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.
Moneee Monroeee
I get my work ethic from the stuff that I have been through in life. Having different struggles in my life mentally made me always want to work hard and become a successful woman. Read more>>
Malcolm Mcneil
My work ethic was instilled in me at the age of 8 years old. My parents had a commercial cleaning company that me and my three siblings worked in. I started at about age 8. Five days a week. We left the house at about five in the evening and finished up on average around eight to nine in the evening. It remained this way for years. When I was young, I eventually resented it, but now I appreciate every moment of it. The routine and pressure my dad put on us allowed me to look at almost every job ive ever done as routine and easy. Read more>>
Gabe Neal Callie Dixon
Callie: From a young age, I watched my sister Caryn Dixon (Musician) relentlessly pursue her dreams, doing whatever it took to make them a reality. I think a lot of my work ethic comes from witnessing that drive. In other areas, I’ve drawn inspiration from the come up of people like Taylor Swift and, on the branding side, Chris Do. Their core values have kept me grounded and constantly motivated. One of my favorite quotes from Chris really captures this: “Wealth is never about money, but the ability to choose what you do with your time.” Read more>>
Khadia Michel
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the example set by my parents, especially my mom. At just 17, she left her family in Sierra Leone, West Africa, to pursue a better life in the United States through a university scholarship. She worked her way up from small jobs, starting in the mailroom of a company where she now serves as a Senior Cost Engineer. What has always inspired me most about her is that she never pretended to be a superhero—she is human, vulnerable, and authentic. She laughs, she cries, and she, too, seeks love and connection. Read more>>
Daniel Lee
My work ethic comes from being resilient and strong will to survive.
I didn’t have many opportunities growing up in a low income immigrant family.
Because of this when the opportunity rose I seized it to the fullest.
Some people don’t realize how much they have in front of them and life is short. Bad things happen, good things happen, and sometimes it just seems you are going anywhere. Believe that if you have will you will find a way. Read more>>
Jennifer Flores
Growing up my mom was a clean freak and my dad was a hard worker , ,my older sister had a job at Burger King and was good friend’s with the manager she brought him over to our house and my dad didn’t want me home in the summer doing nothing so he ask the manager if he can get me a job and that’s where my work ethic began i learned how to be responsible and punctual and not to forget customer service. but i would have to give credit to my dad for my work ethic he taught me al lot mostly by example. Read more>>
Jillia English
I got my strong work ethic from my parents. My dad ran his own business while working a full time job and my mom always worked. I seen both my parents work so hard while I was growing up so that always encouraged me to also work hard for what I want. I grew up in that life style so it comes natural to me to work extremely hard. Being a small business owner typically means you work a lot more than 40 hours a week to accomplish what you want. But it doesn’t feel like that because it is YOUR business! I seen my dad do it with his business and after helping him for years it built up my understanding and skill to work and strive for what you want. Read more>>
Neven Odeh
I got my work ethic from my parents. They watched how hard they worked and by the age of 13 they needed help and I was able to help run my dads store. Every day after school I’d help him with deliveries, or inventory, cleaning up, etc. Read more>>
Tonje Rules
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing and the environment I grew up in. Being from Houston, I was surrounded by a diverse, hardworking community where people always strive to turn their dreams into reality. My family was a big influence on me, especially when it came to instilling values like perseverance, discipline, and the belief that nothing comes without effort. Watching them work hard every day, regardless of the challenges they faced, shaped my perspective early on. Read more>>
Ian Sawan
I’d say a lot of my work ethic comes from my mom. I recently had a long conversation with her, and it hit me just how much I’ve grown up admiring her work ethic and striving to emulate it myself. She’s worked incredibly hard her entire life, facing countless challenges with such grace and determination. What stands out most is her ability to take on tasks she wasn’t necessarily experienced with, figure them out, and excel. She never shied away from a challenge, and that mindset has shaped how I approach my own work. Read more>>
Alyssa Beasley
