Where do you get your work ethic from?

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.

Onexs Gardner

My work ethic is rooted in passion and a genuine love for what I do. When I first started exploring photography and content creation, I didn’t have formal training, so I taught myself through YouTube tutorials and a lot of trial and error. That process required patience, determination, and a willingness to embrace challenges. Read more>>

Waithaka

I get my work ethic from my parents. Both are educators and business people, my mum runs a bookstore as a retired high school teacher and my dad is an avocado farmer and a retired college professor. Their consistency to their profession has been a major influence on how I approach my projects. Watching my dad nurture track talent as a track and field coach was the beginning of my journey. The same habits he taught, I instilled them in my craft and helped with my commitment to my craft. Read more>>

Olivia Seone SternJohn

My work ethic stems from my love of drawing comics and animation. I’ve been creating visual stories for roughly 10 years now. Throughout this process I’ve grown a love for the experimentation process as much as seeing the finished projects. When I was still in school most of the time I would tell myself if I don’t finish my homework then I wouldn’t be able to draw when I grow up because I would be stuck repeating grades. The anxiety trigger is not something I recommend but I also put the same drive to turn in enough of my homework as I did my art so most of the time teachers would work with me. I was always grateful to work out accommodations with them, the experience of my teachers working with me to help me focus on having a career in my passion is why I decided to get an “Arts and Education” minor in college. Read more>>

Angela Childs

I grew up in Nebraska, both of my parents were teachers and raised on farms, so my work ethic absolutely comes from them! They were hard workers and expected the same from my brother and I. We both played sports and were in extracurricular activities, when we didn’t make a team or get a starting position, their answer was always, you need to work harder. So work ethic has really been instilled in me and is a huge part of who I am and why I’ve had success throughout my life. Read more>>

Janita Pannu

My work ethic is deeply rooted in a blend of discipline, curiosity, and resilience. I come from a family that taught me the value of hard work, but what fuels me daily is the desire to solve challenges in ways that leave a lasting impact.

Over the years, I’ve learned that showing up with intention—whether it’s for a client meeting, a brainstorming session, or a personal project—transforms effort into outcomes. It’s not just about putting in the hours; it’s about focusing those hours on what truly matters. Read more>>

Serenity Harris

From my trials and errors. The obstacles and challenges. The tribulations leading to new found knowledge and experience. All in which during my experience as an entrepreneur has not torn me down but showed me how strong I am. It has showed me what I am passionate about and how passionate I am. It shows me I am worthy and I am valuable so it pushes me to never let go or give up. All of the obstacles and hurdles I’ve overcome has stretched my work ethic to a point where I’ll never give up but I will take breaks because everyone deserves them Read more>>

Mandre Zachary

Growing up, I learned the true meaning of work ethic from the people who shaped my world. My grandmother, a woman of unmatched strength, taught me so much through her actions rather than words. Raised in a time when women weren’t often seen in fields like welding, she defied expectations. A pipe fitter welder by trade, she was a force to be reckoned with. Watching her juggle raising three daughters while working long, grueling hours in a physically demanding job left an indelible mark on me. The dedication she showed was more than just a job; it was a lifestyle. I learned early on that no matter the task, you give it everything you’ve got—because hard work isn’t just about the outcome, it’s about what you put into it. Read more>>

Edwin Garcia

My work ethic comes from my parents. They’ve always been hard workers and instilled in me the motto, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” It may sound silly, but my other inspiration is Kobe Bryant. I try to adopt the Mamba mentality in my work, and when I need a boost and feel myself getting tired or slipping, I think, “What would Kobe do?” and I find the energy to get my work done and do it at a high level. Read more>>

Ellise Giacomazzi

I get my work ethic from my mom, who has been an entrepreneur my whole life and set an incredible example of dedication and perseverance. Growing up, I watched her pour herself into her work with passion and determination, though I didn’t fully understand it at the time. Now, as my son sees me chasing my dreams and working hard to build something meaningful, I have an even deeper respect for her strength and resilience- especially as a woman carving her own path. Read more>>

Martina Di Napoli

My work ethic comes from my international background and Italian culture. I was raised from very young parents who dedicated their lives in working and taking care of family. Thus, I was the first generation college graduate with an entrepreneurial dream to create something for my future and legacy name. My Italian core values is community, family, give back, and hospitality and I embrace all of those values through Storia Mia Events being my brand and service. Read more>>

Karpit Patel

I began my career in India as a photographer, which sparked my passion for working behind the camera and deepened my interest in the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking. Through hands-on experiences on set, I learned the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and discipline in this competitive industry. Read more>>

