Funny this shows up today, because I have a half-written blog post about it I meant to publish this week :).<p>I'm actively trying to do exactly that - pivot from IT into something more meaningful.<p>Currently, I'm exploring two areas which were of big interest for me as a hobby: space technology and biotech. My goal is to spend this year exploring options, getting the "lay of the land" and forming a plan of learning new skills, in order to ultimately get a job in one of those industries before 2020.<p>Rationale: both are some of the most potentially impactful fields on the future of humanity.<p>Space Tech: Because I've been dreaming about space exploration since my earliest days on this planet. Because - with the recent accomplishments of the private industry - the time is ripe now to work on bootstrapping an industry in space. I mean manufacturing, asteroid mining, etc. There's lots of work to be done, the momentum is there, and frankly, we're long overdue for all of that.<p>Biotech: because I feel that mastery over molecular nanotechnology would solve half of the issues humanity faces, and biotech seems like the best way to incrementally get there. As I'm fond of saying, nature is advanced molecular nanotech which we didn't design and can't control <i>yet</i>.<p>All of that comes from the desire to work on something actually beneficial to humans (with a good effort/effect ratio), as opposed to cranking out code driving money towards marginally useful businesses.<p>--<p>For a long time I've been reluctant to talk about it, as it is with desires for grand endeavours. But I am committed now, so if anyone can help me find my bearings around those two spaces, or have some experiences of pivoting there from pure software, I would very appreciate it.