How did you develop a strong work ethic?

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.

Dimitris Nezis

Growing up in a family environment, where the mentality that prevailed was mainly traditional, I have to confess that many times my wishes were met with a negative response. However, the issue is that this, in combination with my character, helped me turn the “limitation” into strength. It takes a lot of courage to grow up in an environment that is relatively strict and not lose control while growing up.  Read more>>

Jasmine ‘Jas’ Jordan

I’ve always believed that your work ethic is deeply rooted in your sense of self-worth and your passion for what you do. For me, being an attorney specializing in personal injury law isn’t just a profession; it’s a calling, a commitment to making a difference in the lives of my clients during some of their most challenging times. Read more>>

Gregory Kopp

My company’s clients, including small non-profit organizations and the leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise based in Los Angeles are the driving force behind my own positive work ethic. Their energy and enthusiasm are infectious and translates to our exciting work relationships that are inspiring, fun, and ultimately successful for all involved. As a result, our company has been recognized with multiple business management consulting awards and praise from the business media. Read more>>

Latania Johnson

I believe I got my work ethic from my dad. When growing up I was the youngest of 5 children. My dad was always working multiple jobs to make sure he was able to provide for his family. When he was not working he still made time to spend with his family. He use to cook, clean, play cards, dominos, yard darts, horse shoe, and play the guitar. Even though he had multiple jobs he made sure his presents were known when he was around his family. Read more>>

Shane Guffogg

That question has a simple answer; my father. My Neville Guffogg, grew up in Bolton, England, and at 15 years of age, began working in the coal mines Due to family economics, he was kept home when he was a boy to help his mother run a boarding house and was always behind on his school work, hence he was not good in school. So he went after the best-paying job he could find while having no education and that was coal mining. He came to the United States in 1957 to pursue the American Dream and through hard work and a can-do attitude, he lived his version of the American Dream because of his work ethic. Read more>>

Salvador Alba

For the longest time, I thought that life was about going to school to study a career than would then make you employable. Committing to a salary and a schedule that not didn’t allow much room to have a life beyond work felt exhausting. When I finally mustered the courage to dedicate my life to my purpose, working just became fun. It’s something I really want to do everyday, to go to the studio and create music in all different kinds of way. Read more>>

Christina Specos

I grew up blue collar… mom a secretary / hair dresser and dad a construction worker. I saw the early mornings, the late evenings / overtime, the literal building from scratch and working with hands, making something out of nothing. I was truly influenced by taking control and executing as much as possible and being as resourceful as a pocketknife as much as possible. Read more>>

Billy Giordano

I definitely developed a strong work ethic young. It starts with my grandparents. Both sides were VERY hard working, and not only taught work ethic to my parents but required it. Since my parents had me so young (16 years old), I spent a lot of time with and around my grandparents growing up. While I absolutely loved it for the most part, that also came with double, or triple the chores. I had my own household to upkeep, mow, etc, along with my grandparents and also great grandparents houses/yards. Read more>>

Justa Lujwangana

I get my work ethic from my mother. She’s is a single mom of 5 but found her own way to bring us to USA and give us a great education. But she still always reminded us of where we came from and how important of people we are to our society as children of the royal family (from Bukoba, a town Northwest of Tanzania) Read more>>

Katelyn Marks

I get that from my mom honestly. Growing up I watched her do everything she could for us kids. It didn’t matter if she had to work a couple jobs. She did her best and she’s always been a hard worker. I admire that. I want to be a strong worker, whether it’s my day job or my art. It’s in everything I do really. I just want to be my best self. Read more>>

TIFFANY WALKER

My work ethic was put into action at the age of 15 where I worked at McDonald’s. Once I started to work, I never stopped. I enjoyed the reward of receiving a check that I earned. I learn my work ethic from my family. I come from a large family of hard working individuals, who I watched work for everything they had. I watched my mom have a vision and become an entrepreneur and anyone who have experienced entrepreneurs is a dreamer thats not afraid to presue thier dreams. My mom always worked to keep me well taken care of. I watch my dad go after his dream of owning a door and window company. Read more>>

Richard Niles

Strong parents are a very important influence. I had thre, My father, Tony Romano was a singer, songwriter, guitarist who worked with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Cole Porter. He gave me a love of music and arranging. My step-father was Jesse Lasky Jr., a poet, playwright, and writer of over 60 films. My mother Pat Silver-Lasky was an actress, director, playwright, and author. I used to see my mother and stepfater writing scripts together. Every day was the same – breakfast, writing from 10am to 1pm, lunch, writing from 2pm to 6pm dinner. I never knew there was any other way.  Read more>>

Rachael Youngman

I’d say I get my work ethic from a variety of areas. 1) From where I grew up: I was born and raised 5 miles west of Anadarko, Oklahoma. We grew our own vegetables, raised chickens for eggs, homeschooled, made a lot of our own clothes and tended to 10 acres. Everyone had to do their part or the homestead wouldn’t run smoothly. My sisters and I working in the garden in that Oklahoma heat with the sun beating down on us, mowing several acres of land with a push mower (and multiple extension chords tied together), and all our many other chores was hard. But in a way we liked it. Read more>>

Sebrina Purcell

I’ve always been a hustler. I was an only child in my mother’s house (who was a single mother) until I was 13 years old so If I wanted anything I had to do it myself. I had to be extremely productive and efficient. Read more>>

Samantha Amazan

I get my work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit from my father. As an immigrant from Haiti, he came to the US with nothing and worked hard as a long haul truck driver to support his family. No time off. No vacations. Instead of retiring and sitting around doing nothing, he decided to become an independent contractor. He saved up enough money to buy his own truck and he went out and secured contracts to haul loads. He became his own boss by doing what he loved and he is living it up in his new construction home in Haiti. He showed me that if you work hard, you can achieve anything. Put in the time, do the hard work, and reap the benefits. Read more>>

