We asked some of the hardest working artists, creatives and entrepreneurs we know to open up to us about where they think they got their work ethic from. Below, you’ll find some of those responses, stories, and advice.
Hulnara Castellon
My resilience comes from many places, but it began with one defining decision: leaving Belarus and starting my life over from scratch. Immigration is not just a change of address — it’s a rebirth. It tests you in ways you never expect. Read More>>
Edward Morris Jr.
My work ethic is a blessing received from my heavenly FATHER, as well as my family, including grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and pastors. Read More>>
Ai Toyoshima
My passion and craving for creation! It’s as simple as that. Read More>>
Tay Rose Dior
My work ethic comes from knowing I’m breaking generational curses and building something bigger than myself. 🌹 Growing up, I didn’t see a roadmap for success laid out for me. I had to create one. Watching my family, I learned early on that discipline, consistency, and sacrifice are the keys to change. Read More>>
Joan Pinto
I found my work ethic by watching my parents. They started their own business when I was very young, and I grew up seeing what perseverance really looked like. My dad was a farmer who developed and produced asparagus seed, and my mom managed the rest of the business side and sales. Read More>>
Jason Atkins
Well that’s a pretty easy question to answer…..my father. He was one of 12 kids in an Irish Catholic family and his father died when he was 17. Needless to say he worked hard his whole life. I’m blessed that he shared work time with me. I remember one of my earliest lessons in work. Read More>>
Tara Shah
I definitely get my work ethic from my parents. I’m a first-generation college student, and my parents never had the opportunity to pursue higher education. They worked incredibly hard for everything they have, and growing up, I saw that effort every single day. Read More>>
Morgan DeVivo
I definitely get my work ethic from my parents. My dad has worked tirelessly at his job for 20+ years, and my mom is a middle school teacher and an author, which serves as a double challenge. In fact, her stories inspired me to write stories of my own, which brings me to where I am today. Read More>>
Maren Pérez
My work ethic in sewing comes from my professional training. Although my current work is not directly related to my degree in Business Administration, it has greatly influenced the way I approach my job. The core values that shape my professional ethic — which I consider more a way of life — are: Responsibility: I always make sure to meet appointments and delivery deadlines. Read More>>
Shir Lavian
I get my work ethic from my home environment. My parents always encouraged me to dream big and go after my goals. They pushed me, but always in a positive way, reminding me to do what I love. That’s something that’s really stuck with me. When you love what you do, like I love being a speech therapist, it doesn’t always feel like work. Read More>>
Logan Jackson
I get my work ethic from my family and from where I’m from — New Orleans. Growing up, I watched people work hard not because they wanted recognition, but because that’s what survival demanded. My parents and community showed me that consistency, discipline, and pride in your work are non-negotiable. Read More>>
Martine Breau
Growing up I really loved exploring any topic that interested me. I could get obsessive and go down a rabbit hole if I really wanted to. Massage happened to be something that genuinely interested me and I’m always wanting to learn new skills and more effective tools. Read More>>
Maryna Slynko
I believe my work ethic was shaped long before I ever entered the beauty industry. I grew up in a family where hard work wasn’t just a value — it was a way of survival. From a young age, I watched my parents do everything they could to provide for us, never complaining, just moving forward no matter how difficult things were. Read More>>
Matt Brown
I developed my work ethic from my parents, who always emphasized doing things the right way, not the easy way. Over time, I’ve built on that by holding myself accountable and taking pride in doing quality work. I learned that showing up and doing the work — even when you don’t feel like it — is what builds character and success. Read More>>
Evan Smith
Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I played competitive sports. In my high school years, I focused on basketball and leveraged that as a space for me to become exposed to several people and places that I was very passionate about. As I navigated injuries, successes, and failures, I learned the importance of doing everything in my control to impact my situation. Read More>>
Marquise Jenkins
Personally I get my work ethnic from my anxiety. Yes, I know it sounds crazy but I overthink a lot. And with overthinking. I always question myself how would I feel if I never tried or if I half-assed my way through life. So in other words maybe a fear of regret. Read More>>
Katia Diamond
When I was a child living in Bolivia, my mom and step dad got divorced. Unfortunately my mom ended up in a very difficult spot and struggled a lot. At 10 years old I moved to the USA to live with my uncle so my mom could try and get on her feet. Read More>>
Damilola Olusegun
My work ethic comes from experiences that have fueled my desire to constantly improve my skills and stay consistent while making a positive impact. These experiences have taught me the value of discipline and dedication in everything I do. Read More>>
