The ability to work hard has always been underappreciated and devalued by various elements in society. In our experience, it’s crystal clear that having a strong work ethic and positive attitude towards working hard is highly predictive of success. Below, you’ll find highlights of our conversations around how one might go about developing or leveling up their work ethic.
Bibi Yasmin Katsev
I believe your work ethic is formed very young as a child, which my parents personified onto us. They are both immigrants and very hard workers. I think my parents were very drawn to making sure their children understood that life would provide us with challenges, but we have to prevail and stay strong moving forward. Read more>>
Brian Lee
In the past decade we’ve seen a steady increase in the rise of “hustle culture”, and while it’s inspiring to see others’ stories it also creates a false impression of the reality of being an entrepreneur. Read more>>
Laura Buenrostro
I definitely get my work ethic from my parents.growing up seeing them in any work environment that they had no clue how to do the job, they would observe, ask questions and would teach themselves how to get the job done. They would always put themselves in situations where they can learn new things and skills. I think I picked that up from an early age. Read more>>
Brittany Hohl
My parents, for sure. I honestly cannot remember a time when they were not hustling to ensure that our family had all that we needed. Both of my parents entered the workforce straight out of high school and it’s beyond impressive to see all they have built from pure hard work and dedication. Read more>>
Andrea Bee
I love this question because I feel like work ethic is something that is created in you. I saw how hard my mom worked to get her business off the ground, even if it meant long days and long nights she was determined to provide a great life for us. Growing up my siblings and I were raised that with hard work comes great rewards and I use that in my everyday life as an adult. Read more>>
Barbara A Poole
I was raised in a home that believed in God, honesty, caring, loving. Trusting, being trustworthy. These values stayed with me throughout my life.
Today I am a wife, mother of three. A grandmother. of five and a great grandmother of two. I continue to teach the values. I have learned while I was growing up to my beautiful family I am very proud of.. Read more>>
Ewuresi Archer
I get my work ethic from both my parents. I mean growing up I saw how hard both of them worked. My dad worked so hard and so much that I don’t even remember his presence at home which sounds sad but I know he was working so hard to give himself and his children the life he thought we deserved and he made sure at all costs to do that and he has succeeded and continues to succeed in doing so. Read more>>
Jamogi Bridges
I was watching this Michael Jackson inspirational video, and I remember hearing him say, “Study the greats and become greater,” and that’s when it all clicked for me. I have always aimed to be great at what I do, especially when it comes to performing. So, I would watch all these behind the scenes videos of Michael, Janet, Beyoncé, Prince, and more. Read more>>
Sam Ward
When referring to my work ethic throughout life in general, I’d say I get my work ethic from my father as well as my mother… my father especially. The same year I was born, he suddenly lost his father and the family business that he had co owned with my grandfather went bankrupt, and my dad suddenly became jobless. Luckily, my mom had very steady, solid paying employment with great benefits. Read more>>
Charnelle Towler
My work ethic stems from my parents. My parents had my brother and I in their twenties. I would see my dad work two jobs, rotating shifts along with my mom working full- time. Work ethic was instilled in me at early age especially in education Read more>>
Deborah Brown
I was born and raised on the Eastern Shore, Maryland. I grew up on a farm and raised by my grandparents, aunts, and uncle. My grandfather and great-grandfather built the home we lived in. They shared crops and raised farm animals. Read more>>
Lizzie Rose
I think my work ethic developed out of my desire to succeed. Hard work has always been how I’ve gained any momentum and growth in my career. Hard work is all you have when you’re starting from the ground up. I find my strong work ethic empowering and it fuels my optimism. Read more>>
Matt B
Honestly, my family has always been really big on working smart if you want to move forward in life and achieve your goals. It’s been instilled in me since I was a child. Over the years, I found other things to continue motivating me to move forward, such as my wife and three children. Read more>>
Rafael Larin
Work ethic for me came from three primary sources. First, was my father. He had his own business growing up and when you’re a business owner, the one thing that ensures failure if you do not have it is work ethic. Read more>>
Ariel Shaw, MBA
I truly believe my work ethic comes from my family. I am the daughter of 2 U.S. Veterans who both served over 20 years in the military. I am the granddaughter of 2 Veterans, a 30 year-term former elected official, and one of the most amazing grandmothers who raised her 10 children plus grands. I know to only operate in excellence and to complete what I start, while making impact. Read more>>
Greg Carrozza
My work ethic very much comes from my father and grandfather (my mother’s father). Both were the children of Italian immigrants and worked very hard throughout their lives. Their hard work was apparent to me everyday growing up. Read more>>
Manu Shahi
I believe that, as an immigrant, and due to the way I was raised, failure is an event, not a reflection of a person. I inherited this mindset from my mother and the fact that there is always room for learning and recovery, enabling us to move forward to the next step. Read more>>
Anthony Jensen
