I’ve been talking to a lot of young professionals lately and two of the most asked questions I keep getting are: when did I get my break and what can they do to get promoted quickly? It’s becomes very interesting though when you start to probe deeper. People who keep asking about getting breaks are most often than not just waiting for that opportunity to come along. They are very passive and they lack the initiative to actually “make that break” happen. That’s my answer to the first question – you don’t get breaks, you work for them. Opportunities will always come by but sometimes you don’t recognize them as opportunities because you’re too busy complaining about being stressed, not being recognized, and not being rewarded.
The same can be said for quickly getting promoted. If you’re doing your best and you’ve communicated to your superiors properly that you want to get promoted and that you want to grow professionally in the company, then it should be a matter of time before you get your chance. However, there will be instances that there really is no opportunity in your company and you’ll have to wait. If you can afford to wait a bit, then it’s up to you to do so. If not, then you can always consider transferring or applying to other companies.
What’s the worst that can happen if you work hard and smart? You get better. Not so bad right? 
Working hard and working smart is always good advice!
I we place too much blame on fate and not enough on procrastination. Lol.