Antonia Bremeyer

My work ethic really comes from my family and the way I was brought up. My parents always emphasized the importance of working hard and being responsible, and that stuck with me. When I was 14, I got my first job while still in high school. I worked a few hours after school to earn a bit of extra money beyond my pocket money. It wasn’t just about the money though, it taught me how to manage my time and gave me a sense of independence and pride in what I could achieve on my own. Those early lessons shaped how I approach work even today, I believe in showing up, putting in the effort, and taking pride in what I do. Read more>>

Daniel Bagherpour

I learned the value of sweat, blood, and daylight, working on my grandparents’ South Dakota farm for a summer. I learned the value of interpersonal connection, hospitality, and making customers days while delivering their needs window tinting on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. “Work-ethic” is kind of a buzzword that I’ve seen a lot of people throw around to claim they work harder than other people, or that certain members of society don’t have what it takes to be employed in certain positions. But I would say my work ethic, if you want to call it that, is a mix of both the Midwestern sense of urgency marked by endless tasks to achieve before a fleeting summer fades, and traditional indigenous values inherited from both friends I’ve met in the New World and friends and family I grew up with in the Old World. Read more>>

Virginia Cannon

I learned a strong work ethic from several different sources. As a first generation American, my Father instilled in us the importance of having a strong work ethic, being true to your word and and the joy of working. I suppose that I’ve always been fortunate to have jobs (for the most part) that I’ve truly enjoyed. I couldn’t wait to get to work the next day to see what was going to happen and I certainly never wanted to miss anything. Read more>>

Kaylee And Courtney

Kaylee and I were fortunate to grow up with incredibly hardworking parents who instilled the same values in us from a young age. Our dad, who worked as a property manager, gave us the opportunity to earn money by cleaning apartments when we were just 12 years old. Those early experiences taught us the importance of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance. Looking back, we’re so grateful for the lessons they provided, as they’ve shaped us into the dedicated business owners we are today. Read more>>

Vince Lehr

I’ve always been raised if you commit to doing something, you do it and do it well. It makes you wiser in your commitments and more driven to succeed. When failure isn’t an option hard work is often the solution. Read more>>

Zoe Papas

I have always taken pride in my work, whether it be academic, artistic, or professional. I’m also a perfectionist which means I’m rarely completely satisfied with my own art. This is both a blessing and a curse. It can be hard for me to start a new artwork, but once I do, I can effectively keep going as I see more and more things to fix and refine. I have often found motivation in the work of other artists I admire. This not only inspires me to keep creating, but also to grow in my art practice. Even after a BFA and MA in studio art, I am still learning and growing as an artist. Being open to learning doesn’t diminish what I’ve accomplished but pushes me towards mastery. Read more>>

Jessie Root

I was fortunate enough to have two great in examples on my life.
I remember waking up to the smell of coffee brewing almost every morning of my childhood. It was a staple of my father and grandfather’s breakfast routine. At my parents’ house, I would sit in front of the TV, listening to my dad get ready for work. Regardless of the weather—whether it was over 100 degrees or below freezing—he went out and worked harder than most of us ever will, always providing for his family no matter the personal cost. Read more>>

Stephanie Hansen

I get my work ethic from my parents as well as my extended family. Every Sunday growing up, we would go to my grandparent’s house for lunch. Afterward, all of my family-parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. would go work in the garden, pickup sticks on the property, or tend to the cows. My parents worked hard my whole life, with my mom going to law school when I was in Kindergarten. I remember being a small child watching my mom study all through the night to accomplish her goals, but making sure she was able to spend quality time with the family at the same time. Read more>>

Preston James

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”. This quote from Nelson Mandela has inspired me since I can remember. The key word in this quote for me is ‘capable’. Once I knew what I wanted to do and found a way to do it, I put all my time and energy towards that vision. To have resilience when things don’t go the way I planned, or to have optimism when a situation may seem to be going sideways, is one of my key ingredients for having a strong work ethic. Its all about how you see it. Knowing that we are all capable of so much more than most of us even attempt to pursue in our lives is heartbreaking to me. I believe in people, I want to see people succeed. Having a strong work ethic is one of those characteristics that people, in my experience, tend to steer away from.  Read more>>

Alex Frizzell

I definitely get my work ethic from my parents and grandparents. My grandpa and dad are two of the hardest working men I know. My mom is no slouch either. She’s been a mother, teacher, coffee shop manager and now a first class flight attendant! Read more>>

Tp Miller

I Get My work ethic from my mom. I watched her as a child do stage plays go on tour with big names & saw her grind in never giving up on her passion and making sure she can provide for her boys at home. Read more>>

Marc Warr

My family instilled it in me and my friends continue to raise the bar for me. I always see places to improve upon in my craft and results don’t come from sitting around, they come from continuously pushing and redefining your limits. The company I keep around me has helped me to never lose sight of the importance of hard work as well. Read more>>

