Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of most of the wildly successful folks in our community have exhibit an extreme degree of resilience and we’ve come to believe that if our goal is to help our community achieve great outcomes we have to help build resources and knowledge around how one can become more resilient.

Katrina Tinio

I’d say my work ethic comes from my family, especially growing up in a Filipino household where hard work, resilience, and pride in your craft were just part of everyday life. I watched my parents give their all, whether it was a simple chore or in the kitchen making food for others. That deeply rooted sense of purpose and hospitality really shaped me. Now with Pippa’s Homebakery, I carry that same dedication into every cake I bake. It’s not just about making something pretty, it’s about pouring your heart into something that brings joy to someone else. Read More>>

Justin Borja

Sounds crazy, but I began to understand the importance of work ethic by playing Animal Crossing. It was when I first learned the value of money or “bells,” and that everything you needed to survive came at a cost. That cost came at the price of the character having to hustle and take on responsibilities, whether it was through selling items or completing villager requests. Ultimately, it was the military that really strengthened my work ethic during my time in the Air Force. Read More>>

Betsy Gist

I truly believe I inherited my work effort from my mother. She is 76 and continues to work- something that doesn’t surprise anyone who knows her. When I look back on my childhood, and even my adulthood, I can’t recall many moments she wasn’t in motion.
I watched her enroll in graduate school when I was a young teen, determined to earn her master’s degree in early childhood Intervention.  Read More>>

Olivia Avery

My work ethic stemmed from growing up in a large family that all relied on each other to move through life. Both of my parents were working like dogs to give us kids food, a home, education, and arenas to dream. My grandparents on both sides emulated this as well. Time spent with either set of grandparents was often spent working and playing, in equal measure or more work! As a kid, it was not my favorite way to spend time.  Read More>>

Thomas Finch

My work ethic was really shaped by years of being on the road—touring teaches you fast that nobody’s going to save you. When you’re a drum tech or part of a crew, the show has to happen no matter what. You’re loading gear in the rain, solving problems under pressure, and making sure everything is show-ready before doors open. That experience gave me a deep sense of pride in doing things right, down to the smallest detail. Read More>>

Autumn June

I got my work ethic from my mom and being raised in Germany. My mom was a single mom since I was born and juggled raising me while having an amazing high ranked career in the military. I had such a great example of a hard working and resilient woman growing up. I had every extracurricular activity I wanted and we traveled the world together all while she raised me alone and pursued her career. She gave me everything she could and made tremendous sacrifices.  Read More>>

Daniela Perez

My work ethic was shaped in the early mornings I spent alongside my dad at job sites, or with my mother at various events. Whether it was holding a rake double my size as my father landscaped yards under the sun, or helping my mother set up for events – I learned a tremendous amount from both of my parents and continue to use their lessons as the foundation of my work ethic. My parents, both immigrants, worked long hours to support our family of six, yet they always made time to show up — at school events, dinner tables, and life’s crossroads. Read More>>

Eva Fordham

I am fortunate to have worked for amazing people in my early career in California and New York.

As a kid, I spent summers helping my uncle, Mike, at his restaurants in Marin County and Los Angeles. There, I learned non-negotiable lessons about showing up on time, completing my tasks, and providing excellent customer service. Years later, I spent a summer working in the office at his other venture, a fine furniture delivery company, which catered to Northern California’s top interior designers and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Read More>>

Anat Stigers

Growing up I learned a lot from my father (Roni Pelleg) who built his own business from the ground up, which taught me a lot. I also feel in love with dance and basically lived at my dance studio where I became the office assistant at the age of 15 years. I learned a lot from the owner (Karen Willes) in so many ways including assisting, teaching, office managing and running a business/dance studio. If it wasn’t for both of them I wouldn’t be where I am today! Read More>>

Kayla Barron

I get my work ethic from my mom. She is one of the most hard working women I know. Even with her being retired, she still implements her work ethic to learn new things and experience different things in her life. She has taught me to work hard, hold onto my integrity, and to educate myself whether it was academically, financially, or anything to do with gaining knowledge. Read More>>

Kexin Zhang

My work is not only an exploration of BDSM culture but also a celebration and homage to the female body. I firmly believe that the female form possesses a unique beauty, symbolizing strength and resilience. The fluid curves and graceful lines of the female body are among the most expressive artistic forms found in nature. It is not merely a vessel for life but a manifestation of beauty and power. Read More>>

Karen Liniado

My work ethic comes from my parents. I grew up in Argentina watching both of them leave early for work and come home late, day after day. They never missed a responsibility, and they taught me the same—whether it was school, work, or any commitment, showing up mattered. Even when I didn’t feel well or wasn’t motivated, they reminded me that discipline would carry me through. Read More>>

Heather Howley

As a young child, both of my parents worked full time jobs, attended night school and at times worked additional jobs to support our family with 4 kids! I attribute my work ethic to both of my parents and my grandparents as I watched them all work so hard and struggle to support their families. Read More>>

Sean

I was lucky to have great parents, that not only supported me following my music aspirations, but they also were tremendous role models.