Amos A Gregory Jr
Growing up, I learned the value of hard work and dedication from my family. My parents instilled in me a profound respect for the effort and determination it takes to achieve one’s goals. I witnessed my father working tirelessly to provide for us, often taking on extra jobs to ensure we had what we needed. Read More>>
Olivia Franklin
I obtained my work ethic through God and my community of believers. My community has faith and belief that I will accomplish a task, whether big or small, passionately. Some of them believe in my work ethic more than I could believe it to be so. Read More>>
Chriss Starchild
My work ethic comes from my mother. Growing up there was a stereotype that Jamaicans had multiple jobs. Well that was true in our household! As long as I can remember my mother has always worked two jobs, yet she never cut corners or let exhaustion show. Read More>>
Matt Stasi
Honestly, my work ethic comes from my dad. He was a first-generation Italian American who didn’t speak English until the fifth grade. He spent years traveling around the country doing whatever labor he could get — construction, longshoreman, all of it — until he eventually built an Italian restaurant in our hometown from the ground up. That place stood for 57 years. Read More>>
Dana DiPrima
I founded For Farmers out of a deeply personal “aha” moment, one that connected my own life to the lives of the people who grow our food. Small farmers shape so much of what truly matters: our health, our communities, our environment, and our economy. Those are universal concerns, and I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to make that connection visible and actionable. Read More>>
Mary Scott
When I was five there was a garbage strike in Milwaukee. Read More>>
Rose Hutson
I feel it’s important to know that my grandparents raised me. They are the only reason I’m still here today, and deserve all the credit for making me into the woman I’ve become. After my father left, my grandfather, Ernie Pavlock, stepped into his newfound father role rather effortlessly. Read More>>
Rick Dallago
My work ethic really comes from my years in the film business, where I discovered that creating something amazing is all about those tiny steps you take every day. Sometimes it can take years to see a project come to life, and that slow build is something I’ve grown to appreciate. Read More>>
Quincy Winder
I get my work ethics from God and also from my mother! I see my mother working hard every single day, and she never gave up on me and my siblings! That motivated me to continue to stay strong and keep grinding for life! Read More>>
Winterlyn Stebner
I honestly believe I was born with my work ethic. It’s just part of who I am. But it was really shaped and strengthened by the women who raised me. I come from a line of incredibly strong, independent women who worked for everything they had. Read More>>
Christian Pace
I get my work ethic from having to get out of hard times. Read More>>
Just Rosy
I was raised to believe that if you’re going to do something, you do it with heart, consistency, and integrity. My family migrated here from Italy with nothing. Read More>>
Abigail Favreau
I would have to say my work ethic comes from my parents — and, to some extent, from my children. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the struggles and sacrifices my parents made to make ends meet. Both my mom and dad worked in custodial services, and one day, they decided to take the experience they had gained over the years and start their own company. Read More>>
Arlie Day
I grew up in the Midwest, where people tend to have a high work ethic in general. When I was young, I looked forward to getting a job and having my own money. My parents really supported me in that. They came from very little and their parents came from even less, so it was a bit generational and I was determined to break the cycle. Read More>>
Natalya Lowe
I definitely got my work ethic from my mom. She was a single parent who owned her own beauty salon while raising two kids. I watched her balance everything — showing up for every one of our events and still giving her all to her business. Seeing her determination and commitment taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and showing up no matter what Read More>>
Jessica Jones
When I was a little girl, my family lived in a two-bedroom condominium in Moorpark, California. One rainy day, my mom came home with some houseguests—an unhoused migrant family: a single mother and her children—that she’d happened across on her way home. They lived with us for a while. Read More>>
Julio Araujo
It comes from my faith. That Jesus Christ gave it all for someone like me to make sure I make it. Read More>>
Guillermo Ospina
Growing up, I was taught that helping others isn’t just a nice thing to do, it’s essential. In my family, the idea was simple: if you have the time, ability, or resources to help, you do it. We had a belief that two can eat from the same dish, and there is always room for one more. Read More>>
Lasondra Wilson
My generosity comes from my faith in God. I truly believe He has watched over me, even in the darkest seasons of my life—and that belief isn’t just a saying to me, it’s an active faith. Before I started my business and when I first moved to the Bay Area, I was struggling financially. Read More>>
Julia Kraemer
