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.
Ashley Casoria And Lauren Cerrito
Since Ashley + I each turned 14, our dad walked us both into 2 family-friends restaurants and told them we wanted a job. We grew up watching our dad be successful and overly hard working, and to put it simply, that stuff sticks with you. We both have worked ever since then, and had so many different interesting jobs growing up. We both worked for Red Bull on their wings team at different times, both while in college, and I think it’s fair to say for both of us, that’s where the real creative/marketing side of us, as far as work ethic, started. Read More>>
Paulina Serrato
Joe, my husband and business partner has though me so many things on how to run a business properly.
One thing he has though me is to work smarter and not harder. Always trying to figure out new and better ways to help our clients, as well as our employees. Read More>>
Quincy Jackson
My work ethic comes from a lot of big inspirations I have. I look up to a few mainstream artists when it comes to my work. I strive to be a great creator and performer as well. I look at artists like, Lil Yachty, Trippie Redd, and Gunna. These artists most definitely have influenced my sound and work ethic. Read More>>
Marvin Dejon
I am a writer above all else, but since I’m interested in seeing what sprang into my head become a reality, I’ve chose to create the projects I write. I love working as a creative in whatever designation I pursue, whether it’s writer, director, producer, assistant director, grip, editor, or whatever. I love the process of filmmaking and love to see what was just an idea become a full vision realized. I’ve been creating independently since 2005, initially starting with stage plays then venturing into web series and short films and finally began producing features in 2021 with my first film “CRUEL AMBITION” set for streaming release in August 2023. Read More>>
Seana Hurbace
Growing up I watched my Mom run her in home daycare and I helped any way I could from taking care of babies to changing diapers or playing with them. She paid me to help during breaks from school and after school. I learned that while it’s super hard work to run your own business it’s also super rewarding to be your own boss. While my office changes weekly and my “boss” changes weekly, I still have 100% control of the results I deliver. It really is living the dream. Read More>>
Ariana Hartman
I get my work ethic from my mother. She made sure my needs were met, but if there was something I wanted I had to earn it. She always made me think solution based so if I did not have the money, I found a way to get it. Whether it’s doing makeup, ubering, or working my full-time job I will always grind and get what I need. Read More>>
Jen Rivera
When it comes to work ethic, some of my earliest memories are from when I was a kid going with my Mom to pick up my Dad from work or hanging out with my Mom at her job. At a very early age I saw how hard both my parents worked at their jobs and at home. It was instilled early on to work hard for your family and for the things you want in life. I’ll be honest, while I did know and hold this value close, I didn’t apply this until later in life. Before my Dad passed away in 2005, I didn’t care about work the way I do now. Read More>>
Haidar Hachem
I know for a fact I received my work ethic from my father growing up. I watched him work day in and day out and just hoped and prayed that I would be half the man he was growing up. He 100% influenced the type of person I am today. Read More>>
Taya Hawkins
I think i get my work ethic from my mom. She has always been a hard worker while i was growing up but honestly whatever you want you definitely gotta work for it so that’s what i do. Read More>>
Dr. Erica Wollerman
Great question! I definitely have my parents to thank for my work ethic… They are both hard workers and instilled in my from a young age the importance and benefits of working hard. They also did a great job providing me with opportunities to learn about work and earning money at a young age through babysitting and allowing me to work when I was pretty young. I have come to appreciate that they also did not shower me with gifts and things I wanted all the time as it helped me learn to provide for myself as well as not to value material possessions more than experiences. Thanks Mom and Dad! Read More>>
Victor Rendon
I remember growing up in an environment where nothing ever came free. We didn’t have much growing up. I started working at age 11 with my stepfather. He worked on a chicken ranch performing all of the diesel needs for the equipment on the ranch. The equipment ranged from tractors to 18 wheelers. I learned how to place an axle on a jack stand and use a 1″ impact gun on the lug nuts and remove the tires off of the trucks. I would then let the air out of the tire, and break the bead of the tire. Then take two long bars, a hammer, and some soapy water and switch out old tires on the rims with new tires. Read More>>
Halston Shannon
I always like to say my work ethic is a direct result of the example my mother set for me while growing up. I’ve witnessed her have an extremely active and game-changing role in everything she takes part in. Whether that be her higher education career at Miami Dade College, the great example she sets for what love is supposed to look like in her marriage to my father, or how involved she was in my academic and professional pursuits, I had always told myself that I wanted to emulate that same passion and effort as she does within my own life. Read More>>
Angela Vaughn
GO HARD OR GO HOME! I live by this statement in everything that I do. My parents showed me at a young age to always go for what you want and to never take no for an answer, there is always another way. Read More>>
Anasiah Clark
