Society has its myths about where we learn – internships, books, school, etc. However, in our conversations with some of the most interesting and trailblazing entrepreneurs and creatives we noticed the biggest lessons they learned about work often came from unexpected sources. We’ve shared some of those responses below.
Gabriel James
My father was the one who taught me the most about work. He always said learn as many trades as you can because you never know where you will end up. He always pushed me to become a business owner and that is exactly what I did. Read more>>
Pedro Real
I think my father is someone I’d like to name here. Which is funny, since he isn’t really a creative type at all. In fact, when he was my age he laboured in my grandfather’s small cattle farm, right next to the Uruguayan border. Yet, I find myself relating to the stories he tells a lot when I am at the studio. Read more>>
Kiki (YuChin) Tseng
Definitely my father. To this day, I have never met anyone who loves his job as much as my dad does. He is dedicated, hardworking, and most importantly, he truly cares. What I love most about him and his work is that he always did more than he needed to because he wanted to, not because he should. Read more>>
Ta’Nyzha Linzer
My mother definitely has taught me the most about work. She has always instilled in me what hard work is and what that looks like. Read more>>
Ayissi Nyemba
The people who taught me the most about work are definitely my dad and mom. Both of my parents are PhDs, and while my mom was teaching and working, she was also running her own little farm—raising chicks and helping out wherever she was needed. Read more>>
Ashley Piasecki
My parents but in particular my mom. From a young age, I saw her approach everything with intention, pride and quiet strength. She taught me details matter, effort matters and how you make people feel matters most of all. My mom had a natural creativity that influenced me long before I ever realized design would be my career. Read more>>
Lisanne Messinger
My Father had a family owned furniture store. Everyone worked there at different times of their lives. As a child I dusted 3 floors of furniture. Getting older I realized I was very good at picking fabric samples for clients.He always said give him 5 minutes and he could find something he had in common with each customer.. Read more>>
Nirja Setty
My family is filled with successful role models in every field as they’ve set the standard for hard work, education, life struggles, challenges, career, money and few others. so I never need to look elsewhere for inspiration. Most often the support of family drives to work hard and not give up. Read more>>
Qortez Brown
Who taught me most about work was my mother and my high school basketball coach. My mother raised me by herself and made sure I was always reaching certain goals in school and on the court. My mother taught me that you never give up when a task is very hard. My high school coach Brandon Peoples has played a huge role in my life. Read more>>
Armando Colls
Lone backpacking thru Petra, the Wadi Rum desert and most recently a 120 mile hike across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. Time spent slowly walking and feeling ones heartbeat slow down to match that of the scenery that Mother Nature is offering. Read more>>
Priya Ramkissoon
My parents taught me everything I know about work. As immigrants who moved to the UK, they built not only a life for themselves but a foundation for generations to come — and for that, I’ll always be grateful. Their endurance, selflessness, and unwavering work ethic shaped my values and the way I see the world. Read more>>
Venomous Versus
We were influenced by many Artist like the Wu Tang Clan and Eminem. But our inspiration stretches further than just rap music. Hard living and heavy situations taught us how to get through each event, mentally. Read more>>
Ruvarashe Pellum
My father did. He was a CPA who owned his own practice, and I spent much of my early life tagging along with him to work or being picked up from school just to head back to his office. He would even get up early every morning and often continue working late into the evening from his home office. Read more>>
Fernanda Muhlbradt
The people who taught me the most about work were, first, the women in my family. They rarely needed to say much; they taught through example. Their strength, discipline, resilience and ability to keep going even when life felt heavy shaped my entire understanding of what it means to work. From them, I learned that work is not just about tasks. Read more>>
ciaran short
there was a spider that lived in the corner of my childhood bedroom for what felt like years. every morning i woke i looked to them. every night as i fell asleep i looked to them. and no matter the time of day they just sat, waiting, suspended in air. Read more>>
