My Dearest C and J,

I want to share with you a little equation I believe in…

Outcome = 50% attitude + 30% hard work + 20% talent

It all starts with attitude.  C, I’m so proud of the progress you’ve made in cello.  But we’ve been having a little tug-of-war lately on attitude.  No doubt you’re upset at me for constantly pointing out the areas needing improvement and not showering you with praises.  And the long practice sessions.  Well, it comes back to my equation.

Conventional Chinese wisdom (aka, what the grandparents keep saying) goes like this: “Aya, don’t push her too hard.  We have no musicians, gymnasts, ballerinas, tennis player <insert whatever> in the family.  What could possibly happen there?”

That would hold true if I believed inborn talent meant everything.  But that has not been my experience in life so far.   C and J, if you believe you can do it, you can do it.  I can’t emphasize enough, the right can-do attitude, confidence, and optimism will take you a long, long way.  Always start every project, every challenge, every hobby thinking “I CAN.”  The worst thing you can do is talk yourself out without ever trying.   Next, if you really want to succeed, you have to work hard.  There is no substitute for hard work.  Any type of cheating will catch-up with you over time.  You have to put in the work.

Those two combined will take you most of the way there, and in the majority of the cases, farther than most others, even those who have the talent but didn’t do the rest.

You may not be Yo-yo Ma, but if it’s your passion, with the right attitude and hard work, you could be playing in the world-renowned orchestra of your choice.

You may not win the Olympic gold medal in gymnastics, but if it’s your passion, with the right attitude and hard work, you could secure an excellent college scholarship.

You may not end up dancing with a professional ballet company, but if it’s your passion, with the right attitude and hard work, you could win competitions and showcase your dancing in front of large audiences.

Or, you could be the next Yo-Yo Ma, Olympics gold medalist, or professional ballerina.  The truth is, that 20% talent is mysterious and unknown, not always obvious and certainly not in our control.  Let’s focus on what counts and secure the 80%!

Always cheering you on,

Mom