I read a lot. Blogs, news sites, books (fiction and non-fiction), white papers, competitor advertisements, you name it and I probably read some. This ties into my personal belief that in this new information age the person who knows the most on a topic is no longer the best point of reference.
There are two types of experts in this world: the person who knows a lot about a handful of topics or the person who knows a little about a lot of topics. In the past the first type of expert had a lot of value because it was hard to gather enough material on a topic to learn on an as needed basis. The internet age has devalued this because it is easier than ever to find the most up to date research, analysis and training in almost any given subject. The value now is in understanding how diverse fields of interest come together – the skill set of the second type of expert.
Reading a lot gives you a basis in many different areas. It shows you how the world is interconnected by showing you how things come together and where industries meet. I would argue (as it seems that I suddenly am) that reading is the heart of innovation. It sparks the new ideas and gets you thinking in different direction.
So go and read! Anything you see – billboards, bumper stickers, books on tape!