While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that everyone is just ghosting their lives away, we’ve seen countless examples of how strong the work ethic is on every street and in every neighborhood in America. Hard work is alive and well and we asked some of the hardest working folks we know how they developed their work ethic.

Talyn Fiore

I get my work ethic from my dad. He was the hardest-working person I have ever known. Nothing was impossible to him. In fact, the more out of the box, the better. He was the master at innovation. He dared me to dream as big as possible from as far back as I can remember. He believed with belief and hard work, anything was possible. He was a living example of this. He grew up poor, sometimes homeless with his mom and sister, and became a self-made millionaire. He didn’t believe in limitations and neither do I. Read more>>

Aiyana Lewis

My work ethic has been shaped by the incredible influence of my mother, who stands out as my ultimate source of inspiration. From an early age, observing her tireless commitment to excellence and her relentless pursuit of goals has been a guiding force in my life. It’s not just about the work she did, but how she approached it, consistently going above and beyond expectations. Read more>>

John Steinberg

It is difficult to pinpiont exactly where I get it from, but my biggest influcences in life come from some awesome people, including my mom and dad, my grandpa, and lot of coaches/mentors over the years. I was an athlete my entire youth and into college so to accomplish that level of atheltics, I had to outwork everybody. Even today, I am a competitive rower with the spare time that I have. Read more>>

Angie Carlson

I am a Midwesterner who grew up in Northern Minnesota in Hibbing, MN a melting pot that gained prominence for its iron mines in the early 20th century. Out school was incredible — built in the 1920s with mining money. Because of the severe weather and so many 2nd and 3rd generation people, it was a tough, no B.S. place to grow up. You had to be prepared. My Dad grew up at a small family resort and was a fishing guide and dealing with guests from age 12 on. He helped put himself through college by harvesting wild rice. Read more>>

Amanda Kindel

I certainly wasn’t a star athlete, but I did play several sports growing up. I think a lot of my work ethic came from my parents and how they raised me, but it was definitely honed on the field. The idea of “not cutting corners” when running practice laps around the bases or around the field – being sure to fully go around every 90 degree corner – I think that stuck with me. Even if no one catches it, I’ll know that I didn’t put forth my best effort, and that’s not who I want to be. Read more>>

Morgan Sinclaire Screws

My commitment to a strong work ethic is deeply rooted in the principles instilled by my parents. They emphasized the importance of consistently delivering the best performance and giving 100% effort in every task. My upbringing has shaped my approach to work, and I am dedicated to maintaining these standards in any professional setting. Read more>>

Hakeem Martin

I come from a hard-working black family, parents that always worked hard and had a strong work ethic I grew up in a black house in the south of Sweden, and had two ambitious parents and they have an extremely good work ethic Knowing this is bigger than me. Realizing that what I’m doing is more significant than just my personal goals has been a powerful motivator. My parents shared with me the reality of being a black man in Sweden, emphasizing the need to work twice as hard for half the recognition.  Read more>>

Adyery Tlahuel

No doubt, my hustle and work ethic come straight from my parents – two real go-getters who left their home countries to chase the American dream. They both immigrated to the U.S. when they were pretty much kids. My mom was just 16, and my dad was 20, all in search of a shot at a better life. From my earliest childhood memories, I’ve always seen them hustling – working multiple jobs, trying out different side gigs, and even taking a swing at running their own businesses. Read more>>

Angela Sostre

My mother without a doubt.  Read more>>

Suxanne Klotz

Where did you get your work ethic from? At the age of twelve my family moved from a kid friendly suburb to a seventy-acre farm forty-five minutes by car from my school and friends. After two days on the farm, I complained to my Dad that I had nothing to do and he replied, “You have to learn to entertain yourself.” That was the moment creating art became a necessity for my sanity and survival.  Read more>>

Christina Widemark

My work ethics stem from the influence of my parents, all of whom shared strong dedication and loyalty throughout their professional lives. Witnessing my mother’s entrepreneurial spirit as the owner of three quick printing locations under the AlphaGraphics franchise left a memorable mark on my understanding of customer service and commitment. Her pursuit of excellence in building her business became a source of inspiration, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication. Read more>>

Kaity Heart

Work ethic is a funny thing isn’t it? For some people it’s just bred into you, and I guess that’s true for me. From a very young age I’ve always felt an incredible drive to do the most, be the best, work hard, conquer all….but never really understood why. But now I realize that it really boils down to two things: hard work determines how lucky you are and if you are the best at whatever you do (whether thats collecting trash, buying stocks, or singing) you are irreplaceable. Read more>>

Erick Brazile

I get my work ethic from not wanting to let my son down. I know as my son grows older the more he looks up to me for guidance and to follow my example. I want to show him that there is always different ways to do things and not to limit yourself. I want him to take chances and be adventurous. Even if you fail there is always a learning experience and a chance at redemption! Read more>>

Vanessa Valenzuela

Right away I think about my parents, I definitely get my work ethic from them. They were both born in Guatemala and were not presented the same opportunities someone born in the US has. I grew up watching my parents wake up before the sun was even out to go to work. They were the type of people to pick up double shifts, and not give themselves a day off. Their hard work was inspiring to watch, and now they own their own respective businesses! Their drive to give myself and my siblings a good life is what inspires my work ethic today. They are the best role models I could’ve asked for. Read more>>

