While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that everyone is just ghosting their lives away, we’ve seen countless examples of how strong the work ethic is on every street and in every neighborhood in America. Hard work is alive and well and we asked some of the hardest working folks we know how they developed their work ethic.
Colleen Baldrica
Being the oldest of five children, I was always doing something. Yet, it was my Dad that really taught me a work ethic. He showed by example and would say things like: when someone is counting on you being there, you always show up on time with a willingness to work. Read More>>
Brittany Neunuebel, Ed.D.
When I think about where my work ethic comes from, I can trace it directly to two strong-willed men in my life: my grandfather and my father. Their hands, their hearts, and their unwavering drive built the foundation for everything I do today. My grandfather started his own business with little more than determination and a need to provide for his family. Read More>>
Brittney Hinnant
My work ethic comes from a mix of faith, resilience, and passion. I’ve learned that when you truly believe in your purpose, showing up isn’t optional — it becomes second nature. I grew up watching strong, hardworking people who didn’t wait for opportunities to be handed to them; they created them. That taught me that dedication and consistency are the real keys to success. Read More>>
iazY
I get my work ethic from my family. I grew up surrounded by people who’ve always worked hard and sacrificed a lot so that I could have the opportunities I have today. Seeing their dedication and perseverance taught me the value of putting in effort and never taking anything for granted. Read More>>
Doug Foltz
I don’t think my work ethic came from any single source… in fact I think its still developing. Sure, I work hard at what I do, but I really think it’s more like ‘discipline’ that helps me move ahead. I’ve been creating most all of my life… and painting professionally for more than half that time… Read More>>
Holly Shaw
I think my work ethic really comes from balancing multiple commitments at once. I’ve been working full time while also studying nursing full time, which has taught me how to be organised, disciplined, and consistent even when things get busy. On top of that, I create social media content, so I’ve had to learn how to manage my time really well and stay motivated. Read More>>
Emahni Carr
When it comes to being a creative, there’s always this combination of passion and necessity. No one’s standing over you telling you to finish, but it’s on you to deliver. I’ve learned that consistency and follow-through are what separate good ideas from finished projects. Over time, I realized that creativity isn’t just about the spark — it’s about the grind behind it. Read More>>
chad west
“My work ethic comes from the grind — nothing was ever handed to me. I had to build everything from the ground up, so I learned early that hustle, focus, and showing up every day is what separates you from the rest.” Read More>>
Sonja Stafford
I lost my parents at a young age. My mother at 12 and my father at 30. One thing I learn from both of them was strong work ethic and how to work hard. Read More>>
Alyssa Hariprashad
To answer this question simply, I get my work ethic from my amazing parents. I grew up in a household where hard work definitely paid off. Both of my parents are immigrants who worked extremely hard to create a life for my siblings and I. Read More>>
Jet Bunditwong
I definitely get my work ethic from my mother. She was a single mother who raised my sister and me in New York City in a time when New York City was not anywhere near what it is today. I saw how hard she had to work to keep food on the table and her kids happy, while making some tough choices. Read More>>
Marianna Zappi
I think my work ethic comes from a mix of upbringing and purpose. Growing up in Italy, I was surrounded by people who worked hard out of necessity, not ambition — and that taught me the value of showing up and doing things properly. Read More>>
Monica Mauro
My work ethic came from watching my mom and dad’s work ethic. My father was military and my mom decided to go back to school while my father was overseas. She worked part time, went to school full time, studied, and still made sure I had a hot breakfast every morning before school. Read More>>
Cristina Castro
My work ethic is a reflection of my parents, who sacrificed everything to come to the U.S. and provide for my siblings and me with opportunities they never had. Their relentless dedication has profoundly shaped the ethic I carry today. They taught me the importance of hard work and the need to overcome doubts, fears, and the criticisms of others. Read More>>
ADRIAN JOHNSON
I got it from both sides of my family Read More>>
Lynly Ehrlich
I get my work ethic from my mother. She opened up an agency around 35 years ago and built it from the ground up. I watched her take this agency from absolutely nothing to one of the best in South Carolina. She has also spearheaded the American talent showcase, which brings together talent and representation. Read More>>
Chris Heidel
I am a large format photographer in Columbus Ohio that mainly focuses on wet plate collodion aka tin type photography. I operate a studio in Clintonville, called Highlife Tin Types. It is one of the only full time tin type studios in the state and allows me to really share the processes every step of the way with everyone that comes in. Read More>>
Jazzreeal Le’tease
My work ethic comes from life itself. I’ve had to be strong and show up even when things didn’t make sense or feel fair. There were times when I didn’t have anyone to fall back on, so I had to learn to depend on myself and stay focused no matter what. That taught me how to push through and stay disciplined. Read More>>
Emil Gasparian
My work ethic comes from a mix of personal drive and the inspiration I draw from the stories I capture through my lens. Growing up, I watched my family pour their hearts into their own pursuits—whether it was my parents’ dedication to their craft or the hustle of mentors I admired in the creative world. That instilled a sense of discipline and commitment in me. Read More>>
Sharon Anderson
