To your first point (management) - could you tell me more about how or point me to people who've made the transition themselves? To your second point (research

To your first point (management) - could you tell me more about how or point me to people who've made the transition themselves? To your second point (research lab)- I began my career in research and have worked at two world-class industry labs, including Microsoft Research. You are right that these jobs are less about code - explains why I did well. :) After five or ten years at those firms, you'd be surprised at how many people in those places are truly satisfied with their jobs. At my last job, an industry research lab that I quit to do product development with my current valley company, I couldn't meet a single soul in a building of a 1000 who seemed happy and excited enough to jump in the morning and get to work. Microsoft Research was a different story - but every happy, thriving individual I met there was in love with their field. I was similar for a couple of years, but couldn't sustain that. Wanting to be part of the corporate rat race as someone else pointed out, may have been a factor.