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.
Sammy Todd
Paige Suzanne
My work ethic honestly comes from two main places in my heart – my passion for what I do and for helping others, and my son. I am genuinely so deeply passionate about my career and I am confident that what I do deeply helps others and grows their confidence. I also take my role as a mother very seriously, and I know that my son depends on me to support him in every way, which means I’ve got to work! Read more>>
Kaitlin Dodson
My work ethic came from years of competitive irish dancing. Starting at age 5 in a local community center I learned so much more than just steps. This is where I learned the importance of practicing outside of class which molded the way I work on my art in my present day life.
Katie Maloney
I currently have an incredible chosen family who I know will never let my life fall apart. But that wasn’t always the case. There was a long time when I really only had myself to depend on—which was difficult and overwhelming and certainly led to some very unsuccessful times. But I’m also grateful for those experiences because I learned to take responsibility for my dreams, my wants, my success and my life. Read more>>
Cleo Jade
I was raised by a single, immigrant mother who made everything happen for me. Even if it meant sacrifice on her own end. My work ethic definitely comes from her, she inspires me to work hard so I can make her proud. I want to be sure to live a happy and successful life because there’s only one. Read more>>
Ernest Melton
My work ethic comes from enjoying what I do. I was raised in a musical family, and by the time I had reached my Junior year in high school, I knew I wanted to do something musical. I was always more of an instrumentalist and not long after leaving high school, I knew the saxophone was the instrument I enjoyed most. Read more>>
Paul Galliano
I get my work ethic from my parents. Through my years of working in their family-owned restaurant and doing chores at home, they instilled in me the idea of putting “your all” into any and every endeavor. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing it the right way. They gave me great instruction and showed me by example how to do a “good job.” While growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, I worked my way through every job at the restaurant except cooking. Read more>>
Barbara Duarte
I believe my work ethic stems from a combination of factors. Firstly, my upbringing has played a significant role. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. They led by example and taught me the importance of giving my best effort in everything I do. Read more>>
Vivian Au Fang
Work ethics I believe is built overtime and how I have observed those that I look up to in my life. Within the jewelry industry, I have mentors that have guided and watched me grow in my different life stages as a jewelry designer, maker and more. My mentors have shared with me their strengths, weaknesses, struggles, celebrations and growth as business owners. Read more>>
Matteson Pino
I live by the words “just a little bit everyday.” So no matter what I accomplish before going to sleep, I know it is going towards one of my larger goals. This way of thinking began at the same time in which I started passionately building with LEGO. I have found that LEGO building is the only art medium that feels complete with clear checkpoints and definite ends – whereas the other art mediums can always be flourished. Read more>>
Evelyne Dieu
You are definitely not the first to ask but I do finally know how to answer. I believe it has a lot to do with grit. Having grown up in Belgium and Spain, I learned from a very young age that there’s more out in the world than the obvious path of staying in the country I was born in and making the best of what it had to offer. Having my grandparents, whom I love dearly, live in a different country because they were happier there, made me grow up with the ability to love people deeply without having to live in the same country. Read more>>
Giana Gallardo Hesterberg
Growing up, my mother worked full-time, At one point in her career, she worked from 9:00-5:00 pm, and then attended evening classes a couple of times a week from 7:00-10:00 pm. She graduated from college when she was 35 years old. I didn’t realize how much that impacted me until much later. Read more>>
Jason Gandy
My work ethic comes from my strong desire to achieve my goals. Whether it’s martial arts or business, I’ve always had the drive to set goals and go after them. If I’m passionate about something, my thoughts, behaviors, and decisions are all aimed at that target until it’s accomplished. Read more>>
Alfonso Juarez
I’ve been doing art every day for the past 1,411 Days, I have never been a particularly diligent worker or someone who has believed in the grind. This has been the first time I have really been consistent with something before so I dont always feel qualified when it comes to talking about work ethic. I really love painting , creating and watching my work evolve so when i choose to make art everyday it comes from a love for all parts of the process. Read more>>
Rachel Feehan
Observing both of my parents work very hard has been such a gift to me while I was growing up. They both have demonstrated a good balance of working hard, playing hard, and resting well. They made it a top priority to be present for my siblings and me. I am prone to overwork myself into exhaustion sometimes, and that is not a badge of honor, Both my dad and mom recognized that tendency in their first-born, and they continue remind me of what is truly important in life. Read more>>
Emily Deahl
When I was growing up, competitive dance was my entire life. All I wanted was to become the best dancer in the world. But, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that attacked my joints and heart at the age of 5. Against all of my doctor’s wishes, I continued to dance. When I became very sick, my body couldn’t keep up with the workload and my dance teacher had to remove me from our competition pieces. Read more>>
Ariana Lovato
Coming from an immigrant family, my mission in anything that I do is to do the very best I can. This can be a gift and a curse at the same time. On one hand, there is a fire that motivates me to continue moving forward against any adversity, and then on the other hand, I am never content and always wanting more. It’s important to find a balance though, because you’ll lead to burn out really quickly. Read more>>
