Not the full quid

I have always been somewhat ahead of myself and behind the 8-ball
Too much fat here, not enough there
Dense with ideas and full of hot air
With solutions jotted under 'Matters Arising' for problems perpetually on "raise in next meeting"
Sometimes I've triggered preemptive strikes, totally unnecessary
Other times I've let water flood dykes due to sheer complacency
I never know how to get it right; too big for my boots but never manning up
Aparrently, I "know a lot" 'bout all that is "irrelevant"
I can help other's live so well, but my path's not so intelligent
It is embarrassing, to say the least, to be this non compos mentis
If the world is a teacher for how to live well, then I'm the worst apprentice