We asked some of the hardest working artists, creatives and entrepreneurs we know to open up to us about where they think they got their work ethic from. Below, you’ll find some of those responses, stories, and advice.

Joey Thurmond

My work ethic is one that has developed throughout the course of my life. Coming from extremely hard working parents and grandparents they were essential in laying a fantastic groundwork for me to see how rewarding hard work can be. Over the course of my life I have employed that work ethic to everything I’ve done both professionally and in my home life. I guess you could call it the work hard – play hard mentality. Once I truly learned that being able to have and exercise self control and discipline I knew there was no stopping. Read more>>

Billy Economou

I owe much of that credit to my parents. As Greek immigrants, they arrived in North America with nothing but the shirts on their backs. Through their hard work and perseverance, they built a successful business, raised a family, and left behind a lasting legacy. Furthermore, a strong work ethic naturally develops when you are passionate about your work and the people around you Read more>>

Travis Wilder

Definitely my parents! Without a doubt! I’ve watched my parents grind to make a better living for me and my brother ever since I was born. I often get asked this question a lot. I used to remember when I was young, sometimes I wouldn’t see my dad for days at a time. But it wasn’t because he wasn’t present. It’s because he was working so much overtime to provide a great life for his family. By the time I would get up for school, he was already gone to work, and by the time he would get home at night, I was already sleep. That’s how many hours he was working. So, anytime I get tired, I think about the sacrifices my dad made for me when I was young, and it keeps me motivated to do the same and provide the same type of life for my son like my dad did for me. Read more>>

Leonel Sanchez

Where did I get my work ethic from? That is a great question! I work seven days a week and go to the gym at least five times weekly. I would say my perspective switched recently on this. For the last five years since I moved out at 18, I always thought I was working towards something that is a nice place to live, a cool car, or the ability to have my own freedom and get to my goals. I realized I was wrong. When I moved out at the age of 18, I wanted to be able to experience some freedom. I grew up in a very strict household ( I grew up in a cult-like church) where the church had direct control over the way my parents would raise me, from controlling the way we dressed to not being able to have electronics and even forcefully being pulled out of school and being homeschooled, It was pretty tough! Read more>>

Alexander Hollingsworth

My work ethic comes from my humble beginnings, where I had less but always wanted more. These early experiences have shaped me into someone who is driven and determined. I’ve learned that starting with limited resources and aiming for greater success requires hard work, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude. It’s a constant reminder of where I began and where I want to go, keeping me focused, persistent, and committed to putting in the effort needed to achieve my goals and aspirations. Read more>>

Marquita Williams

I Receive My Work Ethic From My Parents! Even Though I Grew Up In A Single Parent Home Morals & Values Were Instill In Me From Both Sides! Witnessing My Mother’s Dedication, Commitment & Loyalty Was Unmatched! My Dad Devoted His Life To The Automotive Industry For Over 35 Years & Never Once Complained! The Tenacity Passion & Drive That I Have For My Brand Is Why I Push So Hard! Read more>>

Chelsie Overocker

I get my work ethic from my mother! She raised me as a single parent while earning her master’s degree in accounting. I always remember growing up watching her study on the weekends and taking her courses late at night. She set the example that if you worked hard, you would achieve success. There were times she also had to work multiple jobs to keep me involved with my sports and activities that I participated in school. I was very athletic growing up! I started competitive gymnastics when I was 7. Ran track & field from 8th grade through college. Did figure skating for a few years in middle school, joined the high school cheer team and gymnastics team, was a competitive cheerleading for a year, and finished competing in club gymnastics when I turned 18. Read more>>

Tara Gesy

My work ethic comes from my incredible mother, Terry. My mom believed in empathetic leadership; she encouraged her staff by using their strengths to make them feel seen and valued, while teaching them new skills. Customers received nothing less either, she had a way of bringing a smile to everyone who approached her counter. On top of this, I watched her face challenges head on with grace and she was always willing to go the extra mile when needed. She was never shy to working hard and doing what it takes to get the job done. It is because of her I knew the type of business owner, leader, and mentor I wanted to be and the reason I have the work ethic that’s gotten me here today. My mom taught me that the only way to guarantee the life we want is to do the work we have to, to make it possible. Read more>>

