Building Blocks of Success: Work Ethic

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.

Aaleah Oliver

Before I started pre-school life was pretty chill and very grand. I would spend my days meandering between my grandmothers’ rooms, play with my s sister when she got home from school and accompany the adults in my life on errands. Everything changed once I started pre-school. My Dad enrolled my sister and I in Language classes at a school called Language Wizards a few towns over. Twice a week after school, instead of watching Mickey’s Mouse Clubhouse or a movie on VHS, I was learning language Spanish, French or Japanese.  Read more>>

Ra’jonna Mills

A big part of my work ethic comes from seeing my parents work hard. I do not come from a wealthy family and neither do my parents. However, my parents provided a very good life for me and it was due to them working hard. Considering the fact that I did not come from a wealthy family, I would like a wealthy family to come from me, so that also plays a factor in my work ethic as well. Read more>>

Andy Lawniczak

Growing up, I always looked up to my father. He was a hard working man, and did whatever it took to make sure our family was taken care of. We didn’t have a lot growing up, but dad worked hard for what we had. This attitude has carried into my habits and work ethic to this day. Do what needs to be done to get the job finished and provide for my family. Read more>>

Walter Brown

My mother. She raised me and my brother as a single parent. I know many people were raised in the same type of situation. What made the situation so unique to me was that my mother wanted the best for us, so the amount of sacrifice and extra work that she to put forth was amazing. Educationally I was always bussed to the suburbs an hour away from my home in the city, this meant getting on the bus by 6am which meant my mom having to get us up and going around 515am which meant she was usually up by 5am. Read more>>

Maynell Evans

I got my work ethic from my parents. From an early age, I remember my mom and dad always working hard to provide for my siblings and I. They taught me resilience, perseverance, and how to handle conflict. My parents worked many jobs before settling down into the ones they will eventually retire at. I am proud of how they raised me to be confident, loyal, and to be on time. They taught me the importance of being respectful to others, and create a positive name for myself. Read more>>

Asmar Gary

My work ethic comes from a combination of my upbringing and my passion for what I do. Growing up, I was taught that hard work is non-negotiable if you want to achieve something meaningful. That stuck with me, but what really fuels my drive is my obsession with the industry. I genuinely love the strategy behind wine and spirits sales, and that keeps me pushing forward, always thinking about the next move or innovation. Read more>>

Gerard Barnes

My work ethic became a part of my life as I got older after leaving the military, where I became aware of what being successful meant to me. For anyone to be delighted with themselves and their choices, to me, that spelled success. Even though some were of different financial statuses, seeing someone put in work for themselves and continue to be happy with the type of work they were doing spelled success,, and I always wanted to duplicate that work ethic. No matter what you have chosen to do, be happy in doing it. Read more>>

Lori Canepa Bomberger

Well, I would like to say it’s been an innate predisposition but I’m not so sure?. But, I would like to think that it’s definitely familial. I grew up with my parents owning their own business. In the summer, and on school breaks, I was expected to help out with the business. My parents philosophy was that even though there were fun things in the world to do, (and we had family that had all kinds of fun activities for us to do,) we were expected to learn what it was like to go to work, even when others might be playing. I also had both sets of grandparents that owned their own businesses. One of which was a cattle ranch.  Read more>>

Wyatt Poindexter

I credit my work ethic to the example set by my parents. They were incredibly hard-working individuals who instilled in me the importance of integrity, honoring your commitments, and treating others with fairness. My father always emphasized creating opportunities instead of waiting for them, and that mindset has shaped the way I approach both my personal and professional life. Those values continue to guide me in everything I do. Read more>>

Qiting Huang

I believe our strong work ethic comes from the clients we work with, many of whom are successful entrepreneurs. Their dedication, perseverance, and high standards always inspire us to push further and strive for excellence in everything we do. Seeing their passion for their businesses motivates us to work just as hard, if not harder, to deliver results that meet and exceed their expectations. We aim to be as committed to their success as they are, which drives us to continuously improve and never settle for less than the best. Read more>>

Amanda Wilbanks

I got my work ethic from my parents, both my mom and dad are entrepreneurs. As a child, I would sit at the kitchen table listening to their work conversations and I learned that fortune is made in the follow up. Read more>>

Joe Schmelzer

I believe my work ethic came from my father. While we didn’t often agree on many many issues, he instilled a strong sense into me. I always wanted to make it on my own, doing what I wanted to do. Perseverance definitely has paid off. Read more>>

Jacob Wirth

When I think about where I get my resilience from, it comes from two places. On the healthy side, I owe a lot to my dad. Even at 74, he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known. Watching him push through challenges, always striving to do his best, has inspired me to keep going, no matter what. He’s set a powerful example of perseverance that I try to live by. Read more>>

