The ability to work hard has always been underappreciated and devalued by various elements in society. In our experience, it’s crystal clear that having a strong work ethic and positive attitude towards working hard is highly predictive of success. Below, you’ll find highlights of our conversations around how one might go about developing or leveling up their work ethic.

Mohammad Sadat

My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing and the values instilled in me by my parents. As immigrants from Afghanistan, they fled war in 1981 in search of a better life. Their resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to building a new life in unfamiliar territory has always been a testament to their immense work ethic. Read More>>

Charlicia Harper

My work ethic comes from my basketball history. I played the game of basketball every since I was about 6 years old. My father kept me in the gym with my three brothers, alongside the rest of our military community. Read More>>

Christina Zaccarine

My family are certified workaholics. My mother’s family owns an imported Italian food store. Starting at the age of 7, I was taken to work weekends and summer breaks from school. While I was there, I was taught how to hustle and make sure that people are taken care of in a timely manner with a friendly smile and earnest care for their satisfaction. Read More>>

Cory Bollin

I have developed a strong work ethic over the years through a combination of personal values, life experiences, and a commitment to excellence. It starts with my intrinsic motivation and drive to succeed. I set clear goals for myself, and I genuinely enjoy the process of working towards them. Read More>>

Bret Green

My father has owned a furniture store for thirty years and I watched him show up day in and day out with a smile on his face and ready to serve his loyal customers. He approached each day with a positive attitude and a willingness to roll his sleeves up and complete whatever task was at hand, no matter how big or small. Read More>>

Scott Hagg

I got my work ethic from my parents. My father was working in a paint factory when my sisters and i were young and living in Detroit, Michigan. Average life span after retirement of the factory was 2 years from breathing in all the fumes from the paint. Read More>>

Brent Thorlton

I got my first job at the age of 10 delivering papers and I have had a job ever since. My parents influenced me to work and I always had chores to do.  In college my art professor Yu Ji at Eastern Illinois University was also a huge influence on my work and my work ethic. Read More>>

Alyson Scholz

I have had a job since the day I could drive & prior to that I was that neighborhood girl that would walk around door to door selling whatever fundraiser my school was supporting. My parents were both extremely hard workers, especially my mom leading as a great example while growing up.  Read More>>

Deseri Rice

I’ve always been a bit of a hard worker and overachiever for as long as I can remember. What keeps me going is the joy I get from giving my all to things I’m passionate about. Back in grade school, I managed to score straight A’s, make it onto the honor roll, and even the principal’s list. Read More>>

Martin Lewis

I believe that work ethic is something inherited. It isn’t something you can learn it is something one can only do if exposed to it for a long period of time. My mother, Celeste, had the most amazing work ethic and I inherited this from her. Read More>>

Noe Najera

I would say I definitely get my work ethic from my mother. Ive seen first hand how you can change your life and create literal miracles when you put your all into your work. My mother came to this country with almost nothing and created this blessed and joyous life that my family now get to enjoy because of her hard work. Read More>>

Rahul Nath

I have always been someone that liked to work and wanted to work. So when I had the opportunity to make my hobby and passion my work, I jumped at the chance, because I knew that it wouldn’t feel like work to me, but more so, it would feel like that I am inching closer towards my goal of being successful in a field that I always wanted to pursue. Read More>>

Joshua White

My Work ethics comes from wanting to be the best! I’ve always loved making music and I’ve grown to have a competitive edge to it. The thrill of creating something from scratch gives me all the motivation I need to be successful. Read More>>

Levi Chaney

I get my work ethic from my father. I grew up watching him work hard and provide for us so that inspired me. My goal is to provide for my family like he did for us. If you don’t put in the work you will not get the reward. Read More>>

