Full STARS Vision Series here:
The Attitude of STARS
This isn’t just about mindset—it’s about who you become.
At Stellar Education Group, we believe attitude is at the core of success. It’s part of the STARS series—our framework for developing future leaders.
- Self-Awareness – Knowing where you stand.
- Teachability – Staying open to growth.
- Attitude – How you respond to life.
- Resilience – Pushing through challenges.
- Significance – Creating impact beyond yourself.
Each of these builds on the other. Without the right attitude, even the most talented people fail.
A Weekend That Proved a Point
February 22, 2025. Another packed week—meetings, events, decisions. Non-stop from morning to night.
Thursday, I planned a children’s Bible study. Didn’t happen. Had to push it to Friday because of a business forum. No choice. My parents? Off traveling in Vietnam. Me? Juggling work, kids, dinner, and a late-night leadership meeting.
That meeting got me thinking. How do we build strong leadership at Stellar Education Group? How do we create a system that actually works? My brain wouldn’t stop. I stayed up till 2 AM, refining ideas, writing drafts, pushing myself.
Then something small—but powerful—happened.
Two Kids. Two Attitudes. Two Outcomes.
The next morning, my second son, Eann, grabbed his roller skates. Second time ever. No hesitation. Put them on himself and skated—balanced, confident, determined.
I was impressed. But more than that, I was inspired.
Then my youngest, only four years old, stood on his skates for the first time. Not perfect, but standing. That’s not easy. But he tried.
And then there’s my eldest, Aden. A different challenge.
Sports frustrate him. He gives up quickly. But something changed during Chinese New Year—he watched his cousins play basketball and suddenly wanted to get better.
I saw my chance.
“You want to beat them?” I asked. “Then do something about it.”
We started small. Dribbling drills. 20 times left hand, 20 times right.
He struggled.
“This is hard.”
I pushed him. “Is the problem the basketball? Or is it you?”
He thought about it. The ball wasn’t the issue—his control was. That moment of self-awareness changed everything.
I made it harder—dribble in a full-circle motion, switching hands. Even I struggled.
“That’s the point,” I told him. “The challenge isn’t outside. It’s you.”
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
Talent without the right attitude? Wasted potential.
Resources without the right attitude? Missed opportunities.
Intelligence without the right attitude? Useless.
Attitude is made of two things:
- How you handle failure, struggles, and setbacks.
- How you treat people and opportunities.
Studies confirm this:
- Harvard research found that 85% of job success comes from attitude and soft skills, while only 15% comes from technical skills.
- Stanford University discovered that a growth mindset increases career success by 34%.
- Google’s hiring data shows that learning ability and mindset matter more than expertise in technical fields.
Skills may open doors, but attitude determines how far you go.
It’s the difference between those who grow and those who stay stuck.
At Stellar Education Group, we define attitude as the balance between gratitude and ambition—
- Gratitude = Appreciating where you are.
- Ambition = Pushing for what’s next.
Too much gratitude? You get comfortable and stop improving.
Too much ambition? You’re never satisfied and burn out.
The right balance? Content, but never complacent.
WHY ATTITUDE MATTERS
Life isn’t smooth. It throws problems, failures, and unexpected challenges. Some people break under pressure. Others find a way through.
- 92% of high achievers say their success comes from perseverance, not intelligence.
- A 2019 study by Duckworth & Gross found that resilience is the #1 predictor of long-term success—more than IQ or talent.
Attitude shapes resilience. Resilience shapes success.
The difference? Attitude.
It’s not about avoiding failure. It’s about learning from it.
It’s not about waiting for opportunities. It’s about creating them.
It’s not about blaming the situation. It’s about owning the outcome.
This mindset isn’t just for students or professionals. It’s for life.
THE COST OF A BAD ATTITUDE
Attitude isn’t just about personal success—it affects teams, businesses, and entire industries.
- Gallup research found that disengaged employees (those with a negative attitude) cost businesses $450–$550 billion per year in lost productivity.
- A Forbes survey found that 91% of employers prioritize attitude over skills when hiring—because they know a bad attitude spreads and kills performance.
- McKinsey research found that companies focusing on mindset and adaptability grow 22% faster than competitors.
A negative attitude doesn’t just hold you back—it drags down entire teams, businesses, and organizations.
Bottom line? Your attitude isn’t just a personal trait—it’s a career advantage or a business liability.
FIVE ATTITUDE SHIFTS THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING
- Gratitude vs. Ambition
- Gratitude says: “I appreciate what I have.”
- Ambition says: “I want more.”
- Balanced Attitude: “I’m thankful, but I won’t settle.”
- Optimism vs. Realism
- Optimism says: “Things will work out.”
- Realism says: “Only if I take action.”
- Balanced Attitude: “I expect the best, but I’m prepared for the worst.”
- Confidence vs. Humility
- Confidence says: “I believe in myself.”
- Humility says: “I still have more to learn.”
- Balanced Attitude: “I trust my abilities, but I stay coachable.”
- Google’s hiring data confirms that adaptability and learning ability are more valuable than expertise.
- Perseverance vs. Adaptability
- Perseverance says: “I never give up.”
- Adaptability says: “I adjust when needed.”
- Balanced Attitude: “I stay committed, but I pivot when it makes sense.”
- Passion vs. Discipline
- Passion says: “I love this.”
- Discipline says: “I do it even when I don’t feel like it.”
- Balanced Attitude: “I show up and put in the work—no excuses.”
FOUR QUESTIONS TO CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE
If you’re not sure where your attitude stands, ask yourself:
- When you wake up, do you expect a good day or problems?
- When an opportunity comes, do you take action or hesitate?
- When others succeed, do you celebrate or resent them?
- When things go wrong, do you own it or blame others?
Your answers? That’s your attitude in action.
THE ATTITUDE OF STARS
This isn’t just about mindset—it’s about who you become.
At Stellar Education Group, we believe attitude is the foundation of success. It’s part of the STARS series—our framework for developing future leaders:
- Self-Awareness – Knowing where you stand.
- Teachability – Staying open to growth.
- Attitude – How you respond to life.
- Resilience – Pushing through challenges.
- Significance – Creating impact beyond yourself.
Each of these builds on the other. Without the right attitude, even the most talented people fail.
And the numbers prove it:
- 85% of career success comes from attitude, not skills (Harvard research).
- Resilience is twice as important as intelligence for success (University of Pennsylvania study).
- Students with a growth mindset perform up to 40% better in school and careers (OECD research).
- Companies that prioritize mindset and adaptability grow 22% faster than competitors (McKinsey).
Attitude isn’t just part of success—it is success.
So, what’s your attitude shaping right now?
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