I get my work ethic from my parents especially my dad. He’s worked since he was 18 and has made a name for himself with multiple successful businesses. As a business woman, I take pride in my attention to detail and passion I have for everything I do! I really put my heart and soul into this business! Read more>>
Siobhan Calderbank
I developed my work ethic from my mother, who has always been my greatest role model. From a young age, I watched her work two jobs to support our family. Even after long shifts, she always came home with a smile and made time for me and my siblings. As our family grew and the responsibilities increased, so did her commitment to both her career and education. While working full-time, she also pursued her Master of Arts in Education, which eventually led to multiple promotions. Despite her busy schedule, she never compromised on being present for us—whether it was helping with homework or getting us ready for school—she always found time. Read more>>
Andra Shinaul
I get my work ethic from my father. He started his business, Pearl Building Services, from the ground up when I was just four years old. I watched him work tirelessly, facing challenges and setbacks with unwavering determination. He never gave up, no matter how difficult things got. His commitment to his goals was inspiring, and he continued working hard until he passed away last year. His dedication and resilience taught me the importance of perseverance and hard work, and I carry that with me in everything I do. Read more>>
Alissa Laurie
I think my work ethic comes from all of the crazy jobs I had before I went full time into being a photographer. I’m a firm believer in showing up for the people you work for as strongly as you show up for yourself. All the years of working for someone else helped me realize I wanted to put that energy into my own business because if I can show up for someone else at 150% I know I can show up for myself that way. Read more>>
Orlando V Gonzalez
I believe I got my work ethic and drive from my parents, and grandparents . My father and his parents coming from Cuba and all having nothing ,also my mother coming from a very large family and just having the minimum. We were always taught to work hard for things we wanted or need to have. Also I like working hard I like chasing it and going against the odds or proving things past the negativity or the ones with a negative mind set. Read more>>
Jessica Purvis
Colossians 3:23-25 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” I want to do the work of my Father when I work, so it’s important to me to work hard and do things with integrity. Working these days can be hard and it’s all about the rat race, but I am focused on doing something meaningful and helpful to others. For me, it’s not about working a lot, but it’s about purposeful work. Read more>>
Shanice Ruffin
I attribute my work ethic from my mother and my personal goals/ambition. My mother was very dedicated, committed, and relentlessly persevered through hardships. She has influenced the way I approach both my personal and professional life, instilling in me the importance of hard work, responsibility, and resilience. Read more>>
Wally Bartfay
My parents immigrated to Canada in 1957 following the Hungarian Revolution. They came to Canada with the cloths on their backs and where given $5.00 Canadian and a train ticket to begin life in a foreign country. They did not speak English, but started to work the next day upon arrival on a farm in Fruitland, Ontario. They worked 16 hours days and slowly learned the language and saved-up what little money they earned. They subsequently moved to Montreal where my 2 uncles on my mother’s side were residing also. They were also Hungarian refugees. My mother worked in a garment factory long hours and my father worked for the railway. My father also attended university at night to earn a degree at McGill University. Read more>>
Morgan Monroe
I derive my strong work ethic from a commitment to hard work and perseverance. I believe that dedication and effort are essential for achieving my goals and overcoming challenges. This mindset drives me to continuously improve and strive for excellence in everything I do. Read more>>
Amber Garrison
Growing up, the idea of college was always drilled into me. There hadn’t been anyone in my immediate family that had finished college, so my parents were always vocal about wanting me to pursue my education past high school. They were never pushy about it though, which I feel made me more keen to the idea of going. When I decided I wanted to work in the entertainment industry, I was unsure of how my family would react just because it’s unfamiliar, but they were all supportive. I feel like my work ethic initially came from the support of my family, because I think I would have felt somewhat discouraged if they tried to talk me out of my dreams. Read more>>
Bryant Shields