I get my work ethic from family. I come from a hard working family on both sides that will always work and continue to do whatever they need to do to get things done. I watched it as a young girl, and I am also the same way now. I have developed a great work ethic. Read More>>
Robert Hood
I grew up with my dad self-employed and working out of the house. He supported our family and made a career out of buying non-working TV’s, fixing them, and reselling them. Of course, that was back in the day when you had tubes and components that could be replaced to fix a TV. What I remember most, was that he would sometimes work late, or up early, or on the weekend, whatever was needed to get the job done. But the second part of that was that he would never-ever do a minimalistic job. He would never be satisfied with even a hint of less than the correct fix for a problem. He would put in whatever time was needed to find the root problem and fix it. He knew it would be unethical to sell a TV that might have an issue in the weeks after he sold it because of work he had done. Read More>>
Josh Wilhelm
I grew up in a very small, rural town in southeast Wyoming. My parents both worked modest blue collar jobs, and I started working with our neighbor on his farm/ranch as early as 11 years old. I didn’t have to get a job or start working, but I wanted to. In that community there was nothing given to you, you had to work hard to earn what you needed and wanted. Read More>>
DaWonn Andrews
Where did I get my work ethic from? Growing up I watched my mom be a single man raising 6 kids, she also dealt with having seizures from the time I was up until I was 22 when she passed away. Although she dealt with being a single parent and having a serious medical condition she still managed to work, go to school and take really great care of all her kids. She was like superwoman, even after having a series of seizures in one day my mom wanted and did everything, and she taught us despite of the circumstances and situations to always work hard and never give up. Read More>>
Jamie Anderson
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the examples set by my parents and the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in our family. Growing up, my dad worked tirelessly, taking on two jobs to provide for our family. Witnessing his dedication and sacrifice firsthand left an indelible impression on me. Furthermore, my mom’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident as she owned and managed her own grocery store and beer and wine carry-out/drive-through. Together, they instilled in me the values of hard work, financial responsibility, and the pursuit of success. Read More>>
Fayez Nowar
Working two jobs and being a full-time student can certainly be difficult, but having time management skills is what is the most important. I believe I get my work ethic from both my mom and my dad as they have worked extremely hard to get to where they are currently. Managing my food page on Instagram can be difficult because sometimes I do not feel motivated to post after a long day of work, but without my supporters I would not be where I am today. I truly believe one has to be motivated and determined in what they do in order to accomplish what they want in life. Read More>>
Elizabeth Boulos
I get my work ethic from my dad, who has been a source of inspiration throughout my life. In his early twenties he opened the first surf shop in Maine, called Maine-ly Water Sports, bringing a sport that he fell in love with in Hawaii to the east coast. While he closed the shop after starting a family, his work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit remained. He was employed with American Red Cross for many years, working an opposite schedule from my mom to ensure that a parent was always home with me and my siblings. Read More>>
Kendra Hood
I get my work ethic from my family. I come from a family of hard workers on both sides. Whether it’s going to work everyday or operating a business; my family works hard at everything they do. Read More>>
Krystal Dior Hicks
I would say I get my work ethic from my grandma Deloris Hicks. Growing up we had a candy house. The whole neighborhood would come by to shop with us. We were on the same street as the neighborhood corner store but that didn’t stop anything. That was the start of entrepreneurship for me. My grandma also was the movie lady. She would be up all night doing movie orders and making movies for people. We would be up counting money together. I miss her so much. I know she would be so proud. May she continue to rest in peace. Read More>>
Patricia Schnall Gutierrez
My work ethic developed from good advise from influential people in my life. My parents always said, “If you choose to do something, do it right.” I have carried that advice with me always. I also once had a art professor give me some advice during a time in my life when my children were small and I had little time to work. She said, “Just show up. The ideas and work will follow.” Sure enough, when you put yourself in an environment designated to work with few outside distractions, no matter how much time or space you have, the results come. Read More>>
Chrisally Espinal
I believe that my work ethic comes from a combination of my upbringing and life experiences. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. They taught me that success is not handed to you on a silver platter, but rather it is earned through consistent effort and a willingness to push through challenges. Read More>>
Robert Octela
I got it from my mum who worked in a Bean Plantation. As immigrants, they worked really hard and I even used to assist. So that kind of rubbed off on me. My name is Chef Rob Octela, my career has spanned two decades. I started my career out as a pizza boy after I lost both parents. From there I went on to work a couple of more culinary jobs before going to Le Cordon Bleu. It was after this that my career really took off, and that’s when I began occupying supervisory and management roles. Read More>>
Vashia F.
