We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic come from? Is it something we learn from our parents, or are we born with it? Do our friends, work environment or the city we reside in impact it? We asked some of the hardest working folks we know to share where they think they get their work ethic from.
Carlo Gibson
I remember working one day with my father . We were fixing a boat, one of his many side projects. I was about 12 I think. I was just messing around and board with scraping the varnish . He told me in a very matter of fact way “if the job is worth doing ,then its worth doing well.” Read more>>
Melissa Mcardle
Born and raised in rural Georgia, my parents taught me through example the importance of a strong work ethic. They both worked very hard and never complained, and they did it from a place of love and respect. I’ve always put in 150% whenever I am offering my services to others, working for someone, creating and just taking care of my family. I believe if you sign up to do a job, you bring your all to it because everything we do represents our values. Read more>>
Aldo Andreoli
From the understanding that creativity and being creative is the only deep pleasure that nobody can take away from you. t’s yours, it’s not borrowed, it comes from deep within your being, and even if it’s not recognized by others it still gives you a profound satisfaction. Read more>>
Liliana Maldonado
Growing up in Puerto Rico, an island that frequently lost electricity and water, along with a single mother is where I got my work ethic from. From an early age, I knew life was not easy and that you had to work hard for a better life. Read more>>
Robert Browning
Funny enough, my work ethic comes from my long history of a lack of work ethic. I think I am very aware of what a lack of ethic breeds. I was raised without any real disciplinary structure, so growing up, I didn’t really grasp the concept of consequences/rewards for action or lack thereof. Over the years, mainly my teens & early 20s, I kind of just ran through life in the way I wanted to, not thinking about the long term, needs or consequences. Read more>>
Jonathan Stoye
I moved to Nashville, TN from Northern Michigan in the spring of 2009 and was lucky enough to find work with a handful of different bands and artists almost right off the bat. Over the years, bands would come and go, as bands tend to do. I landed a dream opportunity of mine to tour full time with an already established rock band named Framing Hanley from 2013 until the band broke up in 2015. I took this breakup particularly hard, as I did not want my newfound journey to end. Read more>>
Corbin Johnson
I’ve never been the type who found things easy or natural. Everything I’ve achieved has come from hard work and determination. Unlike my two sisters, who seemed to effortlessly excel with their tall frames and natural talent, I had to push myself in everything I did. From a young age, dancing became my passion—something I knew I could excel at if I put in the effort. That drive carried over into everything I pursued, as I understood that nothing would come easy for me. Read more>>
Ciril Hitz
My work ethic unquestionably comes from my mother. I don’t ever recall a time where she stopped to take a break during any project she undertook. She instilled in me the desire to work and immediately complete tasks as soon as they came up. Procrastination does not exist in her world. It was never an option in our household to “wait until tomorrow.” If there was something that needed to be done, it was completed before the sun set. Read more>>
Carolina Campuzano
I would say my mother she thought me to be responsible and to give my best at everything I do. Also I would say that being raised in Ecuador played a very important role in my life, back in the day schools were very strict which I’m so thankful for now. Read more>>
Althea Young
I accredit my work ethic to both my parents. My Dad worked in a factory my whole life, taking on full day shifts from sun up to sun down. My mother worked as a school teacher for over 20years. I’ve watched her passionately educate and pour into youth for as long as I can remember. Through there example I learned to never give up, and even when I am tired, to rest, restore, and rebuild. Read more>>
Brittany Futrell
Well I lost my mother at 10 months and I had no father.I went into Foster Care at 14 years old.While in foster care I witnessed how there was no genuine care or love that surrounded me.Money was constantly stolen from me from foster parents and foster care agencies. I was saddened that certain protections were not put in place for me being an orphan and I told myself I wanted to build something that no one could take from my myself, my daughter, or my future grandchildren. Read more>>
Aaron Davis
You may know more than me! But, you’ll never out work me! I was raised by my Great Grandmother(Bema) from England and my mother. My twin brother and I had no choice but to start working early to help out around the house and to help take care of my Bema! She was from London and came here after WW2 on the Queen Mary and started with nothing here in America. She showed me to go after everything you dream of and don’t stop chasing it! Read more>>
Watson Side And Viv Gould
As a kid I always had a hard time sitting still. I loved working with my hands a lot. I don’t know if it was the ADHD or just my love for being busy. I’m sure it’s a mix of both. Skip to the future and it still rings true to this day. I think on a deeper level, I can now admit that a lot of my self worth comes from my work and keeping booked and busy. Read more>>
Samantha Mack
Hard work is a value in my family that has been passed down through generations. My great-grandparents immigrated to the US from Lebanon as teenagers in search of the American dream, and because of their determination, they established a family with generations of hard workers. I have grown up hearing their stories of grit and endurance, so it has always been engrained in me to set goals and work for them. Read more>>
Lan Bun
I got my work ethic from my father. Im grateful for the opportunity to be able to come to america and live the life my father has created for me. Seeing him work tirelessly to provide for our family, and growing up in housing has a huge impact on my life. Therefore, I try my best each to do better not only in the things that I do but also be a better person for my daughter and family. Read more>>
Montserrat Lewin Mejia
My work ethic comes from my amazing parents. My dad worked hard to achieve the American dream. He always had one job but took on multiple projects to help us move to America. His perseverance showed me that dedication can overcome any obstacle. Read more>>
Jamal Abdullahi
Growing up, I felt as though I lived at the intersection of two worlds. In one, I took on adult responsibilities to help fill in the gaps at home, and in the other, I pursued my creative interests. Witnessing my parents seamlessly navigate through their roles and worlds inspired me to find a similar balance in my own life. As immigrants to this country and parents of nine children, they seized every opportunity to secure a future for our family. Read more>>
Amy Herzberg
Where do I get my work ethic? Well, I feel like that’s a complicated question, because sometimes, I don’t feel like I have “work”.
