I just finished reading a great article in The New York Times about the role gut instinct plays in surviving enemy ambushes, especially in Iraq.

The article says billions are being invested around the world in brain research. Some of that bounty seeks to learn more about how our "second favorite organ," as Woody Allen dubbed the cortex, gathers information, particularly that which has survival value.

It occurred to me that intuitive people align into one category that seems to succeed in life: those that are frequently called "lucky." Was it Napoleon or Abe Lincoln that said: "Give me lucky generals"?

No matter, what these commanders felt was luck trumps smarts, intelligence, which I see as yet another ticket to succeeding in life. We don't have to look beyond technology and those that invent and exploit it to see that brainy people usually can make a living, though it may or may not be commensurate with their gray matter endowments.

The third type that succeeds is the plodder, he or she that is persistent. A former Infantry soldier commented on the Times article and sang the praises of these grunts:

"In Combat-The four eyed pencil necked geeks rule, because they work as a
team, follow orders, feel responsible for and protective of the other guys in their
rifle squad and most importantly-they paid attention during training. They advance
thru their fear, surmount real terror and commit great acts of selfless heroism. And
they almost never get a medal."

The same poster pointed out that "jocks" and "neighborhood bullies" are some of the fastest to die because they overestimate their abilities.

In other words, their luck runs out or their intelligence fails to deliver shortcuts --the Cliff notes lesson on how to survive.

Unlike their slicker comrades, plodders don't have many delusions to overcome. Not thinking they're smart or lucky, they do only that which they know succeeds. They work relentlessly, improving inch by inch.

I suppose that is the exact recipe for spotting land mines or explosive opportunities: Inch by inch and not yard by yard.