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On a related note, the swimming pool of the Titanic is still full.
"They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"
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This directionless crook - drunk? (7)
crook: GANGSTER
directionless: GA(N)GSTER
drunk: anagram indicator as well as the definition
STAGGER
Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. -Anon
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Nope, I would never have got that one.
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Stagger doesn't mean drunk - you might stagger when you are drunk
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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OK.
I'm obviously not good at making up the clue...  Would you like to do that on Monday?
Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. -Anon
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It's very difficult writing clues but the more you write the better ( hopefully ) you will get at it. YAUM 
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I say go for it on Monday yourself. I've set some doozies myself so don't let that get you down. You can only learn so much by observing. Try, fail, try again, fail better! Eventually you'll fail right into success!
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As pkfox says, it's a matter of practice.
The way I start is with a random word (Random Word Generator[^] is a good place for that)
and try to break it into bits.
For example: RWG gave me "improvement" at the top of the list.
I can see four parts there: IMP ROVE MEN T
IMP synonyms might be demon, devil, elf ... or perhaps "not metric"
ROVE: to travel, wander, roam, or maybe an anagram of OVER
MEN: Pretty obvious
T: Shirt or junction.
So try to make it difficult: "Upgrade non metric guys who roam around the junction (11)"
Then I'd park it somewhere for a few hours and come back to see it it works!
Would I use it as is? Probably not - it doesn't "scan" well. But it's a start. 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I have been blessed with good managers the last few years.
Some of them also completed a lot of ambitious home improvement projects and were just handy in the tinkering sense.
I anticipate a lot of answers like BS, blame deflection, etc
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There are several flavors of managers;
- Do as I say.
- Let's collaborate and do what it takes to get the job done.
- Here's the project I'm busy.
I've had all 3 types and I prefer the second one.
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not!
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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And there is the "Headless chicken".
One developer I worked with was problems to software manager, and was given a book called "The art of headless chicken management" which he seemed to assume was a training manual.
I was working on about six projects, all complicated and he'd come to me and say "What are you working on? Why project A? I need project B done first!"
So, I'd try to make notes on where I was, take all the project materials down to the firesafe, log 'em in, log Project B out, go upstairs and try to work out what B was all about and where I was.
And then ... "What are you working on? Why project B? I need project C done first!"
So, I'd try to make notes on where I was, take all the project materials down to the firesafe, log 'em in, log Project C out, go upstairs and try to work out what C was all about and where I was (in the full knowledge that I'd get shifted soon).
And then his phone would ring again, another customer wants Project D ...
This happened about every hour, every day, until I quit.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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One of the worst managers I worked for once gave me two projects to work on. I asked him which one he wanted done first, and he replied, "I want them both done". Yeah, not helpful.
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: I asked him which one he wanted done first, and he replied, "I want them both done".
Mine replied, "As well as." Yeah, f*** you, buddy. The production line (which I was in charge of) can only run one thing at a time. Plus changeover... Slowly, my motivation dropped to zero until I found a new job. Still have an utter detestation for the phrase, "As well as."
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I can relate. Worked for one that didn't know anything, didn't even suspect anything. 
Drove me nuts until I moved on. Why does that type try to micro manage?
>64
Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
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I know the feeling.
I had a boss that would ask me to bid a job, then he would come back and say we got the job but instead of x hours it's now x/2 hours.
I would tell him it's going to take x hours, he would answer...no problem!
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not!
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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I have worked for only a couple of good managers -- most managers are not good, as per the Peter Principle.
I'm trying to think of what made the best one so good, but I am stumped.
You are probably on the right track, surmising that the ability to complete a project solo -- not just outsourcing it -- is a good indicator.
One trait which I value in a manager is that he/she will point me in the general direction of the goal and leave me to it.
But I don't know why some managers will do that while others don't.
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In the sense of a mentor ... never met one. Particlarly where there is a "bonus" program: you only look good if you can make others look bad.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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In my experience a good manager:
1 Takes the heat from upper management so devs can actually work.
2 Understands the project enough to perform #1 but not enough to interfere with the details.
3 Creates and enforces milestones so devs don't go rogue.
I'm sure there are more but it's Friday and I'm easily distracted... <Ooooh! Shiny!!>
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I somewhat disagree with 3. I might change it to "trusts that the devs won't go rogue, unless there is a history of rogality".
Manager : What did you accomplish yesterday?
DEV : I addressed the issue of physical security in the server room.
Manager : That sounds good, how did you do that?
DEV : I mounted a freakin' laser on the server cabinet.
Manager: Yeah, let's not do that. Ask me before adding features in the future.
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Shielding their staff from CEOs.
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In a large organization, it extends below CEOs.
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Same job, different parent corporations.
Old corp
Me -> manager -> VP -> C suite
If your priorities need to change or you need more money, let us know.
New corp
Me -> manager -> director -> junior VP -> senior VP -> C suite
Our department probably has one sentence per month on the junior VP’s status report.
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Good golfer? Good manager.
I had one of those.
1. Stopped by a few times a week and asked me if there was anything he should know.
2. If he saw me working on a tough problem, handed me a note saying to let him know if he could help.
3. When I was stuck in the office, on phone support, for an extended time, brought me something to eat.
4. Only asked me once what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Contracting was better, results oriented.
>64
Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
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