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.
David Navarro
I believe my work ethic comes from my moms side , she always worked hard for what i remember , cause i start working when i was 15 years old and at some point i had 3 jobs , i like to work hard and when you in that kind of environment like i am in a kitchen you can go for hours standing 11 to 14 hours some times, it all has to do with, do you love what you do, because if you don’t love what you do than is miserable and boring right away, but if you love what you do and is your passion, 14 hours can turn to be like 2 hours only , you know what i mean. Read more>>
Steve Abercrombie
I grew up in the Deep South raised by my Grandmother who worked daily within extremely tight budgets to keep us afloat. I was also fortunate to have friends with parents from various professional and creative backgrounds. In all of these people, I saw a common thread, take an active role in your life, and be creative with whatever tools you have. Read more>>
Dolla Rise
Hard work is second hand nature to me. My strong work ethic actually comes from the women in my life. My Mother and my Grandmother. I am one of four children. My mother raised us with no man. My Grandmother was always everything we needed. She filled the void in our lives. My Mom never let the struggle bring us down. She never gave up. She provided for us by working at the bank Monday-Friday and she was a waitress on the weekend. My Mom was constantly furthering her education and was enrolled in college simultaneously. My Grandmother watched us while my Mom was doing what she had to do. Read more>>
Clifford Wright
My work ethic came from, having nothing in life and sometimes not even eating some days and nights and also having to put food on my mothers table as a 10 year old man. Read more>>
Farzad Akbarpour
My work ethic was instilled in me at a young age when I began waking up early to help my grandfather sell merchandise at various outlets. I was just 13 when he first invited me to join him, and that experience laid the foundation for my understanding of dedication and responsibility. Read more>>
Gregor Purgaj
Creativity has always been a source of pleasure and relaxation for me. Despite solving various problems, the process of work or creation always gave me a positive challenge and satisfaction. Of course, little things are very important here, such as relaxed coffee, good music, a full stomach. If these little things match, I am happy to approach the work. Read more>>
Katherine Pasour
My work ethic comes from my background as a farm girl and from family dynamics. My father was retired military, then a farmer, often a hard and angry man who expected perfection from his children. I’m the youngest of five. My mother was a school teacher, mild mannered and very kind. Both parents expected us to do our best and work hard. Read more>>
Grimey L
It’s really all in how I was brought up. Being born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio I acquired a “Midwestern Work Ethic.” We believe that hard work and perseverance pays off. We’re an industrious people. If you’re not willing to work hard, the next guy will out work you. My mom and dad taught me anything worth doing, is worth doing right. Read more>>
Mike Boyd
My parents have been very influential in building my work ethic. My dad had his own business and my mum was always creating. Moving to big cities and doing difficult things keeps pushing me to create and evolve. Read more>>
Christine Dopp
Growing up on a dairy farm in a small town shaped the foundation of who I am today. My earliest memories are laced with the smell of fresh hay and the rhythm of daily chores. From the moment I could walk, I was involved—feeding calves, merging, and raking hay, learning the ropes one task at a time. Read more>>
Susan Margolis
My mother opened and owned a retail florist when I was a kid, and it’s the sort of business that takes a village. So I grew up watching her work tirelessly to build a business. Otherwise, I was a musician for a long time which is all about practice. I started as a classical cellist and moved into indie rock playing in bands and becoming a singer/songwriter. For me, it’s a combination of the DIY spirit, the absolute necessity of having a creative outlet and of course, loving it. Read more>>
Victoria Dowling
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing and the values instilled in me by my parents. Growing up, I watched them work hard to provide for our family, which taught me the importance of dedication and resilience. My dad told me when I was a junior in high school “You can’t be a lazy photographer,” and that really struck a chord with me. As an adult in the field, it’s a constant reminder that photography, like any art form, requires not just talent but relentless effort and hundreds of hours of commitment to perfect my craft and stand out against the crowd. I have tried multiple different forms of photography commercially, in the medical field and within my own business. Read more>>
Jase Shmoney
Jase Shmoney also known as Foreign Gwapo, is a Hip-Hop artist from Boston Massachusetts. When it comes to his work ethic, he gets motivated by his family and friends and making them happy makes him go even harder to achieve his goals. With over 50,000 views on his YouTube channel, Jase Shmoney has been shown his creativity in his songs and music videos. In 2024 he has been recording and seen in big platforms and events such as The Grammys, The BET awards, the New York Fashion Week, Atlantic Records, iHeart Radio Jamn 94.5 and more. Read more>>
Ariana Luna
My work ethic started with the example of my parents. They cultivated a beautiful and abundant life by doing the hard work, and also having a lot of fun along the way. Because of the example they set, I’ve been able to cultivate my own ever evolving version of abundance and success. They instilled in me how important the balance is to work hard and enjoy life harder. Read more>>