In the relationship between dreams and art I’ve always looked forward to the possibilities that can be created. In dreams you create your own space without limits in the literal or obscure. My work ethic is fueled by my goal to recreate how emotions are equipped in dreams and the physicality involved. In my working time I typically craft two to three pieces at a time. Starting from a main focal point or figure I begin sketching and drawing out from the main area to distinguish areas that provide the piece with balance. To ensure that a piece is where I want it to become, my average work time depending on the medium, size, and theme can take up to 8 – 25+ hours. Read more>>
Mariah Phillips-savory
I started working at a very young age, while still in high school. My first job was working for my mom at a Sunglass store. All of my free time was spent there working. After school, weekends. When my friends were spending all their free time being teenagers and doing teenager things, spending time with friends, going to parties, I was working. I will admit at that time, early on, I resented my mom a little. Aside from going to school, how could she expect me to work all of my free time. At the time it didn’t make sense to me, and it certainly didn’t seem fair. Read more>>
Bradford Uyeda
I would say I got it from a number of places over the years. Let’s rank them from most influential on down. Number one is my father, he set the bar when I was young. He taught me to lead by example, not just in work but in family life as well, I had three younger brothers that looked at my behavior as the road map. My father was tough and hard on me which now having been in the real world I am grateful. The world is hard and ruthless. The habit he has passed on to me is “do it right the first time and finish what you start”. Read more>>
Kurt Seidle
Trusting my instincts, doing the work, and staying focused. Eliminating the noise and just getting to work. The practice of sketching, writing, and making keeps the mind agile, builds momentum, and leads to new ideas. Thinking too much can sometimes stifle creativity and get in the way. My friend Trapp Tischner is fond of saying, “If I think about it, I won’t do it.” That’s often true. Sometimes you just need to start working and stop overthinking. Read more>>
Stacey Stallings
My work ethic not only comes from my parents but from my family in general.
I grew up just seeing hard work, dedication and just plain old resilience.
In Jamaica, we had entrepreneurs, teachers, farmers and officers. My dad was a Pastor and teacher while my Mom was an assistant Principal in Jamaica.
When we migrated to America, we had to start all over and my family worked their way back up.
We worked hard as a family, based on collaboration, team work and building strong relationships. Read more>>
Alejandro Sanchez Ochoa
My strong work ethic comes from being raised by two incredible parents who sacrificed so much to give my siblings and me a chance at better opportunities. Throughout my ‘career jobs,’ I would often daydream about what it would be like to pursue photography full-time—it’s exactly what I had always wished for. As I continue this creative journey, I remind myself of where I came from and the challenges I’ve overcome to get here. I will never forget my roots or the obstacles that have shaped me. Read more>>
Daniel Lieberman
My work ethic, shaped by a deep sense of responsibility and purpose, is grounded in both my values and lived experiences. I approach every challenge with a strategic, analytical mindset, always seeking to maximize efficiency and deliver excellence and of course doing everything possible to solve the issue at hand. This methodical approach extends to both my professional endeavors, such as health, providing support or marketing initiatives, and of course, my personal growth, reflecting my belief in sustainable and continuous growth/progress. Read more>>
Rashamod Torrance
My work ethic came from my mother. My mom was such a hard worker and the values that my grandparents instilled within her, were passed down to me and my sister. I was always taught that I could accomplish anything that I put my mind to, and that manners and being respectful and relatable would open many doors for me. She also taught me be anchored within my faith and to pray about all ideas that I would think of. Nothing will come to my mind that I won’t have the tools to accomplish. Read more>>
Jonathan Laidacker
I grew up working on farms around central Pennsylvania. Both my parents were raised in a similar environment and hard work was always something that was engrained in me by not only them, but all the adults around me. I can still remember when I was 5 or 6 years old my dad saying to me, ‘If you’re doing something that you really enjoy, you should do it the best you can.’ It’s a little bit of a cliche saying, but it’s one that has stuck with me for almost 40 years. Read more>>
Michelle Sie Whitten
Definitely from my immigrant parents. My amazing mom (she sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer almost a year ago today) came over on a boat from Italy with her brothers and father when she was eleven and her job at that tender age was to cook and clean for them and of course she became the bill payer, the translator and really the rock in that family. My Dad came over in a boat from China fleeing war-torn China and didn’t speak any English either. He and his older brother were put in an orphanage in NYC because his parents couldn’t afford to keep them at home. They really are the epitome of the American dream but make no mistake they worked so hard and earned that😊! Read more>>
