Career Progression - Preparation for a Fellowship

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Recently, I have been fortunate enough to get a grant for a fellowship to pursue my education further on. My journey to get on to this opportunity has been one that is marked by trials and tribulations in as much as it is filled with joys and discovery. I must say that the stars must have aligned and my prayers seemed to have been answered as I finally received my "yes" email from the university.
(Note: Fellowship is a term normally used in the UK to refer to a kind of Scholarship + Partial/Full work benefits to support an employee in continuing development towards formal education/qualification. Pardon the jargon to some other colleagues who may not be familiar with the term.)
In my experience, asking your employer to support your grant application is one that can be fraught with challenges and uncertainties. This is not to mention the challenges of navigating your way through to the various resources of information about fellowships that is suitable for you and the deadlines that go with it. So here are a few "case" tips that did worked for me which you may find useful if you are looking for the same opportunity:
1. Prove your worth first. Fellowships are a significant investment of both time, effort and not least of all money. Employers would be more willing to support a candidate that shows that they are value for money. What I mean to say is, show them that you are a dedicated employee that will serve the organisation and that you pursuing a formal education (that entails a hefty investment for them) will be beneficial for the improvement of the organisation as well. Before you approach your employer, your first question that must be answered is "Why should I support you? (...and not give the same opportunity to employee X?)". Justify, justify, justify....
2. Network and share information. When I was in intensive clinical practice, my tendency is more towards being an introvert. Probably due to the nature of the job which requires a lot of reflexive skills and quick decision making, I tend to be quiet and focused on my patient (which are mostly sick babies, hence, not a lot in the way of interaction). Being in the clinical area for a long time tends to limit one's professional boundaries. When I joined research, my professional world has exponentially expanded. I meet with different people from different backgrounds and disciplines. This is your opportunity. Grapevine communication is a good way to get information and resources that would lead you to hidden pockets of sponsorship for fellowship. Some universities/Sponsors are not very good at advertising alternative sources of funding. Knowing more people increases your chances of being successful in applying for a particular grant. Knowing other people's experience also helps a lot in preparing for applications. Being sociable helps!
3. Align your career goals with your qualifications/skills. For instance, in my case, I'd love to study more about Bioethics or Health Informatics. However, my background is NICU and paediatric research. In applying for grants, I'd have a better chance of going for a grant that focuses on this patient group or this particular set of skills where I could use my strengths and experience. This is not to say that one should be limited by one's past. If you have a clear vision of where you want to go, ensure that your career direction is geared towards that. Take courses and learn skills that would help you succeed in the chosen specialty/fellowship that you are aiming for.
4. Persevere and pray. They always say that the things that are difficult to get are the ones that matter. If this is something that you believe in, go for it. Let no one tell you no. I've had a lot of no's before I got my yes but it's all worth it. Just give your very best and then hope and pray that you will get it and if not, just try again. 
Disclaimer: These are not fool proof ways of ensuring success in getting a fellowship but it pretty covers much. I am sure that some of you may have more to share, please do so. Also, I am thinking of doing a qualitative study for my fellowship, so any tips and tricks to share on how to prepare for it, would be highly appreciated too.
Thank you for reading this post!