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.
Candelaria González
I get my work ethic from my parents, especially my father. Born and raised in rural southern Mexico, he started working at around 7 years old. After marrying my mother, he made the bold decision to immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities and eventually brought her here as well. Read more>>
Moosa Khan
I once read, “Be disciplined in your daily life so you can be destructive in your practice.” Safe to say, that didn’t pan out quite like I imagined. For me, creativity and work ethic come more from a mix of excitement, boredom, and accidental creation. It’s those random sparks—when I’m not even trying—that usually lead to my best ideas. Read more>>
Ryan Hopper
My work ethics come from simply observing my friends and family on work ethics. In addition to being informed at an early age to continue striving for more within ourselves utilizing our full potential, talents and what we are offering the world. And strong beliefs within our Díne culture and customs to be resilient within the face of adversity. Basically, looking toward those individuals in my life that inspire me to continue is where it lands for me. Even when I’m hard on myself. They say the artist is their worst critic. Read more>>
Derek Xavier
I definitely got my work ethic from my family. For years, I watched my mother, father and grandmother work so hard to take care of my siblings and I. They made sure we had food on the table, had all our homework done, and even helped us with school projects, all while balancing their own lives and jobs. Seeing how hard they worked every single day for us really ingrained in me a sense of how hard work and giving it your all is truly important. I suppose that when you’re doing it for something you love, whether it be for your family or in my case, content creation and toys, maybe the work isn’t so hard after all! Read more>>
Gabe Shaddow
HARD WORK BEATS TALENT.. AND RUNS ALL OVER IT.. My work ethic comes from a mix of my upbringing and my relentless drive to innovate—it feels like a constant itch that keeps me moving forward. Growing up, I watched my grandparents work incredibly hard to achieve the ‘American Dream,’ which instilled in me a deep respect for dedication and perseverance. It taught me the value of never giving up, knowing that eventually, hard work pays off. Read more>>
Claire Dew
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the example set by my mother and in my faith. Watching my mom raise four daughters on her own, while also building a business from our kitchen into a thriving company, showed me what resilience truly looks like. She met every challenge head-on, gaining new skills, taking courses, and securing certifications—all to keep moving forward, no matter what others might have expected or assumed. Read more>>
Phillip Williams-ford
My work ethic is something I built through seeing people around me not have any. I chose to become a helpful and driven person so I can become somebody and develop relationships with the right support. I strive to be successful so in order to do so I must do more than I don’t. Read more>>
Laka
Growing up in an immigrant household, I saw firsthand the hard work my parents put into everything they achieved. My dad arrived in this country at 16 with his family from Bolivia, not knowing any English. He went door to door looking for a job and soon started working as a busboy while attending high school. My mom came to the U.S. alone from Peru in her late 20s, with $500 in her pocket. She learned English, found a job, and rented a small room in a house shared with several others. She even salvaged a mattress and a lamp from the neighbor’s curb to furnish her room. Within a few years, both my parents had completed their university degrees, earned master’s degrees, and climbed the corporate ladder—all while raising my siblings and me. Read more>>
Keith Holliday
My mother. I grew up a product of a single parent. Although we lived with my grandparents at the time, I watched my mom hold down a clerk position in the Washington, DC court system. One Christmas, money was tight but as a child I was shielded from the stresses adults deal with daily. My mother took on an overnight gig cleaning up a hole in the wall fitness center. Just to make sure Christmas didn’t pass us by. On top of leading the dance ministry at church as well as ministering on select Sundays. Sharon Holliday, for 23 years, worked in the DC Court system and spearheaded their advocates program, became a director in 2 different divisions of the court. She passed away two weeks before I graduated from college but her mark was left to where theyve created an award in the court system in her honor. Read more>>
Rose Jepson
My parents were and still are great examples of what hard work looks like. My mom and dad both worked hard to provide for me and my siblings growing up. If they were struggling to make ends meet, they sure didn’t make it look like that. After my parents split up when I was very young, my mom was a single mom to three children for a while. She would work her full time job from 3pm to midnight during the week, but also took on side jobs like delivering phone books and starting a coffee delivery business that we would help out with, learning responsibility and hard work at an early age. Unfortunately we also grew up in a rough part of the city where our house was robbed several times. Read more>>
Jennifer Salvetti-kulla
I believe my work ethic comes from a combination of personal inspiration and the incredible support system I’ve had throughout my life. My parents and my husband have always been my biggest advocates, encouraging me to pursue my education and build my business with confidence. Watching their dedication and seeing how they value hard work has been a lifelong motivator for me. Read more>>
Haley Blevins
Every side of my family is extremely hardworking, and it was almost unavoidable to not absorb their mantras and grit. My father was especially one of the most intelligent and hard working people I know. He was a black man working in a very white field back in the day, and it was through his hyper excellence and intelligence that earned him his career. Much of his work ethic came down to people not being able to question you or your work because it spoke for itself. Inevitably that is the sort of way of being that runs through my veins as well and has propelled me to many different fields and led me to many different experiences. Read more>>
Derek Gallanosa
Growing up I watched a lot of sports and followed athletes both on and off the court. Whether it was Jordan, Kobe, or Tiger, they all had intense work ethic. I carried that mentality over to my professional side trying to be the best Brewer I could and I think it has paid off. Whenever I give advice to younger professionals, I mention that having a high work ethic, which is completely up to them, is a way to open up more opportunities for your career. Read more>>
