I have been involved in developing and testing things that have never been done before. I think that's cool. But about 5 years ago I realized that pretty much everything I had ever built got shelved. Most very early technology and prototypes don't get used immediately. I didn't like that. I realized that it was possible that I would go my entire career earning good money building things that never go anywhere, never get used.

Fortunately one of the technologies we pioneered is really taking off now. Now there is a real world demand to develop and fly one of the technologies I have been working on for the last 15 years.

I do understand why people get frustrated if they feel like their professional work doesn't make a difference.