Alex Goransson

Its from a few different places but my main thing is having dyslexia your whole life you are pretty much used to always have to work harder than everybody els just to understand the basics. so as a kid, “like many kids with dyslexia” felt I was stupid and useless cause it didn’t matter what I did, it was never enough. so when I found what I was good at I used the same work ethic to become better, prove to myself and others that I wasn’t useless. Read More>>

Sumedha Chawla

Oh! That’s easy. I draw my work ethic from my parents, who set a remarkable example for me. Raised in a close-knit joint family in India, we started with humble beginnings. Both my parents, a dedicated physician and a steadfast bank employee, worked tirelessly for everything they achieved. Read More>>

Lu Silva

The foundation of my work ethic comes from my family. My main role models within my family are hard workers. I come from leaders from both sides of my family. My father made a point of showing the way. I’ll never forget the summer he had me do a agua fresca stand outside our restaurant. My dad set me up with every thing I needed. Read More>>

Justin Kucsulain

I try to surround myself with go getters. People that inspire me and make me want more. High octane professionals. The fitness game is always and will always be competitive I like that I offer something different from the rest and that keeps me hungry for more. Read More>>

Victoria Craven

Growing up in a household led by my remarkable single mother was nothing short of inspiring. My mother’s unwavering determination for a fresh start allowed her to overcome every obstacle in her path. At the age of 31, she not only welcomed me into this world but also ensured my brother and sister were no longer in foster care. Read More>>

Miguelina Almarante

I get my work ethic from my parents. I grew up seeing my mother balancing motherhood, household and workfield. Learning from my cutural background , from young you are instilled to apply hardworking ethics. Read More>>

Djenita Svinjar

I get my work ethic from my mom. I grew up an only child in a single mother household. My dad was killed as a soldier in the Bosnian War when I was three, and from that day on, it was just my mom and I. Read More>>

Keith Miner

My work ethic was started from my childhood. Growing up in a very poor family in a rough neighborhood with a rough up bringing will either break or make you. For me it showed me everything I didn’t want in life, and the way to improve my situation would come from having grit and work ethic. Read More>>

Cynthia S.

I deeply admire my mom’s incredible work ethic and determination. She, as the sole provider, came to America with nothing from Poland in the 90s and built her own successful business from scratch. Her inspiring journey has always guided me, and I knew the entrepreneurial road was the path I wanted to take. Read More>>

David Collingsworth

I had to learn to be a dedicated hard worker. I watched my father, who always practiced consistent hard work and stressed the importance of doing things the right way, not the easy way. Work ethic is extremely important to me today and something I take pride in. Read More>>

Ana Ortiz Wienken

Work ethic is one of the most important aspects of our job environments. I always thrive for transparency, equity and loyalty. These are the three main key elements that make a company not only gro but maintain a stable and successful status. I developed my work ethic working in the US among award winning production companies such as Music and Motion Productions and Netflix.

Sunshine Love

I guess you can say I got my work ethic from my mother. I grew up in a single-parent home, and I always saw how hard my mother worked to take care of my brother and me. My mother has always made sure we had everything we needed and wanted including love and attention. I want to be able to do the same for her.  Read More>>

Kelly Wohlgenant

Honestly? Some of my drive stemmed from an unhealthy self worth and trying to prove to myself that I am valuable. Living my dream has not been an easy path. When I graduated from North Carolina State University in Industrial Design, I thought I was going to start a product design career. Read More>>

Christopher Weaver

My work ethic stems from my parents, and my Godfather. My parents were very instrumental in showing me how to always push forward no matter what you are faced with. My mother, coming from a small town, showed me no matter where you come from; you don’t have an excuse to slack off. Read More>>

Tracy Moss

I am the daughter of educators and entrepreneurs. My parents began their careers with an education and social work background but I truly believe that you are the product of not just your parents but your village. I grew up watching those around me work with a purpose and sense of pride. Read More>>

Shon Christy

My dad was a grinder, I watched him work incredibly hard from a very young age to ensure we had everything we needed. He was the first one to model the way for me. I also learned work ethic from the sport of wrestling. Read More>>