Michael Keelen
I grew up in a household that had strict rules about chores and yard work, so I learned work ethic through parental discipline at a very young age. However, by the age of 11, I was also delivering by foot or by bicycle 50 newspapers every day after school and every Saturday morning–no matter the weather or anything else I had to do that day. At the end of each month I had to go door-to-door to collect cash or checks from customers for their monthly subscriptions, and my only pay for all of this work was the tips my customers gave me. On average, I worked 50 hours per month and made about $200 in tips. I must have been the only 11-year-old in my class with a job, but having so many customers depend on me every day for so long taught me the value of hard work, dedication, dependability, customer service, quality assurance, and so much more. Read more>>
Ted Beck
A big portion of my work ethic comes from rowing, something my parents were relieved I enjoyed. They’d signed me up for plenty of ball sports when I was little, but I never stuck with any. Rowing hit differently. Since the sport relies so little on strategy and coordination, it was much simpler for me to convert raw effort into improvement. Whatever I put in, I got out, and once I’d realized those gains, it only motivated me to put in more. Read more>>
Jasen Hughes
Since the age of 12, I have been driven by a deep passion for basketball, pursuing my dream of playing professionally. While attending Cuyamaca College, my life took a transformative turn with the birth of my daughter, Jade. This pivotal moment led me to step away from my aspirations and focus on providing for my family, taking on various jobs to support them. Read more>>
Jeffrey Fallen
My parents 1000 percent. They are both from different countries. Moms is Mexican and my pops is from El Salvador. My entire iife I always saw them working hard and never ever really taking days off at jobs they had been at for a very long time. Their schedules were early morning for my mom and my pops was 4/4. Regardless of anything that went on or sleepless nights they never ever had any excuses. They always showed up to everything in our lives. Work ethic I feel in their eyes and just showing up is number 1 in this life. No excuses just get to it and make it happen. Read more>>
Tatyana Melvin
My work ethic comes from my desire for a stable, financially prosperous life and from my nanna! My nanna has been a hard working black woman her whole life. She learned from my great grandmother and great grandfather, who taught her independence and survival skills. She graduated early in high school at the age of 16 and went into the military. Her ranking at retirement was a Petty Officer for the Coast Guard. The most inspiring thing to me about my nanna, is that she spent 20 years in the Coast Guard and NEVER worked on a ship! She has always done whatever she wanted to do from just enjoying her retirement, to owning her own in-home daycare to her and my grandfather owning a used car lot in Wilmington, NC. Read more>>
Fernanda Valencia
My work ethic comes from a very personal and spiritual place: understanding that accompanying someone in discovering their truth is one of the greatest privileges I can have. It is not something I take lightly, because I know how sacred that space is. Each session I facilitate is an act of co-creation, where the other person and I build together a safe, loving, and respectful space for them to explore and reconnect with themselves. Read more>>
Cassie Wells
Ever since I was born, I had entrepreneurship in my blood. My father owned a pizza shop and as soon as I could write down orders effectively (around 7-8 years old), I started answering the phones. My brother and I were able to earn money above and beyond our household allowance and I loved it! My dad was always great about assigning us age appropriate tasks. We’d restock the stuffed animals in the claw machine, empty the arcade games and eventually I got to run the candy counter. That was my jam! I continued to work alongside my dad at his new restaurant for the next 10 years and I always looked forward to it. He is such an upbeat presence I didn’t want to leave his whistling or storytelling. He’d even let me make all the pizzas and deliver them to the high school football game on Friday nights so I could stay and watch with my friends. Read more>>
Linda Wesley
My work ethic comes from the example my parents set. Our family of five was always on the move with youth sports, band and choir, scouting, and volunteering in many ways at our church and school. There was one rule about all those activities: finish what you start. My parents let us choose what activities interested us, but once we committed to a team, we had to finish that season. They lived by the same rule as active parent volunteers for so many of our activities, too. That simple lesson, plus watching my dad start his own entrepreneurial journey when I was in high school, are probably the two biggest influences on my work ethic. Read more>>
Lee Matthew Goldberg
My work ethic comes from doing what I love. Since I was kid, all I’ve wanted to do was be a writer. I found if I wasn’t engaged in something, it was very hard for me to put forth the effort. But writing always came easy. I started with stories about my dog and then in junior high I wrote a four-season TV show inspired by my favorite show, Twin Peaks. If I was bored in class, I’d work on it. I was able to do well enough in school that I could spend the majority of my time writing on the side. I found in life, I would mimic the same kind of ethic. Finish all my obligations, so I could then focus on writing. I usually edit in the mornings and then write most days under a tree in Central Park, weather permitting. I’ve created most of my fourteen books there. When I’m working on a project, it’s percolating in my mind, even when I’m sleeping. So, the work ethic comes from being excited to put pen to paper each day (or honestly, open up my laptop). Read more>>
Gino Pineda
My work ethic over time, developed through my life experiences and having good role models. My dad was the person I looked up to at home. From the stories he shared, I got the feeling he was a no nonsense guy who took pride in his work. I also followed a few basketball players growing up, particularly the late Kobe Bryant. In Kobe, I tried to emulate his relentless work ethic, best known for putting in the work while everyone is asleep. Read more>>
Anna Kynclova Amber Washington
Anna: I get my work ethic from my parents, who always led by example and instilled in me the value of hard work and perseverance. Being an athlete has also shaped me significantly—showing up every day, staying disciplined, and putting in the effort to improve are fundamental to success both on and off the court.