Angela Gallo

I am a dancer. Dance requires discipline, hard work and commitment. Dancers train for many hours a day for multiple days a week, year after year. As a field it is incredibly challenging and competitive. In order to be successful in the dance field, I had to develop a strong work ethic. I was not the most naturally talented dancer so I had to push and challenge myself. I took the feedback from my instructors and I worked it over and over until I was successful in that area. Read more>>

Jaime Pattison

I think it was a combination of factors. When you get to see the direct results of the work that you put into a project, or an idea, you are able to see how that work pays off and it is a very rewarding experience, although there are still plenty of hard learned lessons. I really enjoy what I do, and I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to pursue that. I also grew up with parents that run a family business and this undoubtedly influenced my way of thinking a lot and helped prepare me for some of the challenges that come with finding your own path as well. Read more>>

Xazaveria

In my household I was the “big sister” and anybody that’s a big sister knows that it comes with a lot of responsibility, whether you want it or not. Being responsible transferred over into my teenage years and adulthood. I would say that I’m a person that Is always motivated to do my best and produce high quality results and that takes great work ethic on a consistent level. Read more>>

Thalia Espin

I get my work ethic from my parents. My dad should be retired, but that man loves to work and refuses to retire. If that’s not good work ethic, I’m not sure what is. Like many others, I grew up as a first-generation immigrant. We didn’t have much, but we made the most of what we had and got creative. My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic at a very young age and the idea of following through on anything I had committed to. My father has always said, “If you don’t know something, you can figure it out, but at least try.”  Read more>>

Hansen Yang

My work ethic stems from a combination of influences and experiences that have shaped who I am today. Growing up, I was inspired by my parents, who consistently demonstrated the importance of hard work, resilience, and integrity. They taught me that success is not just about talent but about perseverance and commitment. Throughout my life, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who emphasized the value of discipline and continuous learning. These experiences and a personal drive to achieve my goals have instilled a strong work ethic that motivates me to put in my best effort every day. Read more>>

Alexandra Shulman

My strong work ethic stems from my upbringing and responsibilities growing up. As the oldest daughter with two younger brothers, I learned early on the importance of responsibility and reliability, often helping out with their needs and activities. When I was in high school, both of my parents started working, which meant I took on more household responsibilities and played a significant role in managing our home. Additionally, we had horses and other animals, which required constant care and attention. The demands of caring for them, combined with participating in rodeos, instilled in me a deep understanding of hard work and dedication. Read more>>

Sarah Beth Elkins

Growing up, my parents were both extremely dedicated workers when times were good and more importantly when they were challenging. They raised three girls and helped put as all through college, weddings, etc. I believe it’s easier to absorb those types of characteristics when it’s not even a real discussion, it’s just the norm. I have never put myself in the lazy category and don’t plan to! It also helps that I’m extremely passionate about what I do, therefore dedicating time to work hard for what I want is not a challenge. Read more>>

Monique Waltower

I get my work ethic from my mom. She worked relentless all her life. I watched her do what it took to keep food on the table, the bills paid and a roof over our heads. Read more>>

Ray Kim

My brother, Justin, and I definitely get our work ethic from our parents, who are immigrants from South Korea. When arriving in the U.S., they worked hard to give us and our sister the best life possible. Our father was a serial entrepreneur from clothing to building his confectionary jelly cup business from the ground up, which eventually rubbed off on me and Justin as we explored our own path into entrepreneurship. He was always the first one in the office and the last to leave, making sure that everything was up to par for the next day; he sacrificed a lot to achieve success in his business, including not being able to golf with his friends while he raised us all, but it was ultimately worth it.  Read more>>

Taylor Thomas

I come from two generations of entrepreneurs (my parents and my maternal grandfather) who taught me from an early age that you get what you give – you have to consistently work hard at a goal to achieve it. My parents started their businesses, a property management company for low-income families and a construction company, when I was five. I got to witness first hand the ways in which they built themselves from the ground up, and I got a glimpse into the problem solving and endurance that went into creating businesses that not only provided for our family, but also created a positive impact in our Chicago community. Their unyielding work ethic has always inspired me, and I channel them each day as I carve my path in the art industry. Read more>>

Slade Johnston

I was very fortunate to be raised in a family that values hard work. There isn’t anybody in my immediate family that could be labeled lazy. I grew up watching my dad put in 80+ hour weeks on average and still make time to be a great dad and attend my events. Naturally, I have adopted that same work ethic and take pride in doing something right and at a high level. It started in sports growing up and quickly transitioned into business at young age. Read more>>