Reaching for the Stars Growing up, my parents taught me the value of hard work and the power of aiming high. They always said, “If you reach for the trees, you’ll land in the mud. But if you reach for the stars, you’ll land in the trees’ —so reach higher.” That saying shaped everything about how I approach life and work. Read More>>
Syar Humayun
I get my work ethic from my dad. My family migrated to the U.S. in 2005, and without hesitation, he entered the workforce. Throughout my life, I’ve seen my dad work many different jobs in various fields. Despite the changes in his roles, one thing that remained consistent was the effort he put in. Read More>>
K. Neal
I get my work ethic from my parents, they’ve always worked hard and showed me what it really means to earn what you want. I’ve always been strong minded too, once I set my mind on something, I don’t stop until I get it. Read More>>
Airanna Myles
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the values I was taught from a very young age: if you do something, do it at your absolute best potential. I was fortunate to grow up watching an incredible example set by my parents. Read More>>
Shaun Guzman
I got my work ethic from my mother Read More>>
Curtis Hadley
I get my work ethic from my mom and dad. I grew up on a small horse ranch in Fort Worth, Texas where I learned at a young age to be responsible for all of the animals we had to take care of everyday. Read More>>
Kasey Kruft
Having started at Sweet Peas so young, I was working for the previous owners, Tony and Debbie Alvarez. Both of them were very active in our industry and instilled in all of us how important our contribution is to people’s lives. Read More>>
Dana Parsons
Honestly, from a mix of curiosity, grit, and love for what I do, and it’s something I have built overtime. I’ve always had this drive to understand how things are made — to take something ordinary, forgotten, or natural and turn it into something meaningful. That curiosity keeps me up late learning, experimenting, or refining until it feels right. Read More>>
Kristine Heist
I get my work ethic from my parents, both of whom had fathers who were hard-working successful business men. Both of my parents were college graduates. My mother was a high school biology teacher and my father was a surgeon. They both emphasized the importance of education in order to be successful. Read More>>
Jade Rodriguez
I’d say I get my work ethic from my mom. Growing up, I saw how hard she worked to provide and how she never made excuses. That really stuck with me and taught me to push through challenges and take pride in what I do. Read More>>
Wendy Marcisofsky
Being raised in a small New England town in Vermont, I was surrounded by a family who worked hard for a wage. When we wanted something ‘extra’, we worked extra, saved and sometimes eventually got that ‘thing’ we wanted. Read More>>
Brianne Ritchie Córdova
My parents led by example with their hard work, whether it was pulling insane hours during planting and harvesting seasons or doing the unpaid, often thankless domestic labor at home. I come from a family of farmers on my dad’s side, and he made sure we understood the importance of a strong work ethic. Read More>>
Ryan Kibner
I got my work ethic and entrepreneurship from my father. Watching him as I grew up to make sure there was a roof over our head. Read More>>
Temitope Okeseeyin
I trace my work ethic to two major sources: the environment I grew up in and the weight of the assignments I carry today. I was raised by my mother and later my brother. Watching them shaped me deeply. My mom embodied quiet strength and consistency. Read More>>
Clinton Gorham
My work ethic was shaped long before I ever stepped into a design studio. Growing up in a small rural town in North Carolina, hard work wasn’t a choice. It was a way of life. Read More>>
Justin Langhill
I’d say my work ethic comes from two main places. First, it comes from the passion that God instilled in me for what I do. I may not have all the answers or get everything right, but I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do. I believe in the purpose behind my work, and that belief fuels me every day. Read More>>
Joe Fee
I find it is very important to establish a writing routine and stick to it regardless of how you might feel. Whether or not any good writing comes from a session is not the point – the point is to write. Because you never know what you will find. Read More>>
brittany molina
My work ethic comes from my parents it’s all I know. We didn’t have much growing but we had was because of my parents hard work. My mom used to work many hours in the hair salon and a lot of our extras came from Mom. Read More>>
Iyin Akinlabi-Oladimeji
I trace my work ethic back to my mother – and to a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities I’ve been given. My mom immigrated to the U.S. on her own and built a life for our family from scratch. Read More>>
Alex Beetz
My mother, without question. For most of my life, she has owned her own small retail business, Beetz Me, located in my hometown of Princeton, Illinois. I grew up in that store and witnessed her dedication, commitment, and countless hours of hard work. Read More>>
d.r. jones
Pablo Picasso once said, ‘Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working’. A person may have a great talent, but with out putting brush to canvas or pen to paper or expression to your voice, nothing will be created. For me, creation does not come easy. I get in the studio every day. Maybe I just start by cleaning brushes. Read More>>
Armando Godinez Jr.
Growing up in a small rural farming town and not being well off from a social economic standpoint, we had to work hard for everything we had. I had a summer job at a young age that taught me the importance of working to make my own money for school clothes an school supplies for that upcoming school year. Read More>>
Dominic Wordlaw
My work ethic is fueled by an unwavering passion for creation and a profound ambition to shift universal perspectives. From an early age, my father instilled in me the values of hard work, persistence, and dedication through his work as a contractor and entrepreneur. Watching him build his own business taught me that meaningful change requires both vision and the discipline to see it through. Read More>>
Jarrod Schulz
My Father Read More>>