Ms. Cece

It was only recently that I realized the origin of my work ethic. I received it from my maternal grandparents. They owned and operated Taylor’s Personal Care & Educational Center in Atlanta, Ga. They closed their doors in 2019 after 40 years in operation. My childhood was spent at that daycare. Read more>>

Drew Hendrix

Observations of my grandfather, my great uncles, my uncle Troy, and my stepdad began the journey. They were all hard workers and took pride in doing things right and doing them because of a goal. In most cases, they just liked the process of “getting things done”. Working to support family was another strong motivation for them. I suppose I saw this and without really knowing it at the time, their behavior, which I admired, became mine.  Read more>>

Zaria Watson

At 16, I started my first job as an apprentice at Lovely Nails. It was an eye-opening experience for me. On top of developing a craft, I learned how to tackle language barriers, culture differences, and my self-esteem. I remember going to work right after school on Fridays and working almost all of my weekends from 16 until now. Granted, I take off for special events, but I’ve truly sacrificed part of my freedom to be of service to others and the establishments I’ve worked under over the years.  Read more>>

Jody Lyddane

Jennifer and I both share the belief that you get out of life what you put into it. We believe in working hard and we enjoy demonstrating that to our children. We teach our daughter and son that in order to grow, you must constantly remove yourself from your comfort zone and challenge yourself often. Furthermore, if you have a God given talent, you should pursue it and see where it takes you. Read more>>

James Bullock

I grew up in a very low-income working-class environment growing up, everybody around me worked hard to keep the bills paid and the kids fed everyday, so I just figured this is how you’re supposed to live. Before coming to Los Angeles, I cut my teeth with several fast-paced high volume food service establishments and working with the kitchen crew for long hours really helped develop my work ethic to the point where I don’t stop until the job is done. Read more>>

Amber Simpson

My work ethic is rooted in my childhood experiences, born and raised in a small town in Illinois called Mendota. It was there, in the heart of the Midwest, that I first observed the value of hard work from my parents, my family and the community. Read more>>

Tisha Janigian

As the Broker/Owner of SHE IS HOPE Realty, I have established a distinguished boutique brokerage grounded in unwavering principles of superior and personalized client service, the highest degree of integrity, and an unyielding commitment to going the extra mile to meet our clients’ needs, treating them with the care and consideration befitting family. At SHE IS HOPE Realty, we aspire to be the epitome of excellence in the real estate industry. Read more>>

Mark Oblinger

I got my work ethic directly from my parents. A work ethic that I’m sure they learned from their parents and their parents before them. It’s like it’s passed down generationally and without ever really being spoken of. You watch, you learn, you imitate and hopefully pass it down to your children. Sure, there were “teachable moments,” like when your Dad puts a rake in your hand and says let’s go next door and help our elderly neighbors with their yard.  Read more>>

Ryan Payne

My journey as an audio engineer has been very rewarding, and fulfilling. my work ethic comes from genuinely loving what i do. I love the people that I’m able to meet through this work, and i love creating and being able to build with musical artist. The fact that I’ve gained the trust of so many with my creative ear and follow through, keeps me accountable enough to always want to do a good job. Read more>>

Xiaodie Huang

From the very beginning, my approach to work has been shaped by my unwavering pursuit of excellence and my fervent dedication. I make it a point to stay grounded and receptive to feedback, and I view every project as an opportunity for growth. By staying self-aware and proactive, I am able to thrive as a collaborative team member, effortlessly balancing multiple tasks and improving my time management skills. My consistent delivery of top-notch work that aligns with the team’s objectives has earned me the respect and admiration of my peers. Read more>>

Lannie Finley

My parents were firm believers in finishing what you started, and doing it at 150% of your ability, never half a$$! They set the bar high because they had high expectations. They always said we couldn’t grow if the bar was set low. They also believed that if you signed up to do something, you finished it out and never quit until the project, season, or year was completed. Read more>>

Taylor Ditzel

I definitely got my work ethic from my dad. He has worked so hard to provide for his family, he started at the bottom of the food chain and worked his way to top. My dad knows what it means to have nothing and have to work what you want in life and he instilled that into my brothers and I as well. My brothers and I had chores to do growing up to earn our allowance, I used to pick weeds in the yard or help with housework.  Read more>>

Trejon Khalil

I would say I get my work ethic from my grandfather Noel Khalil. He was a man who not only cared about family, but he cared about providing and protecting his family. In order to do that, he had to go chase the bag! Up until the last few months of his life, even as a semi-retired man, couldn’t stay still. He is the main reason why I work as hard as I do. Read more>>

Nancy Martinez

My work ethic comes from my parents. I say this proudly because they came to the United States as migrants from Michoacan, Mexico. They left their families there so their future children had better opportunities than them. My dad knew that because of the situation in their country no matter how much they worked they could not have the life they provided us here in the US. I saw how my dad would wake up at 4am in the morning to get ready for his construction job, building this country’s infrastructure. Read more>>