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.
Dan Millice
I am really fortunate to be pursuing a career doing something that I love and that I’m happy to be doing every day. I love the process of making albums. I love collaborating. I love working on music. If you want to be the best at something, the road is definitely going to be long and repetitive. Read more>>
Jan Meyer
I got my work ethic under a banana tree. Growing up on the island of Saint Lucia, hard work was just a part of my life. My weekends were spent alongside my mom and sisters tending to our banana trees. And, on Tuesdays, we were helping with all the steps involved with processing bananas for sale. Read more>>
Luis Salgado
As a young child I learned very early on in life that if you don’t work for it yourself no one will come and save you. I got hired for my first job opportunity when I was only 9 years old stocking shelves at a nearby bodega. Since that moment in life I’ve known nothing but self improvement and a persistent pursuit in knocking out goals. Read more>>
Mike Walker
My entire family has always believed in hard work. My father was a college professor and scientist and had a fairly large staff of laboratory assistants and graduate students, plus a unit administrative assistant, but I know he would often carry packages and things to mail himself when he could have easily asked someone else to do it and I once asked him why he didn’t ask his staff to do these things more and he replied that “doing such would interrupt work they were doing already and I know if I do it then it’s done”. Read more>>
David Méndez Mateu
My work ethic is deeply rooted in two essential elements: the invaluable lessons passed down by my father and my unwavering passion for what I do. From an early age, my father instilled in me the importance of hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Read more>>
Dylan Thai
My work ethic was shaped and developed from numerous experiences, but most importantly from my high school drama mentors; Sherion and Shawn Cosby. “There are no small parts’” a saying I hold onto greatly as well as “Going full out and giving 110%”, which I apply to everything I do in life. Even though it is given in an entertainment environment, it can be easily applied to any work environment. Read more>>
Christine Black
I get my work ethic from my mother. She has always taught me if I want something go for it, no matter the circumstances. Watching her as I grew up go to work no matter how she felt and what she was going through, she made sure that she took care of her family. No matter the obstacles she, she pushed through and always kept going. Read more>>
Tam Lamarre
Reflecting on my work ethic, I attribute its foundation to the strong examples set by my parents and grandmother. They instilled in me the importance of dedication and perseverance through their own hard work and resilience, particularly during difficult times. Read more>>
Laura Howe
I come from a family that believes in the importance of honing a craft and sharing it with others. My English grandmother was a seamstress and meticulous dresser and had a profound influence upon me. Read more>>
Eva Montibello
My work ethic is deeply rooted in personal values, pivotal life experiences, and the influence of critical mentors throughout my journey. From a very young age, I was drawn to work and the difference it could make. Read more>>
Lauren White
My first job was that of a Front End Bagger at Whole Foods Market. I was so excited about having a job, and making my own money to buy a Nokia Cell Phone. Wow, that aged me a bit. Read more>>
Wendy Ramirez
My work ethic is strong….like bull. I’ve always worked. I volunteered a lot before I got my first job in high school. I would volunteer with Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles. Got my first job at 15 and just always maintained jobs through out my life to support my family. Read more>>
Eemaan Qadri
I get a lot of my work ethic from my family. Growing up, I always watched my mom & dad be up until 2-3 am getting things done so long as they were passionate about it and wanted to spend extra time perfecting things. This translated into my everyday life – where if I have a great idea, I cannot wait until the morning to get it done. Whether its 3 PM or 3 AM, my passion motivates me to get up and get things done. Read more>>
Takila Nuss
I started working a summer job when I was 14. I’ve been working ever since. Being young and responsible for myself I knew If I didn’t work, I didn’t eat. So I made sure to work hard at every job I had. Read more>>
Daniel Formica
I guess a few places one thing I learned early in life that if you say you are going to do something you do it and you don’t procrastinate. So being a musician, I said if I’m going to be a musician I’m gonna get after it otherwise I’m just being a liar.. Read more>>
Tamara Bubble
My work ethic comes from the results it produces. I think it also comes from the realization that as long as I remain consistent, I can complete whatever I set my mind out to do. Growing up I believe everything came to me easy. College degree … done. Read more>>
Alex Roe
Heretical though it sounds, I have to admit I’ve never been good at envisioning a goal, laying out a plan to reach it, and taking the steps to get there. I admire people who do, and I believe they exist. Read more>>
Lauren Bowles
I grew up an only child with a single mother who worked really hard to not only provide me with a good education but to also teach me that you need to work for the things you want in life. They are not handed to you. Read more>>
Amaan Kajani
You know, a lot of my drive and how I get things done comes from lessons of trial and error, and refining the process. It’s all about figuring out when to slot in time for the different things I want to work on. It’s not always about how long something’s going to take, but sometimes more about when’s the right time to tackle it. Read more>>
Amy Pho
I used to think I was really lazy as a kid. I hated school and dreaded studying, having to get a career in the healthcare industry, basically doing whatever I was “supposed to do.” Since I moved to Atlanta and threw myself both into acting and ceramics, I realized that I can only do things that I love to do.