 Dr. Avis

I believe that I garnered my work ethic from my upbringing. Growing up in a foster home taught me the value of believing in yourself and understanding that you were put here for a purpose…that is much bigger than you. When I realized that I was responsible for how my life turns out, despite how it began, it was then that I developed the mindset of always work hard, and play later. I am my own competition. Read more>>

Efren Rebugio

I give credit to a few people in my life for my work ethic. First, is my father. He served in the Navy for 30 years. Joining in the Philippines at a young age, he worked his way from the rank of E-1, lowest for the enlisted, all the way up to Command Master Chief, the highest rank for the enlisted. After retiring from the Navy, he got his Master’s degree in accounting. He then went on to work as an accountant, which he does to this day, 22 years and counting. From my dad, I’ve learned the importance of hard work. And he told me something years ago that I still use when approaching mural work, which is, “You can never be too prepared.” Another person I’ve learned a lot from was a mentor I had in the music festival scene for over 10 year. Working with him, I learned how to give attention to details and how to work efficiently. I also learned how to continually push towards my highest potential in everything I do. He was someone that truly believed in me, before I believed in myself. And lastly, I give credit to several artists/friends that I have worked with throughout the years. Watching the way they work, whether it be preparing for a project, communicating with clients, or organizing their workspace, I learn so much from the artists in the community here in Austin. Read more>>

Robert Gabbitas

I have always loved to work! I love the feeling of looking back over a job well done. The earliest task I remember really committing to was mowing the lawn when I was 13. When I tried and put in a lot of effort, I saw the backyard every day that week and could tangibly see the fruits of my labors so to speak. When I was sloppy and rushed, I saw a backyard that was unevenly cut and looked like a mess. Mowing the lawn taught me about the consequences of my work ethic. It can feel good in the moment to slack off and give a half effort, but that has consequences, and sometimes you have to stare those consequences in the face until you have an opportunity to fix it. I’ve taken that lesson to heart and always strive to give my full attention to a task or project, even if it means turning down opportunities to work on another project that I would love doing, because I always want my final result to be a reflection of the effort I put into it. Read more>>

C.L. (Cynthia) Tolbert

I began teaching when I was twenty and earned a Master’s Degree a few years later. School had always been easy for me, so I made good grades without much effort, cruising by comfortably – until I enrolled in law school. Although confident, I was completely unprepared for what was about to happen. Read more>>

Anna Simeonides

I am blessed that work ethic was deeply ingrained in me from a young age, in multiple ways. Being Greek Orthodox, I was raised in a home with much structure, as our lives revolved around the services of the church. This taught me discipline, focus, and perseverance in the pursuit of prayer. Read more>>

Diane Acuna

As an entrepreneur in my 30’s I can absolutely say I have a tremendous work ethic. I would be lying though if I said I’ve always been that way. I’m sure at one point or another we’ve all worked a job that we were less than thrilled with or didn’t exactly love. Maybe a job where we felt like the company didn’t exactly care about its employees, only the work that was being done. When you work in that type of environment, you may not care to have the best work ethic or give 110% of yourself to a company that doesn’t appreciate you. You may not feel bad about slacking off or the occasion call out! Read more>>

 Greta Miller

My work ethic comes from my father, who taught me at a young age to treat any business I work for like it’s my own. At 14 years old I started my first job working for my father and got easily distracted and bored. My dad would get on me about my work ethic and I didn’t like feeling like I was lacking. With that feeling in mind, I developed focus and discipline to prove myself. I would ask my dad questions about running a business and he taught me that whether I’m the owner or an employee, the priority should always be growing the business. As an employee, he taught me, I could do that by treating the business like it’s my own.  Read more>>

Lindsay Kreighbaum

My work ethic is from both of my parents – my dad runs his own business, and has since before I was born. My mom is one of the hardest working people that I know – she and I are also so similar personality-wise, we are both very type-A and have very high expectations of ourselves. Read more>>

Lisa Peterson

I grew up on a busy dairy farm in western Wisconsin. As a farm kid I learned the value of hard work, teamwork, and taking responsibility.

