Great piece. I too have worked for some very bad "leaders". I learned from them as you learned from Mr. Doe and my learnings have been invaluable. Because of them I do not wait for or depend on others to guide or help. If it is there, great. If not I venture on my own. I thought that leaders were there to help and guide. The good ones are. The bad ones aren't and if you wait for them you will grow old and die before anything happens. I once went into my VPs office for some direction. I was beaten up and just wanted some empathy and advice. Instead he asked me why I was even there. I was stunned. He was clueless about how to work with and support me. At that point I knew I was a short timer with him and the company. Within a year I was gone. And it started me on a whole new path in my career. I never thanked him for his incompetence. Why give credit to someone for unknowingly helping you when they never planned to?