One tip is to figure out websites that you can follow that may help you stay 'in the know' for your type of robotics. For example, for UAV's, there are 2 I follow:
http://www.suasnews.com/
www.diydrones.com
I don't build UAV's for a career, but I'm fasciated by quadrotors and can stay up with their progress industry-wide. Should I ever go into business, I can find my own market space that competitors don't fill (I have an idea or two) -- or I could go into business supplying COTS items for other UAV's.