Their strong work ethic was just one their personality traits I was fortunate to see every day.

And even today, I see those closest to me, like my wife and brother, working hard, and succeeding at carving out their path. Read More>>

Dustin Knoop

Some might say my work ethic is at an unhealthy level after working in the New York finance world for twenty years. And the eventual burnout that occurred certainly would attest to that. But the solution, separate of ensuring the other areas of your life are in balance [physical health and strong relationships with others, yourself and spiritual], is to focus that attention on something your soul finds fulfilling (ie. aligning with your “purpose”).  Read More>>

Michael Clark

I’ve worked a lot throughout my life. Ever since I was a small kid, I would help my grandpa out in the hay fields in whatever way I could. As I got older my understanding of finances was better and I knew that hard work was the best way to earn cash. Read More>>

Dimitri Dyó

The answer to that question changed in the last few years.

Originally, my work ethic stems from the experience of moving to Germany just around the age of elementary school enrolment. My parents taught me—and came to the same conclusion after my first student-teacher interactions—that my fellow immigrant classmates and I would need to work harder than the German-born students to prove ourselves. Even as attitudes toward immigrants improved I kept onto that mindset. Read More>>

Emily Tyson

My work ethic comes from a deep knowing that without it, I couldn’t get what I truly wanted in life. For me, nothing was handed to me. Nothing was given to me. I had to work for everything that I wanted to achieve. As a dancer in my teens, I had natural talent, but I was never the best in any of my classes. I looked at those other girls that were so much more talented than me and I aspired to be them and the only way that I could even get to half of what they were was to work my ass off, and that’s just translated to every part of my life and every decision that I’ve made.  Read More>>

Lauren Collorone

As a descendant of Irish and Italian-American immigrants who came to this country with nothing, my work ethic is deeply shaped by the resilience and determination of my family. Many of my relatives worked tough, labor-intensive jobs—bricklayers, tin knockers for Grumman, truck drivers, and car mechanics—which instilled in me a profound respect for hard work. My parents, who built their lives from the ground up, taught me the value of perseverance and self-reliance. I learned the value of hard work from a young age, always seeing the effort and dedication required to achieve success. Read More>>

Christina Ward

I’m working class. I do not have a college degree. I am from and live in the Midwest. On paper, I should not be working in publishing! However, one trait over all others has brought me any and every personal and professional success- my work ethic.

Aside from the Calvinist religiousity baked into the notion of the ‘work ethic’ that informs American culture, my father taught me that working smarter, harder, and longer is the secret ingredient. More importantly, he focused on the ‘smarter’ part of that formula. Read More>>

Susan Carkeek

When you ask about resilience, work ethic, and optimism, I find that for me, they are all entangled with each other so it is difficult to single out one as more seminal.
I must have had an optimistic set point as a child, and yet, even then, I was aware of the darker things. In my adult form, I realize that I chose optimism as I also kept an eye out for the darker things that seemed capable of undoing my world. One thing that appeared to keep the darker things at bay, was work. Read More>>

Kimberly Barr

I’ve always believed that a strong work ethic is rooted in consistency, commitment, and a genuine sense of responsibility. Early in my career, I learned quickly that there are no shortcuts to lasting success, just showing up, doing the work, and doing it well.

Over the years, my work ethic has been shaped by real-world experience, managing high-stakes projects, leading teams, and building systems from the ground up. I saw firsthand how results come from being dependable, detail-oriented, and proactive, not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s not. Read More>>

Katy Kidd

My dad was a hardworking guy from at least the age of 15. He grew up in Texas and left home in 1955 to work in the citrus fields in Florida. He was able to put a new roof on his parent’s house before he graduated from High School. After High school he decided that he needed more discipline and joined the army where he became a helicopter mechanic in the Korean War. He came from dirt poor and by the 80’s, managed to build a good and fancy life for himself, my mother, me and my brother.  Read More>>