Ernestina Flores

I attribute my strong work ethic to the example set by my parents. Both my mom and dad have been helpful in shaping the values and ideas that guide me in my professional life. They have constantly shown me the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. From a young age, I witnessed my parents ‘work tirelessly to support our family. They instilled in me the belief that success is earned through consistency and determination. Whether it was my mom’s long hours as a daycare teacher or my dad’s dedication to his construction company, their work ethic was undeniable. Read More>>

Tom Botchii

I think that if you can get lost in what you do, the idea of “work” goes away. So in my opinion, the key to having a great work ethic is truly being in love with your career. Read More>>

Shaquana Rouse

I most definitely got my work ethic from both of my parents & grandparents … growing up seeing them all work so hard was an inspiration for me to see, my mother was always an entrepreneur so it was definitely in my blood. Read More>>

Jake Tyler

As a child I grew up with a single mother moving from home to home every few years and staying with my grandparents, on their farm in South Carolina for periods of time. I think watching my mother overcome so many obstacles on her own has a lot to do with my ability to keep showing up everyday no matter what. Read More>>

Caroline Warthen

Both Helaine and I come from an era of no cell phones or computers. We both evolved from backgrounds that taught us to work hard for everything. Helaine’s background of being an elementary school teacher taught her to be on her toes and to persevere. My background of home textiles taught me of a never ending environment of change.  Read More>>

Aman Dembe

My work ethic came from watching my parents when I was still a kid and believe it or not, Sunday Bible school. I’d see them work hard to provide for the family but also try to be present in our lives. I think the best thing I learnt from that is the ability to balance your work and life responsibilities. Read More>>

Michelle Zelina-Stice

My parents. They have been entrepreneurs and business owners my entire life and have been a huge influence to me and I have always looked up to them. They worked together and would include my sister and I in the business from a young age and taught us different skills, such as office work. Read More>>

Courtney Ligi

My work ethic is a direct result from my parents. My dad always had two jobs as I grew up, and my mom always found a way to work while caring for my brothers and me. On top of my Dad’s job commitments, he would find ways to sell things and make money; such as his plowing business or the newspaper route with my brothers. Read More>>

Folasade

I’ve been blessed to have hardworking parents and family. My father is an immigrant from Jamaica and has provided a great life for me and my siblings. My mother is a professor and always taught me the value of education and the power of knowledge.  Read More>>

Yauseaffe Hunt

My work ethics comes from wanting more. I have a lot goals that I want to accomplish for myself. I’m am not worried about what the next person doing. I want to live the life I dreamed about. I learned focusing on my own lane has helped me stay committed to my passion. My motto is step by step, brick by brick. Read More>>

Erika

My work ethic definitely comes from my parents. It was the way I was raised. Both of my parents worked hard to provide what they could for myself an my siblings. I barely recall my parents sitting down as there is always something to do after work such as making dinner, cleaning the house, doing the gardening, fixing the car etc. I watched and learned. Read More>>

Jordan Williams

I work as if the lives involved are depended on it. I take joy in working hard for something I’ve been dreaming to come into fruition. The additional to that I work to create a new life for my wife and kids. Read More>>

Maria Cecilia Mendoza

My unwavering work ethic is a legacy passed down through generations in my family, particularly from my father. Our family has always believed in the value of hard work, a shared commitment that has paved the way for our collective success. Read More>>

susan johnston

Assess. Seems I have done this since I was a child. My Dad and Mom were divorced, so my Dad took me to work. I was curious. So i listened and watched to what was going on and the effects thereof. I was also put to work to keep me busy and “out of trouble”. Great skills were learned during this time. Read More>>

Juliebeth Delgado

My parents have always been hard working. My dad worked two jobs while my mom took care of my sister and me. After years of waiting and planning, my dad finally got the opportunity to open his restaurant a couple years ago.  Read More>>