Travis Weaver

My grandfather, Lawerence Crutsinger was a true cowboy and is no doubt the person that I got my work ethic from. He worked from the moment the sun came up to after it went down. He was always prepared and never took short cuts and I think those are qualities that many overlook. Having his name attached to something meant it needed to be done right and that is something I strive for daily. Read more>>

Thy Vo

I like to think I have a strong work ethic. It’s what others typically notice about me first when they work with me; I’m fast, organized, and I can handle a large workload. I know for a fact that it comes from my parents and sister; first generation immigrants that juggled odd jobs and long hours all while struggling with culture shock and learning a new language. Read more>>

Al Glann

I grew up on a farm in central Ohio, the only son in the family. I learned at an early age that I was going to learn how to do farm work at an early age and you better learn quickly or there will be consequences. I was driving tractor at 10 and driving a farm truck at 13. (bigger than a pickup) I practically had to stand on the clutch to change gears. You learn that yes, you can do adult work at a young age and find ways to solve problems on your own. Growing up I had to find creative ways to have fun and make what you wanted because you couldn’t go down to the store and buy it and no one else was going to do it for you. Read more>>

Ekko Gaha

The first answer I could say is from watching my mum work every day and bring me up by herself, I would go to after school care for years because she worked until 6pm and it was the best experience going to the Holsworth St play centre and meeting the gang after school every day. But yeah she worked throughout and beyond my whole childhood and being an only child I was out and about a lot and started my own car washing service at age 9 or 10 with my best mate at the time we would go around the neighborhood with our buckets and sponges, suds and towels all that good stuff and charge 10 bucks a wash if I remember correctly… it was fun and I was unconsciously teaching myself how to run a business. Read more>>

Brett Wheeless

Every day I get the opportunity to work with people on their health is an absolute gift from God. Having an attitude of gratitude is incredibly motivating for each and every day.

There are 2 places my work ethic comes from:

1) my faith as a Christian in Jesus Christ

2) my mom and dad

I’ll go into more detail below; Read more>>

Carissa Williams Murray

I believe I got my work ethic from my parents. Growing up, I watched them work tirelessly while raising three kids. Even during tough times, they provided us with a happy, loving, and supportive home. My mom earned her bachelor’s degree while juggling work and parenting, showing incredible determination, while my dad instilled in me self-sufficiency and practical life skills. Their example, combined with the responsibilities and chores they gave us, shaped my sense of discipline and hard work. Read more>>

Sina Tadayon

Work ethic, grit, determination, rah rah hoo rah rah. I’d like to think I have decent rah rah hoo rah rah. The question is, where do I get it from? Unlike a lot of people whose work ethic comes from a source of prescribed agency or will, mine is derived from something more like a need—something to satiate a desire that runs parallel to hunger and thirst. Read more>>

Vi Nguyen

My work ethic is from remembering my routes and those who supported me from before.

I’m thankful for my mom, dad and sisters for inspiring me to be the best version of myself. I’m also thankful for my close friend Jaime for inspiring me to improve as well as my first fans Unity (@unityjackson) and Melody (@melodyofherseoul) for believing in my work. Last, I want to thank Flo (@theblendedbeauty) for helping me to improve and define my page and purpose.

To me, work ethic comes from realizing I will always be a student of life and continue to improve in ways that I can. Read more>>

Wendy Porter

My resilience comes from a blend of life experiences, a strong sense of purpose, and the values instilled in me by my family. Growing up as the daughter of a career Army officer, I witnessed firsthand the strength, discipline, and adaptability required to face challenges head-on. As a youngster, I had to adapt to life without my father while he was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam, which taught me the importance of perseverance and independence. Read more>>

Gonzalo De La Crus

My father was a hard worker when we were children, my sister and I. He passed when we were very young.
I always seen he worked hard for what little we had and he provided for us in any which way he could.
I grew up with struggles of self doing in life. Found my way out many times through mistakes. Alcoholism took a big bad role in my life. Read more>>

Taylor Waters

I credit much of my work ethic to the skills I learned through ballet and dance. From a young age, dance taught me the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance. Whether it was hours of practice to perfect a single move or the commitment to show up even when it was tough, those lessons shaped how I approach everything in life. Read more>>

Sami Brielle

Growing up in a household where my parents placed a strong emphasis on hard work and academic achievement, I naturally became a straight-A student—but I was also extremely hard on myself. From the age of 10, my life’s purpose revolved around one goal: getting into a good college. Every decision I made was guided by the question, “Will this help me get into my dream school?” My work ethic stems from my parents’ encouragement but also from the high standards I’ve always set for myself. Read more>>