I've been there: burned out from writing code, feeling like you've plateaued on your particular skillset of choice, but not having another skillset that you're

I've been there: burned out from writing code, feeling like you've plateaued on your particular skillset of choice, but not having another skillset that you're particularly interested in acquiring. I view software as means to an end, and that end is solving a real concrete physical problem in the real world. It's hard to look at a specific vertical / domain and try to guess what kind of app you can build for them that would make an impact, as an outsider looking in. So, become an insider by getting a job and doing real hands-on work in an area outside of programming. For me, since I figured I got the "hacker" part down, I wanted to get the "hustler" part down, and I joined a very early stage startup and did all things customer-acquisition, in charge of the singular goal of bringing in money. A hardware company at that. Then, military has always fascinated me, so I sought to get an insider's perspective. Now I've got additional perspectives that has been constructive in helping me understand where else and how else software might be able to make an impact, which is helpful when you're looking for opportunities to ... make something people want.