Because our family’s survival depended the farm’s success, all of us worked together – and relied on each other- to get the work done as efficiently as possible. Some of the jobs were dirty, dusy and downright disgusting. Some of them were tolerable, and some were fun. One of my favorite jobs was feeding the calves their milk from giant sized bottles. I watered down the leftover milk in the bottom of the bottle and fed it to the plethora of cats in our barn, and then I got to play with the cats. We would run down the barn aisle playing with baler twine. Read more>>

Derrick Utsey

I would have to say that I get my work ethic from both of my parents. They led by example and were never interested in taking the easy way out. My parents have always been early risers and I am the same way. I get up early every day and I can always find something that needs to be done. That’s not something I understood growing up, but these habits have helped me progress in my career and as a business owner. Read more>>

Natasha Trinidad

I get my work ethic from the women in my family. My mom is the biggest hustler I know. To this day, she works two full-time jobs; that motivates me to go 10 times harder. My granny is someone who doesn’t wait around for anyone to get anything done. So, I was raised to always go after what I want and to never be afraid of the work I have to put in. Read more>>

Daniel Chiang

I attribute my strong work ethic to both my family, particularly my older brother, who is a successful entrepreneur and dedicated ten years of his life to building his company, and the inspiration I draw from individuals like Kobe Bryant. Witnessing my older brother’s journey in the entrepreneurial world, dedicating a decade of relentless effort to make his company successful, has been a profound influence on my work ethic. He demonstrated unwavering determination, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to excellence throughout his entrepreneurial endeavors. His dedication and perseverance have instilled in me a deep appreciation for hard work and the patience required to achieve success in the competitive business landscape. Read more>>

Kyle Perry

I learned my work ethic from my parents who did everything within their power to ensure me and my brothers had the things we needed as children. They modeled work ethic by going to work every day, giving their all for their job, rarely complaining, and then coming home to pour into their home, children, and each other. As a child, I did not realize how much energy this required but now as an adult with children, I have the utmost appreciation for how much they did for us. I can recall many specific instances when my parents made personal sacrifices to provide for us and to ensure we were given the tools necessary to be successful. Much of my success and achievements have been made possible because of my work ethic, in which I take much pride. I realize that I will not always have the advantages others have such as knowledge, experience, or connections, but my work ethic allows me to outwork everyone involved. Read more>>

Joshua Aaron

I grew up in a chaotic environment where I learned I wanted more from my life. I realized at a young age my future is in my hands and I am the only one who can set things in motion to achieve my goals. Read more>>

 Joe Groenhof

I was raised on the family blueberry farm, so from an early age my parent instilled me with a mentality of working hard and getting the job done. Farming is not a 9-5 job. There is no 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift. It’s a do what needs done when it needs to be done. The hours can be utterly bizarre. The farm isn’t going to work around your schedule. One emample is spraying for insects during harvest time. I have to spray every 5-7 days. If you wait til 8 days; you could lose that picking. If there is a rain event in between the 5-7 days; you have respray because it was washed off. I’ve had to go out quite often and respray some of the same fields several times in a week because of rain. It’s not something the should be done; it MUST be done. Read more>>

Misty Smolensky

When I was 6 months old, my grandparents took myself, my twin sister, and older brother and began to raise us. As I grew up I realized more and more how much they gave up and how hard they worked everyday to make sure we had everything we needed even if it meant they did without. I remember the moment I realized this as if it were yesterday. That moment forward I wanted to make sure that I made them proud. I never wanted my grandparents to question if raising us was the right decision or not, My grandparents taught us to work hard even if it isn’t something I enjoyed doing, be honest, dependable and accountable. So every job I have worked I have kept this in mind. I was lucky enough to find my career in one of the things I love most (working with animals) and I can honestly say I have made my grandparents very proud. Read more>>

Brittney Thornton

My parents flat out! They raised my brother and I to never be lazy, take initiative whether its cleaning the house or going after my goals. They taught us to “work smarter, not harder” and to always “think” about what the situation’s solution might be. From personal goals to career goals I am so grateful they taught what great work habits mean early in age! Read more>>