Lmfao Slim
I’m Haitian, and hard work runs in our genes. My work ethic comes from my dad, he’s diligent. He was in the military in Haiti, he was like the house’s “drill sergeant”. He built discipline in me through tasks. He’d always yell at me if I didn’t fix my bed. My dad owns a local contractor business, every time I needed money he’d always make me work for the earnings. Many days he’d give me speeches. Read more>>
Megan Hughes
The definition of work ethic and work has evolved for me a lot over the years. When I was younger, I think that the hard work that I did and the efforts that I put in were about pleasing others. I worked hard to make my mom happy, or I worked hard to impress teachers. I have always had the drive to create and do things, but actual work, and accomplishments were motivated from a desire not to let down. Read more>>
Ariele Burgess
Work ethic is somethings that I’ve always prided myself in. I don’t know how to not have a strong work ethic. I work 7 days a week, not because I have to a degree but because for me I wouldn’t feel complete if I didn’t spend the day working on something. Even if it’s something small like taking Sunday to answer emails, I still feel compelled to work. When I sit still and stagnant I don’t feel accomplished. Read more>>
Joanne De Simone
My work ethic comes straight from my upbringing. My father died when I was young. My mother was abruptly forced into the role of a single parent/breadwinner. She was a child of the Great Depression. Like many people of that generation, she learned to work hard, to do without, and to appreciate the value of family. Read more>>
Tk Art
My strong work ethic is deeply rooted in the values instilled by my parents. I am blessed to have two parents who made significant sacrifices, empowering not just me but also my older brother to pursue success in our lives. They consistently strove for progress, working tirelessly to provide their children with every possible advantage. Read more>>
Michael Gross
My work ethic comes from a couple of places: 1) growing up playing competitive sports at the highest level, which taught me that a fierce dedication to one’s craft, coupled with putting in the time and reps was the path to separating yourself amongst your peers. You also learn the value of winning and losing. When you lose you look inward and evaluate what you could have done better. When you win, there’s no better feeling. Read more>>
Brennon Hall
I’ve been working since I was legally able and even before that I always try to find ways to make money. I’ve understood sent a very young age that if I want something I have to go get it and somebody else also likely wants that very same thing and may be putting in hours when I’m not there for I need to put in as many hours of work as I can to accomplish the goals I want to achieve. Read more>>
Chloe Taylor
Yes, my father taught me everything that has shaped my work ethic. He has always served as my role model for diligence and commitment. By watching him I learned the values of working hard, never quitting and pursuing my goals with passion at a young age. Read more>>
Angela Todd
I think my work ethic developed initially from not having a lot of people around to rely on at various points throughout my life. Having spent some time as a military wife and then the sole provider of income for the household, there were often periods when the normal jobs only covered our bills and basic expenses. Read more>>
Laura Flynn Endres
Growing up on a farmette in the Midwest! Midwesterners are known for their work ethic, and my family may as well have been the poster family for that.I say farmette because we were not full-time farmers, but my parents built a house down the road from the original family farm. We always had a few animals – cows, pigs, turkeys – which meant daily chores of feeding animals, mucking stalls, and so on. Read more>>
Dr. Leketa Hawkins
In the luminous tapestry of my life, woven with vibrant threads of dedication and determination, lies the heart of my story – a work ethic forged in the fires of family tradition and honed in the diverse arenas of life. Read more>>
Rudy Salgado
My parents. Growing up, I watched my mom and dad run a pretty large denture laboratory. The rule in my household was that if I was a good kid and my parents knew where I was, I could come home any time of night. Many nights I would get home at 3 or 4 in the morning and my dad was still up working. Read more>>
Kandy G Lopez
My paternal grandfather was a military man which meant that my father and his brothers grew up in a very militant environment. Even though my father raised us in a very different environment, some of his offspring, including myself, had this military gene inheritance. I work best when I have a schedule. Read more>>
Logan Spacek
I definitely developed my work ethic after values of hard work, resilience, and perseverance were instilled in me at a young age by my parents. My dad has owned his own business and has always shown me what it looks like to serve customers well. Additionally, I was a gymnast and a cross country/track runner growing up. Read more>>
Wilma Herrera
Undoubtedly, my work ethic is a legacy from my family, particularly my grandmother and father, and growing up in Germany, where hard work is just part of daily life. My grandmother, a resilient mother of five, faced the challenges of WWII when her husband was captured and gone for an extended period. Read more>>
Thierry Delourneaux
I got my work ethic from my grandmother. She used to own a mini supermarket and I consistently saw her always working very hard. She used to tell me if you work hard and love what you do, it will never felt like working a day. Read more>>
Tonya Gibson
My work ethic has always been deeply influenced by my parents. While they may not have explicitly preached about the importance of hard work, their actions spoke volumes. My parents are naturally busy individuals, constantly engaged in various projects and endeavors. Their work ethic taught me the value of setting high standards for myself and putting in the effort required to achieve my goals. Read more>>
Nia Scott
All praise for my work ethic stems from my parents. My first representations of hard work and resiliency come from my Mother and Father and I could not be more grateful for what they have instilled in me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to better manage my time and that leads me to piling quite a few things on my plate. Read more>>