Working as an a performer and a vocal teacher, I’m basically a freelancer.
Which means I make my own schedule, I’m the one looking for projects/shows/students etc. It’s not your usual 9-5. Read more>>
Korey Bromery
So growing up I spent a ton of time on my grandparents farm in rural Iron Station, NC. I spent pretty much every weekday during the summers in a hay field helping my grandfather cut, bail, and load hay bails. It was long, physical work and I did this throughout my childhood and into high school. Read more>>
Jerel Flint
My father spoke to me with words, but also laid a foundation of decisions that I could learn from. He beat the odds and was able to earn a spot in the NFL for 5 seasons. We spoke a lot about the work it took to get there, the sacrifices he had to make, and what he learned about life during and after his career. Everything eventually comes to an end, but you have to be prepared for the moment when the opportunity arises. Read more>>
Sahil Mroke
I think my work ethic comes from a handful of places; of course my work and academic experiences have attributed many skills and allowed me to experience a variety of disciplines, but most of all I think it’s been an understanding of the position and privilege that I have. Where I have grown up, the community that I have existed in, and the environment that my family before me has cultivated are all immense privileges. Read more>>
Emma Lavine
Growing up, I had the privilege of watching my dad navigate the responsibilities of being a business owner. He wasn’t just running a company; he was a master of consistency and discipline. Every morning, he would wake up before the sun, deliberately prepare for his day, and head out with a clear plan in mind. It wasn’t just about hard work for him; it was about working smart, staying organized, and focusing on the bigger picture. Read more>>
Stephanie Mcgovern
I attribute my work ethic to the teachings of my mother and late father. My father spent his adulthood dedicated to supporting our family, working long, exhausting hours as a truck driver. Growing up I watched him struggle mentally and physically, through work-related injuries, surgeries and long, bedridden spells. Read more>>
Sharlani Pu’u-zanders
I credit my work ethic partly to my dad and being in the U.S. Army. Growing up in Hawaii, my dad always had two other jobs along with his main job. He was always up early and headed to work. Sometimes he would be gone for weeks on jobs that would take him to one of the other islands or Guam. When I joined the military, I learned the habit of keeping busy. There is always something to do and something that needs to be worked on, or someone you can help. So, I always keep myself busy. Read more>>
Brendan Duffey
My work ethic stems from my personal drive and fascination with music and audio. I know success comes only with discipline and attention to detail. Ultimately, my love for creating and perfecting music drives me to put in the hours and effort needed to ensure every project reaches its full potential. Read more>>
Sofia Naveira
Definitely shonen anime. When I was a kid I was really obsessed with Naruto, his ambition and persistence inspired me a lot. I got a tattoo recently as a reminder of that but I usually think of him when I feel like giving up. Read more>>
Stacy Townsend
I was born into a family of entrepreneurs, and didn’t know any different. Whether nature or nurture, it feels woven deep in my spirit. My grandfather was a an inventor; always tinkering in his shop, building things and creating little problem-solving tools to use around the house, all while working as a full time mason. My dad followed in his footsteps, building a business on nights and weekends after working hard at his day job. Read more>>
Cynthia Martinez
I thank both my parents for my work ethic. They’ve always been such hardworking in everything they’ve done, and have inspired me since I started working at the age of 17. Read more>>
Sarah Hyde
I’ve always been the sort of person who works really hard – as long as I’m doing something I’m passionate about. After nearly two decades of working for other people in non-profit communications, I realized that I had built up a big skill set and felt ready to try flying solo. Initially, I thought I would start my own freelance communications company, but after doing a 200 hour yoga teacher training, I kept receiving more and more invitations to work in wellness spaces and train in more areas of yoga and energy work, and found that I was enjoying it more than my freelance work. So here I am several years later, with my own wellness business. Read more>>
Ashley Bell
I would say my work ethic comes from my childhood and upbringing. I come from being raised by a single mom and I watched her buss her butt daily to provide and keep a roof over our head. I feel in love with the idea to always grind for what I want watching my mom. It was a struggle growing up so if I wanted something I always had to work for it, so I did hair by the age 11 and always had a hustle going on. Read more>>
Erika Choriego
My work ethic was instilled in me by my dad, He’s had such a huge impact in shaping me into who I am today. He taught me that nothing worth having comes easy, and that you may not be the best at something but with hard work you can bridge that gap and get to where you want to be. I was also involved in competitive sports from a young age which helped to develop my work ethic too. Read more>>
Xiao Ying
My work ethic really comes from a mix of things, but I’d say my mom’s influence is a big part of it. She’s doing business, and watching her over the years, I’ve learned how important it is to be responsible – not just to things, but to people. She’s always there for her team, really caring about them, and I’ve seen firsthand how that creates an environment where great work can happen. Read more>>
