So you want to be top-dog in the marketing world? My grandmother's advice comes to mind , 'Birds of a feather flock together.' Maybe an old Indian I met said it better, 'It's hard to soar with the eagles when you're strutting with the turkeys.'

What am I trying to say? If you're trying to be top-notch, you've got to surround yourself with top-notch people. Break out of the circle of mediocrity and find some high-flyers to rub shoulders with. It's the only way to really learn what makes them successful.

It's easier said than done, right? It's not likely that Bill Gates or any other big-name CEO's are going to ask you to join them for dinner any time soon. Let's face it, getting to know the icons of the business world will take extremely good luck, some wild ingenuity, or you might need to resort to the tried and true methods that hundreds of others have used to peek into the great minds of the business world.

1. Read a Book
Books written by or about successes are a lot easier to come by than a dinner invitation. There are literally hundreds of good books out there, and the good part is that you can read and analyze them anytime you want... as many times as you want.

Articles in trade magazines can be a bonanza of information as well. Subscribe to several different types to keep your mind well rounded and informed.

2. Attend a Seminar
Seminars are great places to get a chance to rub shoulders with well-known experts. Often you get a chance to ask a few questions or have a meaningful conversation with them.

Too busy, too broke, or don't have enough time to attend a seminar? Check out the latest Internet version of the traditional seminar - Webinars. The great thing about them is that they are interactive, unlike Web Conferences. You'll still be able to ask questions and get answers, but won't have to leave the house or the office to do it.

3. Enlist in a Business Boot Camp
Sometimes getting back to the basics (or even figuring out what the basics are) is just what the doctor ordered.

4. Sign up for Online Courses
Keep an eye open for courses offered by the business experts you admire the most. You'll be able to access the material at your convenience, and many offer one-on-one coaching as well.

5. Plug in a CD or DVD
Motivational CD's are a dime-a-dozen. There's sure to be one floating around out there that will give you the spark you've been looking for.

The key is this... you've got to break out of your comfort zone and into the realm of the greats. It really doesn't matter how you do it, but the more you know about what worked for them the more likely you are to share in their success. Why? You'll discover the key that made them a success, and be able to cut your own copy of it.