Michelle Horton
I attribute my strong work ethic to the ways in which me and my siblings were raised. We had a pretty rough upbringing for various reasons, but through our trials & tribulations we learned how to be independent and self-driven. My dad in particular taught me how to care for myself, do my own cooking, laundry & grocery shopping, and even how to ride the city bus to school by the time I was age 5. Read more>>
Nastiya Kai
My dad mostly, but I come from a family of hardworkers. My grandparents come from families of farmers and then moved to the city all during the Soviet Union times where you couldn’t dream really and people had to work insane hours just to provide for their kids. Literally everyone was struggling to get by. Read more>>
Bradley Delay
I come from a family of farmers and loggers, so there is always an endless amount of work to be done on our farm. I was raised by some very hard working people, and on top of that I was put to work at a very young age. Most the time, one’s hobby is just more work of a different sort. That way of life is about staying busy, and you really have no choice. The cows don’t know it’s Christmas. Read more>>
Bogdan Grad
My work ethic comes from my father, who taught me from a young age what hard work truly means. Growing up, I spent countless hours by his side—whether it was using machinery like chainsaws, doing construction work, or learning the art of negotiation. He always shared his mindset with me, showing me what it takes to reach your goals. Read more>>
Del-timoko Dunbar
Work ethic is deeply ingrained in my family’s culture. My paternal grandfather was a farmer and small business owner, raising eleven children on approximately 80 acres of land in northern Louisiana. Daily chores were essential for ensuring that the family was fed and that income was generated. My father eventually transitioned from this lifestyle to pursue a college education, becoming the first in our family to do so. He demonstrated perseverance by starting his own cleaning business, while my mother worked as a professor at a local university. I recall that they rarely missed work, and my brother and I were fortunate not to experience frequent illness. Read more>>
Robert Lucy
The life of the artist is quite different from the life of a Colonel in the US Marine Corps, but much of what has allowed me to have my career as an artist is thanks to the discipline that I learned from my father. My Father went to military boarding school when he was 13, then to the US Naval Academy and then served in The USMC for 25+ years. Read more>>
Makenna Gries
My parents are due the credit of how I developed the passionate work ethic I possess today. As educators themselves, they have taught me the importance of putting my best foot forward in everything I do. In doing so, they have also educated me upon how this not only creates personal success, but elevates and inspires everyone around me. Additionally, my twin sister also radiates dedication within every aspect of her life, from her academic studies to medical career preparation to serving those in need. While I have developed my own dreams and goals of a successful future, my family has equally propelled me with their own drive and commitment to excellence. Read more>>
Emmanuel Okechukwu
I come from a humble background, and I’ve made it my mission to give my children a better life than I had. This drives my commitment to hard work. I believe that opportunities often come unexpectedly, and I want to be ready when they do. While I pray and trust in God, I understand that He works through people. My goal is to cultivate a strong work ethic so that when the right person or opportunity comes along, my efforts will speak for themselves and attract support. Read more>>
Jeffrey Weber
I get my work ethic from my parents. My mom was a company vice-president during WW II while my dad was fighting the war in the Pacific Theater. When my dad came home from the war, he had a very strong work ethic. He would commute from our home in New Jersey to Manhattan, work all day in a skyscraper, then attend classes at New York University. He would get home late every workday with homework to do. He went to NYU evening classes for 7 years to get his degree. That inspired me to go to college and earn 3 degrees plus go to law school for 1 1/2 years. Read more>>
Kent Richeson
From chopping wood. I grew up in the cold, damp, rainy state of Oregon. Our family had one source of heat and it needed a lot of firewood. So to keep us warm in the winter, my Dad would have us kids go chop up trees that had fallen in the neighborhood. Early mornings and late evenings. Chopping, moving and stacking for hours was rough for a kid but the reward to have a warm house was worth it. Read more>>
Bria Schutz
I think it was instilled in me from my parents. They held high expectations and didn’t reward for things that were considered expectations (hard work, responsibility, good grades, etc.) Although they didnt reward for positive/good things, they always celebrated them. I began dancing at age 2 and competing in dance at age 7. Dance also instills a strong work ethic and the realization that you aren’t going to improve unless you work for it. I have always kept busy my entire life- dance and cheering in high school, dance team in college, working full time while coaching a local dance team and traveling with a dance company, then beginning Event Aesthetics while working full time, and having my son (Who is now almost a year and a half old). When I decide to put time into something, I do it fully and go all in. I work hard because I continue to hold high expectations for myself. Read more>>