Alex Elkin
My father is a general contractor and always instilled hard work and perseverance in us. Growing up in a house with an entrepreneurial dad made starting and running my own business seem tangible and possible. My husband contrasts his upbringing in a house with an employed father as making entrepreneurship “mystical” or scary, and I’ve now realized how beneficial my own upbringing was for my craft. Read more>>
Travesia Agee
My work ethic comes from my maternal grandfather, Tyree Richburg (Papa) and my dad, Joe Agee. Papa was a man that wore many hats and was many things to many people but he instilled in me that if man doesn’t work then man doesn’t eat. Papa was a man of faith and a minister but before that he was in the military. He later became a police officer and worked his way through the ranks and became Chief of Police for the City of Prichard Alabama. Knowing that Papa was dedicated not only to his career but also to his community is something that I will always hold on to. Read more>>
Deeta Saravanan
I would definitely say from dance, particularly my background in ballet. Outside of high school and running Project YouthFinLit, I am also a pre-professional ballet dancer. I train 20-23 hours a week and have competed at national and international ballet competitions, including the Canadian Grand Prix (W.B.A.C.), Universal Ballet Competition, and the Youth America Grand Prix. I have also trained at ballet schools, including the Royal Ballet Upper School in the UK, Academie Princesse Grace in Monaco, and the School of American Ballet in NYC. Read more>>
Shanetra Harrison-boyd
I grew up in a single-parent household. I watched my mom work extremely hard to provide for my sister and me. She sometimes took me in with her when she worked over time. I would file documents, take things to people in the building, but more than anything I kept her company. My mom would take me to get a treat as payment for my hard work. My mother always stressed the importance of working hard to achieve my goals. Her famous quote is “Nothing beats a failure but a try.” Which was passed down to her by her mother. Read more>>
Joelmy Olivo
My professional ethics comes from making a good song, a good beat, and always leaving a good impression on the people I collaborate with. I always strive to give my best every time I have to make a beat. I always try to be as punctual as possible. If I have to deliver a production within 1 week, I try to deliver it in 2 or 3 days. And always be willing to collaborate. Read more>>
Myles Miller
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the values instilled in me by my family and life experiences. Growing up, I watched my parents and grandparents work tirelessly to provide for our family, never complaining, but always pushing forward no matter the obstacles. They demonstrated the importance of perseverance, discipline, and the willingness to go the extra mile. Read more>>
Caitlin Turner
My work ethic comes from a combination of passion, upbringing, and experience. I started working at the age of 14, and my parents always instilled a hustle mentality in me. I watched them work hard to achieve their goals, which ingrained in me a sense of responsibility and commitment. That mindset stayed with me as I climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming Vice President of Sales and Operations for years. My work ethic never wavered and was a driving force behind that success. Starting The Pour Tour from scratch also taught me the value of persistence, and seeing the joy it brings to others motivates me to keep raising the bar to deliver the best for my clients. Read more>>
Charles Freeman V
My work ethic comes from life. It takes a lot for an individual to be aware of their surroundings, knowing what works and what doesn’t. I love history, and it does repeat itself but in many different ways. That’s where awareness comes in. Read more>>
Erika Rogers
For me personally, I was really fortunate enough to grow up in a family full of hard workers. My parents did whatever they could to provide for my siblings and I. I’ve watched my parents go through their own trials and tribulations but still continued to persevere in order to give our family the life that we sought. My dad especially is a huge inspiration for me in regards to work ethic. I’ve watched him love jobs, hate jobs, lose jobs, find jobs, etc. But, I’ve never seen him quit. So when it comes to work ethic, I believe that I have that already instilled in me and have since I was young. I’m motivated first by the example of my parents, then by the people I keep close to me. My closest friends are some of the hardest workers I know. They motivate me to keep pushing alongside of them so we can rise together. Read more>>
