You don't have to be smart if you can think clearly

Smart engineers who rely on intuition often struggle when they can't immediately solve a problem, leading to panic and poor decisions. The key differentiator between a 'smart' and a 'strong' engineer is the ability to think slowly and clearly under uncertainty. By focusing on invariants — assumptions you know to be true — engineers can methodically eliminate false assumptions and make progress even when intuitive leaps fail. This deliberate, slower thinking style is uncomfortable but highly effective.