As the child of a single mother, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the hard work and dedication she put into providing for our essential needs and even some of our wants. When I landed my first job at the age of 16, I started paying for the things I desired. Although I may not have fully grasped it at the time, this experience instilled in me the understanding that I must work diligently for everything I want in life. It taught me the valuable lesson that nothing is simply handed to you; you have to earn it through your own efforts. Read More>>
Shannon Hill
My mom. There was never a moment in my life when my mom wasn’t working. She would sometimes have multiple jobs to ensure that we had everything we wanted and needed. As new mom myself, I now understand the sacrifices she made to take care of my siblings and I. My mom made sure that we knew the value of work early in our lives, starting with chores. I’m grateful because I wouldn’t be who I am today without her. Nothing comes to you by sitting on your hands, you have to get up and make it happen. Read More>>
Monicya LaCour
I get my work ethic from my mother, Alisha. She’s always kept going, maintaining her independence no matter the circumstances, she never gives up! Originally from Colorado Springs (also known as NOLA$iMONE). I’ve been writing music since I was 13 years old starting as poems, gradually writing songs in which I was extremely shy so, I would only write and share with my mom and siblings. Read More>>
Imani Marshall
I get my work ethic from my mom. I’ve watched her work so hard to provide for us when I was growing up. Even though I’m an adult now she still continues to work hard to achieve goals for herself and contribute to her success. Read More>>
Crystal Boyd
My work ethic from my parents. For as long as I can remember my parents have worked. Both of my parents worked at the same location. My mother retired after over 40+ years and my father is currently still working with over 40+ years. Seeing that my parents stayed on the same job for that long definitely let me know what I need to do. My parents always told me never to leave a job until you have another one lined up. That advice that my parents gave me I live by it. Read More>>
Isaac Riendeau
I grew up in a lower income household, my mom worked two jobs to support two kids on her own. At an early age I can remember waiting up at night, just to make sure my mom came home. It was hard seeing other kids with new clothes and toys. Hearing about all the places they had gone with their families over the summer. We made the best of what we had. But at an early age I developed a desire to have these same things. I wanted more. Read More>>
Andrea Celeste Gonzalez-Bravo
My hardworking parents! Both of my parents immigrated here to the U.S. from Mexico and have worked hard to persevere. My Dad went on to be the only one of his siblings to pursue higher education and is now a retired high school Spanish teacher. My Mom is an entrepreneur herself, running an event decorating business. Therefore, I look up to both of them and aspire to have a strong work ethic and remain dedicated to my own growth and success just like they have. Read More>>
R.J. Atkins
My strong work ethic is rooted in the lessons passed down to me by my late paternal grandfather, Ira Atkins, who raised me in Palestine, TX, a small town in East Texas. Despite developing polio as an infant and being unable to walk, he defied the odds and ran a successful mechanic business for over 40 years. His determination and perseverance, even in the face of adversity, have always inspired me. Read More>>
Shaquanna Johnson
My work ethic most definitely came from my mom. I was raised in a single parent household and my mom made sure my sister and I had everything we needed. My mom always has had a primary job and a side hustle. I remember when I was younger she worked her day job and after we would go clean buildings I honestly enjoyed it. It was work but it was also spending time with my mom not knowing at that young age it was building the work ethic and character in me. Read More>>
Jason Minton
I get my work ethic from when I was a child.My upbringing was simple and humble .I always had chores and helped out my parents with what they needed. My Dad built our house and I always helped him.Example:Our house was heated with a wood stove.My Dad and I would go out on a Saturday morning and cut and load firewood.Bring it back and stack the wood. I was raised to Honor the Lord and my Parents.To this day it is a way of life. I am thankful for it. Read More>>
John Pfister
Even as a child, I always wanted to make my own money. My family did not have much and I knew I could not ask my father for money. I learned very quickly that I could sell Kool-Aid or mow yards for money. As I got older, I started painting houses for cash. As an older teen, I went to work for my father who had his own business. He taught me the benefit of working as much as I could at a young age in order to get ahead.
I worked as much as I could during the Summer when most other kids were out playing. I enjoyed making money and having it saved for the upcoming school year so I could go to movies or on dates. Read More>>
Thom Khoury Williams
I grew up as an only child, and a latchkey kid at that. For those unfamiliar, a latchkey kid was when both parents were working and I was all alone after school. I’d go home alone and was responsible for myself for a good portion of the afternoon/evening. I had to be motivated, I had to learn to get things done on my own and I’ve always taken pride in that. I love being independent, I love succeeding and progressing. I never want to be complacent and keep striving to be bigger and better. On top of that, my parents were both strong willed individuals and strived to make their and our lives better. I learned a lot from both of them about personal responsibility and success that I strive to extend to my own children. Read More>>
Stella Rea
I’m very lucky to come from an artistic family (which has definitely influenced me in every aspect of my life), but as time passes I realize just how much it shaped my work ethic and that it has been taught to me from a very young age. Seeing the way both my parents dealt with their work – be it in the seriousness with which they took it, or their approach to the responsibilities of leadership positions – imprinted in me a very natural, almost second-nature like, way of dealing with my work. Read More>>
Taylor Rimmer
My dad used to tell me: “90% of success is just showing up.” Later I learned that it’s a Woody Allen quote, but either way, I’ve found it to be true. There are many similar quotes—the best ability is availability; dependability is more important than ability, etc—and they all lead back to the same notion. Read More>>
Yolanda Nollie
In our pursuit for success, good work ethic is often praised as an essential trait that helps hone our resolve and determination. Undeniably, who we are today, and our personal set of values are often shaped by the people surrounding us – our family, friends, and mentors. This reflection explores the source of my strong work ethic, which can be traced back to one truly inspiring person- my grandfather. A devoted manager who juggled two jobs at Lockheed Martin and Whirlpool while being a tough Vietnam War veteran, he essentially demonstrated that hard work and resilience truly pay off. Read More>>
Serena Rae
My work ethic comes from watching my family. My parents taught me to always work hard and do my best in whatever I do. Through their example, I was taught to go after every opportunity that was presented to me. You can’t control the outcome of life, but you can control the effort you put in. Read More>>