Lele Barnett
I get my work ethic from my extremely smart, driven, and hard-working mom who single-handedly raised three young daughters on a solitary income. She never discouraged me from pursuing the arts; instead, she urged me to identify a career path that would enable me to be financially independent and support myself. Read more>>
Oghenekome Igbogidi
My Personal Story: Unveiling Me Embarking on a journey as a Black woman in the spheres of technology, education advocacy, and leadership has been both challenging and rewarding. My commitment to living a life guided by God’s word on positivity and excellence served as the bedrock for transformative growth. Read more>>
Silvia Loney
I am a proud first Gen daughter, of two immigrants. I have watched them worked hard and persevere through life for as long as I can remember. They are both very passionate and determined people, and they taught me at a very young age that with hard work anything is possible. Read more>>
Emily Jane Acree
Probably from the fear of what I perceive as failure or giving up. That may a bit backwards, because I know and support that we should not fear failure. Failure is an integral part of growth as humans and artists, and we should never be embarrassed by it. Read more>>
Joy Ruffen
It stems from my upbringing. I was raised in a very religious family. In my pre-teen years, I realized it was not for me, I left the church, yet I did not leave GOD. I begin my own journey of self-discovery. The library became my second home, not only because of my immediate curiosity but also because I discovered I had learning disabilities. Read more>>
Angela Gooliaff
Paradoxically, working hard is the easiest way to achieve anything. There is often too much wasted energy and time put into procrastinating and complaining. Honestly, for me, it is easiest to simply put my efforts into achieving my goals. Read more>>
Khris Keller
Being raised by an underage, single mother in the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum most assuredly comes along with a fair number of challenges, but each imposition that my mother overcame was a lesson in what it takes to survive. Read more>>
Blanca Wall
My unwavering work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing, growing up on a farm in Sweden, I learned resilience early on and culturally, the belief of work and diligence have very much a moral value and help create a rewarding routine. Read more>>
Shanae Cooper- Robinson
I got my work ethic from my mom. Her strength knows no boundary. Read more>>
Marissa Molina
I feel like it would be an understatement to say that I am a determined person. As far back as I can remember, I always had this mentality to get things done or to make something work despite any obstacles or not having the ideal resources to do so. Read more>>
Marla Gomez
Picture this: a young kid, just starting to navigate the world, learning life’s lessons from the person who knows best—my mom. Though retired now, her unwavering dedication, commitment, and integrity left an indelible mark on me, shaping my work ethic from the very start. Read more>>
Barbara Alcada
I believe I take, like most of us, after my parents. Our childhoods might not define us but do shape us in a way and so I’m very proud of having had parents with an amazing work ethic. My motto is a mix of ‘if someone else can do this, why can’t I?’ with ‘your effort will pay off somehow”. Read more>>
Sandra Pohl
Our lives changed forever in 1994. Vikki was found in a diabetic coma, near death. Somehow or miraculously, she started the long road to recovery. She learned to swallow water, eat solid foods, talk and walk, recovering from the severe brain injury was a slow agonizing process. Read more>>
Tobe Roberts
As a follower of the martial arts, my work ethic stems from a profound sense of loyalty, discipline, and duty. Loyalty (Chūgi 忠義): My commitment extends beyond a mere dedication to my employer; it is a pledge to the principles and values that guide my actions. Read more>>
Kevin Saunders
I get my work ethic from my family. I grew up in a family of determined and dedicated people who knew the importance of hard work. I saw how their hard work helped them triumph over obstacles and barriers in our lives, and I’ve seen them achieve things that were not expected nor easy for minorities of their time. Read more>>
Georgia Stone
Growing up, I have always been involved in horses. I grew up on my mother’s hunter jumper lesson farm, and being the kid of the trainer meant I was a part of all the chores. She closed her barn when I was about 10, and I stopped riding seriously for a few years after that. Read more>>
Daren Hill
I have always admired my father’s hard work and resilience since childhood. He instilled in me the value of working hard now to enjoy later. I try to put 110% effort into everything I do, as I believe it creates a snowball effect that leads to more opportunities and personal growth. Read more>>
Claudio De La Rosa
If I had to single out the source or the foundation of my my work ethic, it would point to my parents. As the oldest, I got to witness the initial struggles of them getting acclimated to an environment that was not their own; learning the language and the lay of the land. Read more>>
Jourdan Saunders, MS, CCC-SLP
The foundation of my work ethic was laid early on, deeply influenced by my parents’ guidance and upbringing. This foundation took on a new dimension when I started a family, profoundly transforming my perception of time and further enhancing my dedication to work. Read more>>