Siedah Johnson-Mitchum

Throughout my life, my work ethic has been driven by my motivation to achieve a specific goal. However, these goals and motivations have shifted over time. Recently, my primary motivation has been my daughter, and my goal is to achieve stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In my earlier years, I was motivated by self-expression, while in my young adulthood, my focus was on money and lifestyle. Read more>>

Alyssa Hunter

If I’m being completely honest, owning my own business was never something I wanted to do. It’s incredibly hard work that doesn’t stop, but it can also be very isolating. Once I decided to start Alyssa Hunter Photography, I knew it was going to be difficult. If I don’t put in the work, no one else was going to pick up my slack. There’s always something to be done, and you get very good at time management in order to accomplish it all. I love my job so much that I find all of these little things I need to do rewarding at the end of the day. I’ve made friends with other small business owners, and it’s so great to have built a wonderful community. Read more>>

Neelu Kaur

My folks are immigrants from India. They arrived with a few bucks and two kids to feed. Both my mom and dad worked numerous jobs to put food on the table. They hustled their entire lives and that is where I got my work ethic. There was no job too big or too small for them. My brother and I witnessed how hard they worked and we have no excuse to not do the same. Read more>>

Khiana Brown

Ever since I started working, I have been in a managerial position. I love being a leader, training and helping others as well as gaining business knowledge from those who are where I want to be! Read more>>

Chris Manderino

Growing up with a father who was a business owner deeply influenced my work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. As the founder of LyfeFuel, I often reflect on the early lessons instilled in me by my dad. He was a hardworking business owner who believed in the value of dedication and commitment. My work ethic finds its roots in the summers of my youth, where dawn meant the beginning of a day filled with physical labor. My father would wake me up early to join him on the job site – painting houses, moving ladders, and engaging in various manual tasks while also getting a peak at the ins and outs of running a business and managing employees. Read more>>

Austin Sweeney

Growing up on a family farm. From as early as I can remember, our entire family ethic was built around hard work, sacrifice, and faith that the work we put in today will result in a better tomorrow. I always admired my dad’s ability to get to work early every morning and not stop working until long after the sun had gone down. He missed many sports, activities, and events due to the demands of the farm. He made the ones he could make (during the wintertime mostly), but even when he couldn’t, it didn’t phase me. Read more>>

Jair & Brandon Martinez-Johnson & Jackson

We come from humble backgrounds, hardworking families that instilled a rigorous work ethic. Teaching us that no obstacle is too big to tackle. Read more>>

Emily Larson

Growing up, my dad had his own business that he ran completely by himself so you could say I got my drive to be independent and to be a business owner from him! I also joined the volunteer fire department in my hometown at 15 years old to be a cadet! Working with all of the firefighters, it was like having 20+ dads around who always made me do the hard work and pushed me to do better. They engraved ambition, drive, and hard work into me at a young age. Read more>>

Michael Seward

I would have to say that I get my work ethic from all of the amazing teachers, directors, choreographers, and instructors throughout my career. They instilled not only a sense of professionalism, but also a true sense of self accountability. The performing arts is majorly based on just that in my opinion; self accountability. Are you putting in the work outside of rehearsals, are you taking the notes and making the corrections efficiently and safely, are you holding yourself to the highest standard possible even when people aren’t watching? Read more>>

Katherine Harris

I contribute my work ethic to nature, nurture, and sports. I worked in commercial real estate in downtown San Francisco a week after graduating college. I realized there that I have natural grit: firmness of mind and spirit. As for nurture, my parent’s are both entrepreneurs and owned businesses specializing in food & beverage. Their mindset and ambition was a daily influence growing up.  Read more>>

Gracie Hill

I developed my strong work ethic primarily from the lessons instilled by my parents. They emphasized the significance of hard work and consistently conveyed the belief that one doesn’t truly appreciate and value the things they have unless they have put in the effort to attain them. This upbringing has shaped my perspective on diligence and commitment, motivating me to approach tasks with a dedicated mindset. I believe that hard work and creativity results in beautiful outcomes. Read more>>

Tony Massey

Definitely my family. My grandfather was a roofer and he worked well into the winter season of his life. He would get up before the sun, travel across town on a bus, and provide roofing services that were unparalleled in craftsmanship. My mother worked two jobs and attended college, graduating with her Master’s Degree in Information Technology. My first job was walking through my neighborhood with a lawnmower and mowing lawns on the weekends and throughout the summer. I’ve had some type of employment since I was 12 years old. My family instilled in me, at an early age, a spirit of excellence that demands I work hard and show pride in everything my hands and mind produces. Read more>>

Rico Sanchez

“My work ethic is deeply rooted in my connection to creativity and aesthetic appreciation. I find immense inspiration in the world of art and music, which fuels my approach to work and life. This connection isn’t just about admiring art; it’s about absorbing the principles that make art so impactful—innovation, expression, and a relentless pursuit of beauty and meaning. When I immerse myself in art, whether it’s visual, musical, literary, or performative, I’m not just enjoying it. I am learning from it, letting it shape my way of thinking and working. Read more>>

Brandon Lien

I realized that I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me, and that’s where I get my work ethic from. My paternal great-grandfather left Teochew, China with very little to immigrate to Vietnam for a better life; he succeeded at that and owned a productive rice farm. Within one generation, my paternal family uprooted themselves and made their way from Vietnam to the United States for that same reason. My maternal grandfather is an artist himself to this day. For as long as I could remember, he was entrenched in a project around the house, but he also played guitar and wrote poetry. Read more>>