Marcus Martin
I got my worth ethic from my mom. Watching my mom thrive despite our circumstances. My mom always provided. She was a single parent, and never complained. I seen her work day & nights shifts to provide for me and my sibling, and it showed me what it takes and what the drive you need to have to attain the things you want. It taught me to be hardworking and to just always try to put your best foot forward. Read more>>
Haley Manchon
I was instilled with this desire to do whatever the “right” thing was, probably in part due to my personality, arguably even more so in how I was raised by my two loving parents. This was especially the case in school. I cared a lot about being a good student – studying, note-taking, staying organized – and these are all things I still practice routinely today, just with different subject matter. I think my introverted nature contributed to it as well; it was easy for me to stay home and practice drawing. Read more>>
Yamel Molerio
I get my work ethic from my parents. They came to the United States with two children and only their clothes on their backs. They immediately started working. My mom in a sewing factory. My dad started as an assistant in an electrical company. They didn’t speak the language so it was hard for them in the beginning. Read more>>
Richard Bai
For me, passion and dedication are at the core of everything I do. I consider myself fortunate to have discovered editing, a craft that I truly love. Encouraged by my parents from a young age to find and pursue my passion, I initially found it in strategic games, particularly the Chinese version of chess called “Go”. I delved into it, turning professional by the age of 12. The game instilled in me a love for thinking, observing, and making strategic moves. Read more>>
Shannon Wells
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania I believe laid a firm foundation for a strong work ethic in my life. My Grandfather owned a very successful farm machinery shop, my grandmother kept the house in order, helped with his business and baked daily. My mom worked at the local hospital and both of my brothers along with my father belonged to the local fire station and some point in their lives were each Chief. There was never a choice to give up. If you gave your word to do something, you were there. Read more>>
Scharad Lightbourne
I believe that my strong work ethic comes from a combination of two things. Firstly, when I was growing up, my father had strict rules and expectations about how things should be done in our household. My sister and I were taught to always do things properly and thoroughly, without cutting corners. If we didn’t meet those standards, we would face the consequences. Secondly, leaving my home country to study in the US also played a role in shaping my work ethic. Read more>>
Michael Kitano
I get my work ethic from my grandparents and parents. My maternal grandparents raised my mother and her siblings on a farm in Cotati, CA. They raised chickens and vegetables. This was a hard time since it was around WW2 and the horrific imprisonment of the Japanese Americans. Upon their release, my grandparents thrived on and continue work hard on their farm. Read more>>
Marley Chase
I’m extremely fortunate to come from a long line of blue collar workers- where even my biggest fan of everything I do, my Papa, STILL to this day works at 83 years old. The best part is, he absolutely embodies the saying of “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”. Read more>>
Marlo Miller
Growing up as a child, my mother constantly emphasized the significance of hard work and dedication to achieving success in life. Read more>>
April Starks
As a young girl I saw my mother work consistently to maintain our needs and successfully provide for me and my brother. I do not recall ever lacking of anything of necessity. That inspired me to be a person of solid work ethic. Also, my grandparents played an important role in my life and modeled high levels of self discipline and strong work ethic. Read more>>
Zach Nichols
My work ethic is comprised of many characteristic traits that all play in to my success as a photographer. I have always been a relatively driven person almost to a flaw and I thrive when given a challenge. My personality is very all-or-nothing which can be beneficial at times and also a curse in many ways. Read more>>
Jen Kourtei
I grew up as an only child with a single mom. I always had everything I needed, but if I wanted anything “extra” I learned at a very young age that I would need to work for it. My grandmother had a garden in the summer and fruit trees. I would pick the fruits and vegetables and sit in her front yard selling them to the cars passing by. Read more>>
Melissa Kreisa
I describe my work ethic as dedicated and determined. I got it from my mother. She was an amazing woman – an army nurse in the Korean War when she was just 22 years old. Read more>>
Shalese Sands
I’ve always had a strong work ethic as far back as I can remember. A great deal of that has come from example by others–especially my parents. My parents taught us kids the importance of a good work ethic, and how that can take you far if you give it your best. I’ve always taken that advice to heart and have seen its benefits. Read more>>
Jessica Kircher
My mother is the hardest worker I’ve ever known, working 3 jobs to stay afloat in this ever-changing economy. I have always admired the way she is able to not only do the work, but put her all into it. I don’t think I would have the work ethic that I do without such an amazing role model in my everyday life. Read more>>
Ricky Beasley
My work ethic came from seeing my mom work a 9-5 ever sense I was a child. I’ve watched her work many different jobs, coming home cooking cleaning whatever needed to be done day in and day out. Still working till today that’s what keeps me working hard with hopefully being able to see her retire and be able to return the favor of taking care of her. Read more>>
Isis Moreno
I am fortunate and blessed; I’ve always had great role models as parents. I got my work ethic from watching them tirelessly provide us with a home as I was growing up. Both of my parents are Mexican immigrants who arrived in the US with four children – two in high school and two in diapers. They didn’t know English but always found a way to make a living. Read more>>
