All:

I just got laid off because I wasn't a good coding architect compared to others in my group. I'm moving on to my next job and I have some time off to try and improve on both my coding skills and my design skills. The problem is, I have no idea how to begin. Going through a book on C++ only to forget most of it isn't really going to help much.

I was wondering what you guys suggest. I understand the basic concepts of the problems I am asked to solve but when it comes to architecting them into a solution using C++, I usually:

1) Choke and find it hard to even begin coding.
2) Type up something to get started only to find several holes and discrepancies in the software which ends up being rewritten over and over due to bad design.

Help!!

-M