I’d say I get my work ethic from my parents. My mother was a single mom for many years and times were tough for her and us. She would work 2 and 3 jobs at a time to keep food on the table and the bills paid. More than once she served dinner to my brothers and myself and she didn’t eat. Read more>>
Jereme D
Most of my work ethic came from a combination of my upbringing and my military experience. I grew up in a large family of 10. Growing up with such a large family we didn’t have a lot so we had to make do with whatever my Mom and Dad could provide. Read more>>
David Palmer
Whatever work ethic I have comes from my love of the work itself. I love the ongoing flow of ideas, starting new projects, working through uncertainty, and finishing them. It’s important to keep going when things don’t seem to be turning out the way you envisioned. I find I can only plan things out so much in advance. The rest is discovered in the process. Read more>>
Chani Ronez
My family has always been a significant source of inspiration for me, especially when it comes to developing a strong work ethic. I come from a long lineage of entrepreneurs who have mastered the art of creating beauty from the simplest things. They ingrained in me the understanding that success is not a product of overnight efforts; it’s cultivated through relentless hard work, intense passion, and unwavering dedication. Read more>>
Desiree Durham
I got my work ethic from my parents, mom and dad. They were small business owners when I was growing up, and watching them work so hard showed me that I could do it too. They had a vending machine business, D&V auto sales, and at one point, my mom even had a booth at the mall where she made holiday baskets. Read more>>
Fernando Reyes
My work ethic comes from my early childhood years from my parents. My dad was hardworking and provided a roof over our heads, food and bills. . My mother was a stay at home mom raising 6 children; three boys and three girls. Read more>>
Clarisse Chua
I think I get my work ethic from growing up in Singapore. The education system there was really competitive and i definitely felt the pressure. From a young age and had to learn how to manage my time between working on my art, as a hobby at the time, as well as getting the grades I wanted at school. Read more>>
Tyler Straub
Growing up, my parents taught me to show up on time, always be present, and never cut any corners if you are committed to the task at hand. I took these points to heart and carried them with me through each milestone I crossed paths with. Those three life skills helped me excel as an athlete and student throughout my childhood and young adult life. Read more>>
Kendrick Harris
I get my work ethic from my life experiences and the child hood of growing up in a small town with little opportunities and minimum exposure to the rest of the world. It’s like a boy looking out the window and constantly seeing the world past him by from the distance and saying this box that I’m in will only last for a while. When I get older ima go see what there is on the other side and come back to share with those that had the same dreams as me. Read more>>
Kelsey Applegate
My work ethic is a direct reflection of my family. I was raised in a very middle-class family by a single mother who worked her way from a secretary, all the way up to managing an entire county’s payroll and retirement. My Dad was an idea man, a dreamer – always coming up with the next “million-dollar idea.” Read more>>
Crystal Haner
I believe my work ethic started at a very young age. I remember playing in the large vacant building next store to their home that had a few office desks, registers and lots of fun office supplies. My cousin and I would find ourselves playing there almost every time we went to visit our grandparents and acting as if we were running a shop or teaching school. Read more>>
Cameron Smith
My work ethic stems primarily from two individuals, my grandfather and my mother. I will do my best to keep it short, but just know there isn’t enough praise I could truly give them for allowing me to be who I am today. Read more>>
Christian Wilson-Poole
My mother, as a CPA and a successful entrepreneur, served as a role model for me. I had the privilege of witnessing her dedication and determination in her professional life, which has undoubtedly had a significant impact on my own work ethic. Read more>>
Ja’Lisa Neal
My work ethic is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of my parents. Growing up, I watched my mother juggle her responsibilities at home, her full-time job, and her entrepreneurial ventures on the side. She personified the hustle, the drive to always strive for more and to make things happen, regardless of the challenges life threw her way. Read more>>
Audrey Broas
My parents, hands down, no questions asked. Read more>>
Dan Guindon
My work ethic came from my father. He was very successful in his line of work, but he never rested on his laurels. He continued to work hard. When I got into broadcasting, I worked under men that didn’t have a strong work ethic. I learned how to do the opposite by seeing them make mistakes and learning from them myself. Read more>>
Miss Jazzy
My work ethic stems from mine and my son’s different abilities, the rest of the world calls them disabilities however, I know better, they are simply different abilities! I was in a wheelchair for the majority of my 20’s and my son is 10 and has Autism so my drive comes from KNOWING how expensive it can be to be differently able, and making sure I have my son’s life set up for when I die. Read more>>
Laquan Copeland
Work ethic is something that I take very seriously! I know that my work ethic stemmed from watching my parents commitment to their jobs and laying a foundation of what true work ethic looks like. As I grew, I think the desire to be great was something I always cared about and I wanted to work towards the qualities of what I felt my definition of greatness was in any way that I could. Read more>>
