better way to learn, grow, and connect.

The Best Career Accelerators? Local Industry Groups, Networks, and Events.

Why? Because:

• Other professionals are solving the same challenges you are—some are further ahead and can help you shortcut your learning.

• You might be further ahead—your insights could help someone else, building trust and valuable relationships in the process. 

• The best networks are give-and-get—you don’t just learn, you contribute and grow through collaboration.

I never want to be the smartest person in the room. Growth happens when you’re surrounded by people who push you forward and opportunities where you can do the same for others.

But here’s the key: Finding the right local group matters.

If you go to an event and the conversations don’t resonate with your challenges or seem misaligned with where you are in your career—you haven’t found the right group yet. Keep looking.

How to Find Local Industry Groups & Events

💡 Ask great networkers in your circle.

• I met someone through a vendor relationship who turned out to be incredibly well-networked.

• I started asking her which events were worth attending—and it completely changed my professional circle.

• She also has a gift for being a super supportive, accountability partner and I'm grateful to be connected to her.

💡 Say ‘yes’ to conversations with salespeople or industry-alike professionals.

• Some will be better than others—and that’s okay.

• Set a goal: How much time per month do you want to dedicate to introductory conversations? (Even one per month can lead to new doors opening.)

💡 Follow the people who are ‘in the know.’

• Pay attention to who’s active in your industry locally.

• Check LinkedIn events, industry association pages, and meetup groups.

One Last Thing… If Networking Feels Intimidating

I get it.

The thought of walking into an event alone and having to make smalltalk with strangers makes some people feel a pit in their stomach. If that’s you, check out: The 20-Minute Networking Meeting (Affiliate Link)  It’s a quick, practical read on how to have effective, efficient, and meaningful networking conversations.

It’s Time to Get Out of Your Bubble.

Your next big opportunity, idea, or career breakthrough? It’s probably not inside your current workplace.

Get out. Expand your network. Start tapping into the local connections that will accelerate your growth.