There is a companion to intelligence called hard work. If you are going to win at your software development career you have to put in the reps. This may seem like common sense but if you are naturally very intelligent you may find many things come easy to you. Unfortunately, this may have also inadvertently taught you to quit when the task gets hard. There is no substitute for focused intensity over time. If you wonder why you are not being promoted, if you find yourself asking why...