Craig Robb

I learned things such as resilience and work ethic as a child. Chores were a daily thing when I was growing up. My family background is farming and ranching so jobs were just part of my life. We were just expected to help out around the house. There were no negative connotations to them. It was just something you were expected to do so we did. From the moment that I could push a mower, I was put to work. We also had an elderly neighbor so I would mow her lawn and shovel her sidewalks when I was done at my house. Because that was what you do. Read More>>

Eric Hagan

I owe any bit of success I’ve had to my work ethic, and for that I owe my parents. On top of working full time as public school teachers, my father worked a second job doing construction and my mother was always coming up with clever ways to make a few bucks selling art and giving art lessons to her students in the summer. I began joining my father on the job site after school and on the weekends when I was about 11 or 12 and worked with him on and off until I was 26.  Read More>>

Emily Elizabeth

Most of my work ethic is innate. I come from generations of strong women who are breadwinners and also the primary caregivers in the family. We don’t know how to be still.

In addition to this natural habit to work, I’m also a single mother of three. Nothing can motivate you more than when you have three people looking at you every day for direction, advice, support, love, and a roof over their head. Read More>>

Don Johnston

I was born in the piney woods of East Texas a long time ago (1936) and grew up with a brother and a sister. The three of us developed a strong work ethic, thanks to our upbringing. So, in order to explain how it happened, I’ll start with my parents.

My father and mother were married during the great depression. Neither had a college education, and they eked out a meager existence on a small farm. During that time, most of the farms in East Texas were still in the “forty acres and a mule” stage. After several years of back-breaking toil with nothing to show for it, my father got a job working on roads for the county. This earned him his first regular paycheck. Read More>>

Rhiannon Crawford

I watched my parents work day in and day out all while being very present for me and my brothers. My father started his own business, which he and my mom run to this day. Hot summer days, frigid winter nights – my dad was out there to provide the best life possible for all of us. I’m still amazed as to how my mom was able to manage all she did – obtaining 2 degrees while working full time, raising 3 kids, and running the family business with my dad. I had no choice, but to have a strong work ethic! Read More>>

Eduardo Castrillo

I am a filmmaker who specializes in features. I try and shoot one a year and also teach filmmaking as well. One of my favorite past times as well is attending conventions and speaking on panels. If I don’t have a strong work ethic, none of it happens. All of my projects have been meaningful but I really want to talk about my latest film: Bears on a Ship! It’s about a group of stranded passengers and spring breakers who decide to take a ship voyage back home to the United States. Read More>>

Lisa Mercer

I believe my work ethic comes from watching both of my parents overcome adds in their own lives and in their own ways, I am third generation in the US on my Mom’s, Mexican, side of the family and their push to be educated was very important to my Grandparents, and in turn to my Mom. My Dad grew up with a facial disfigurement and had his own experiences that required he worked harder to prove his ability. Read More>>

Kristina Diordyuk

Let’s start from the beginning. I was born in Ukraine back in 1992. My parents had already purchased their one way tickets to America in search of a “better” more- more expandable life if you will. My mother found out she was pregnant with me just months after already purchasing the tickets. So, one day my mom, dad, older sister, and myself set out to come to America. It had come just after the USSR collapsed. Better times were coming i’m sure, but they were ready to start fresh. To this day I don’t know if I would ever move my young family to a different country, much less a different continent. Read More>>

Roohallah Mobarez

As the youngest in a very large family, we came to this country as refugees escaping war-torn Afghanistan. We had each other, the clothes on our backs, and very little else. From early on, we had to figure out how to survive in a new country—learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and trying to keep up with people who had a lot more than we did.

I could feel that difference right away—not just in our neighborhood, but especially when comparing our lives to what we saw on TV. At a young age, I realized how much power money had over people’s lives. That awareness pushed me to start saving money early, and I began selling candy at school to have some kind of income. Read More>>

Julie Carter

Hands down, my parents. Both of them are incredibly hardworking, and they instilled that value in us from a young age. In our house, being responsible wasn’t optional. It was expected. If I joined a team or signed up for something, I couldn’t just quit on a whim. If we talked it through and quitting was the right move, that was fine—but I still had to finish out the season or semester before walking away. That stuck with me. Commitments meant something. Read More>>

Juliette Jurcak

My work ethic comes from my dad. My dad was an officer, a Ranger, and a leader in the Army. Watching him serve and lead instilled the groundwork for what would become my work ethic as an adult. When I was young, he had spent several days leading his team through field work exercises. We didn’t see him for days during the training, and when it was finally time for him to come home, he called my mom and let her know he would be home later than expected. Read More>>