I love and respect all your posts, Julie, but I must disagree with this point. This is exactly the point Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made about doing good work and letting “karma” take care of your promotions that he got (rightly) criticized for. As women in tech we know this is not always the case. Tons of data out there to show that women and underrepresented minority employees who do great work regularly get passed over for promotions which go to less deserving men simply because they put their hands up and asked for it. As a general rule I agree with you — focus on improving your skills and value to the organization and not on getting the promotion. And also ask for the promotion when you know you deserve it. It may not just happen “as a byproduct.”