What is your secret?

...
"Do you have any more questions?" she asked.
"Yes", I answered, "but it's not exactly related to the position you have just described to me."
I was a bit embarrassed to ask but the question bothered me for a long time.
"I saw you on the internal-TV when I just joined the company two years ago. At the time you were a senior manager and you received an honorable title." I remembered it because it was so inspiring to me -- seeing that there are young powerful woman around me. "And since then you have already become a Director! ... How did you do it? What is your secret?"
She wasn't expecting that kind of question... I saw it on her face, but she gave me her response. A sincere, finely put answer that I greatly admired.

"Sometimes it is just a matter of good luck, being in the right place at the right time," she started humbly.
I wasn't satisfied.
She continued with stories from her career. One was about the time she was working simultaneously on two different projects, One project was highly valued and the other had low priority. She worked at nights on the low-priority-project because she was so passionate about it. Her manager wondered why she spends her nights working on the not-so-important-project. It turns out that this little project became big and meaningful and she became the most fit manager for the group. She took that challenge.
She summarized her success:
1. "I always follow my heart and invest time in what I am passionate about."
2. "When there is an opportunity, I always take it (if it doesn't reveal too many weaknesses)."

I'm grateful I had the chance to meet with her that day. The meeting opened my mind and gave me courage and inspiration.
Now I am part of the department she is leading.