Meyakka “MeMe” Sturdivant

Watching my grandparents harvest and grow their own garden and chicken coop that fed many families in and around our neighborhood is a seed planted in my work ethic. I learned from them first hand how to build up your own with dignity, hard work and sacrifice. How to be genuine in your efforts to elevate and empower. No gatekeeping, as you lend a helping hand to your fellow counterpart. Read more>>

 Rashad Tucker

I got my work ethic from my parents, they always preached, “hard work pays off”. My mother and father are both hard workers and instilled this trait into me at a very early age. My mother worked for the Kansas City Parks & Rec for over 28 years and my father a former professional boxer and now union electrician. I am the oldest sibling and oldest grandson. so I’ve always been held accountable to “lead by example”. My favorite quote is “hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”. I enjoy the daily grind, enjoy the process of the highs/lows and the ups/downs. Consistency is key, but discipline and hard work will help pave the road to success. Read more>>

ingrid pagliarulo

I have developed a good work ethic first and foremost thanks to my parents who taught me education, a sense of responsibility and respect for everything around me and for all people. From them I learned moral principles, values and attitudes on how to act in life as well as at work. Read more>>

Krystal Edwards

Starting at a young age, I worked hard at what I needed to do. I’ve always enjoyed practicing to better improve my skills. As a figure skater, I’ve learned to acquire self-motivation and mind control ( but that’s always a work in progress). Read more>>

 A2 The Show

Our work ethic, at its core, is a byproduct of homesickness. Being from Lebanon and now dispersed globally, the feeling of longing for home, the memories, and the shared experiences became a powerful driving force. This emotion, which could easily be debilitating for many, became our motivation. Instead of letting it consume us, we decided to channel it into creating “A² The Show”. Read more>>

Eric Fritsch

When tossing around the idea of starting a business, we knew we could be successful with hard work and dedication to the project, purpose and customers we serve. That drive comes from our work ethic which was passed along by our families. Our parents and grandparents all illustrated the attitude of “if you show up, do more than expected and treat people with respect, your work will speak for itself, and the reward will come”. They all demonstrated this through work within companies and corporations, but we knew we could take the same premise and apply it to a small, family owned and run business and be successful. Read more>>

Kevin Tan-Perkins

I get my work ethic from my family. Product of an immigrant mother and grandma from the Philippines. The strength and courage from them. But also my dad- he’s retired now but still has side hustles for as long as I can remember. And my family in general on both sides are hard working people. Read more>>

Libby Upshaw

I get my work ethic from my dad. Read more>>

Charles Kennedy

I get my work ethic from my parents. I’m the son of two Jamaican immigrants and they worked for every single thing they had. After my dad passed away, I watched my mom work 2-3 jobs and hustle like crazy to keep everything together in the house. Hard work is all I know, and I’m thankful I had such hard working parents to set the example for me. Read more>>

Ross Verity

I know I get my work ethics from my mother. Growing up from a child into my early adulthood, all I’ve ever known was my mother to work hard to provide for her (2) boys (my brother & I). She taught me work ethics without really having to say a word; just her actions. Being a single mother she had no choice but to work because there wasn’t anyone else. We have conversations now, & she always say that if she failed then “we failed”. Her work behaviors rubbed off on me in a positive way; & it definitely contributed to my success as an entrepreneur today. Read more>>

Nina Tulio

We really struggled financially growing up. I watched my mom work 3 jobs for a long period of time. So I promised myself I would do what ever it takes to create a life for myself that would allow me to no stress about money. My mom worked so hard and she instilled that in me. Read more>>

Sergio Amalfitano

I think I inherited my work ethic from my community. My parents immigrated from Argentina in the 80s and didnt know the language. They learned the language and got jobs and built a good life for all of us. I was always surrounded by immigrants and and working class families that valued work. Not just what you do but how you do it and how much pride you have in it. I think I had a responsibility to them and the sacrifices they made for me to work hard as well. Read more>>

Richard Chungong

I get my work ethic from my Mother. She is a wound care specialist. Everything she has earned are from her efforts to work on herself and continue to her better. Seeing how she put in the work everyday to provide the opportunities for me and my family is what motivated me to do the things I am doing today. Read more>>