“I’ve by no means identified many managers to say no to individuals offering to assist out.” If you can’t run experiments within the constraints of your job, look outdoors the company. “Join business groups, go to conferences, volunteer for a nonprofit,” advises Dillon. The third approach to check your hypotheses is to have conversations. Find people who are doing what you suppose you need to do and ask them plenty of questions. Listen rigorously and critically, so that you don’t just hear what you need to hear.