This is such a sweet question. My generosity comes from always trying to put myself in others’ shoes and see the world from different perspectives. It might sound cliché, but I really believe society would be a better place if everyone gave what they could, even if it’s just their time or a small act of kindness. Read More>>
Julia Speedy
I have always been a sensitive, empathetic being who cares about others although I would say my mother has taught me very well to be polite and kind and to give to others, to give back to the world. My father has always been a super helpful human as well.<br> Read More>>
Kyle Gabhart
Well, I guess you could say I was raised with a full plate and an open hand. Growing up, my parents modeled servant leadership in quiet, powerful ways. Read More>>
Ian Maksin
Generosity is part of a universal cycle: Abundance-Gratitude-Generosity-Abundance. The more you give the more you receive. The more grateful you feel for the abundance in your life, the more of an urge you get to share. This is one of the laws of the Universe that should be taught at school alongside with Newtonian physics. Read More>>
Michael Ceorgoveanu
My generosity comes from my mother who is no longer alive. She would always do for others even when she didn’t have much for herself, she would always be the first to sacrifice what she wants, so others can have what they want. She would work hard and give her money to us for things we wanted or needed.Read More>>
Theo Schmitt
I think it comes from the musical community I grew up in, back in Switzerland. From my earliest projects, I was surrounded by people who believed in me and supported my work. Those experiences were essential in building both my career and my self-confidence as a composer and a conductor. I’ve never forgotten that, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility to give back. Read More>>
Derek Nicholas
My generosity is rooted from those elders who took their time and energy to teach me what I know. Without them I would be unable to do the work I do, so for that I do my best to emulate their generosity. Furthermore, I am a big believer that you reap what you sow. Read More>>
Edoardo Ballerini
When I first started studying meditation and Buddhism one of the core ideas was of ‘letting go’ and ‘giving freely.’ As part of the practice I began to give as much of myself as I could, both in terms of time and acts of kindness. Read More>>
Jamesha Juniel
I believe my generosity comes from my heart because I always try to strive to help others who are in need of help or support even when I don’t have very much for myself. Read More>>
Christina Brooke
Am I generous?
I think-knowing that even small acts can make a big difference in someone else’s life is what keeps me going. I try to do my best every day. Read More>>
Hunter Shigley
It wasn’t until recently in which I was able to understand and appreciate the upbringing and positive environment my family provided me to thrive and succeed. Positivity was engrained in me from a young age and that is why I view the world in such a postive light and try to see the best in people. Read More>>
Jimmy McKinney
Faith in Jesus Christ and hope in Him Read More>>
Tanya Lashley
My optimism comes from experience. When you’ve seen enough dark times, you learn that the only way forward is up and once you start looking up, you can’t help but see the light. Read More>>
Brooke Squicciarini
My optimism undoubtedly comes from my family. Growing up, I was surrounded by people who truly believed in me, even at times when I didn’t fully believe in myself. Read More>>
Karina Pacific
I believe I was born with it. I have a kind of optimism that doesn’t deny darkness, loss, sadness or pain, it’s the kind that remembers the light and upside in all, even when it’s hard to see. My optimism comes from the initial goodness we were born with, even when most can’t see it. I see it. Read More>>
Halley Munoz
My optimism really comes from the people around me, especially my husband. He’s always been the person who reminds me to see the good in every situation and to trust that things will work out. Watching how he handles challenges with so much patience and positivity has rubbed off on me over the years. Read More>>
Victor Ponce
I’m not entirely sure where my optimism comes from, but it’s something I’ve always tried to practice. I do my best to stay positive in every situation, though moving to Los Angeles has definitely tested that mindset. Read More>>
Oliver Emerson
My optimism is not blind. It comes from work, numbers, and seeing people do more than systems were built for. When I build a ten-year model and see that a city can actually fund fire, police, streets, and parks while keeping housing attainable, that gives me real optimism. The spreadsheet either breaks or it holds. Read More>>
Jessica Spawn
Relentless optimism, as I like to call it, comes from a deep-seated belief that good will come out of any situation. I am very intentional about seeking out and accepting that, in the hard times in life —losses and disappointments —there will come a time of redemption and joy. Read More>>
Nicole Marie VP
My optimism definitely comes from my dad. He used to tell me, ‘If you know you have to wake up early in the morning, do it with a smile.’ It sounds simple, but that one line became my outlook on life. He’s a total go-getter — the kind of guy who never takes no for an answer — and watching him taught me that a positive attitude isn’t about ignoring challenges, it’s about tackling them with energy and purpose. That’s been my compass ever since. Read More>>