Amber: I get my work ethic mostly from my experience of being a professional athlete (and college). I really developed a different mental attitude and mental toughness from training and playing tennis, it helps to drive my work ethic. The discipline, commitment and focus that’s required doesn’t really leave you, it’s a life lesson. That’s the beautiful thing about tennis, you can apply anything you learn to your life. Read more>>
Winterfresh
My work ethic stems from my passion. From the first day I started learning to DJ, I’d spend hours practicing without even realizing how much time was passing. Once I got into music production, I could spend over eight hours a day just working on my beats without noticing – at the end of a long day, all I could think about is what I’ll do the next day. It doesn’t even feel like a “work ethic” – I can’t see myself doing anything else, and it’s all I think about at all hours of the day. It’s not like school, where I had to force myself to do just enough to pass and get a decent enough grade. When I’m not interested in what I’m learning, I’m not a model student. When I’m as interested in what I’m learning/doing like I am with music, I live and breathe it. Read more>>
Halle M. Kost
When it comes to my work ethic, I have to point to the obvious: mom and dad. My mom has always been a source of endless inspiration. While raising my sister and me, she somehow managed to master countless talents. She’s a natural leader who taught us the importance of strength, confidence, self-respect, and standing up for ourselves. She leads by example, showing that staying true to our values and advocating for ourselves isn’t just important—it’s essential. Read more>>
Natalie Gimon Valencia
I definitely get my work ethic from my mom. While my dad always encouraged me to dream big and believe in myself, my mom taught me what it means to actually roll up my sleeves and put in the work to turn those dreams into reality. She’s my personal superhero. From as early as I can remember, my mom has always been there—driving me to dance practices, attending every competition, helping me with hair and makeup, and everything in between. No matter how busy her own schedule was, she always found a way to show up for me, even if it meant sacrificing her own time. But she didn’t stop there. She somehow managed to balance her career, ensure our home ran smoothly, and have family dinner ready by 7pm…just in time for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Read more>>
Samuel Troxel
I get my work ethic from a few things… 1: knowing that I have a gift and I don’t want it to go to waste. That’s pretty self explanatory. 2: Figuring out the process that works best for me. It took me 13 years to finally figure out what programs worked best for the type of music I made and how my brain processes things. Which leads me to #3: Once I figured out what worked best for me, I learned how to streamline it. Saving presets was huge for me. It allowed me to get the work I want to get done much faster and more efficiently. That’s how I’m able to knock out 5-10 beats in one day. Working smarter, not harder. Read more>>
Chase Mccammon
I get more work ethic from my father. I never understood it until I was older. But, I based my whole life on how to stay motivated because of my father. He worked 7 days a week for years to make sure our family did not go with out. And let me tell you. A lot of my friends thought we were “rich” growing up. Little did I, or they know. He was still scraping by pay check to pay check. He did a very good job and keeping his stress and struggles to himself regarding finances. I never once heard my parents argue over it my whole life. But we struggled. They just kept it to themselves. My mother was always my biggest fan in anything I ever did. She always drove me to do better. Or gave me insight on what I needed to Improve on. She passed earlier this year in April. Read more>>
Alexia Wilborn
I have always most admired people with a strong work ethic: My grandfather who became a veterinarian and the owner of an animal clinic in his 30s. My grandmother who started as a teacher, became a computer technician, then went back to school in her 50s to become a registered nurse. My best friend who was practically handed a business before she was 30 years old because of her extraordinary work ethic. And my husband, who displays a strong work ethic not only at his day job but in all aspects of his life. But ultimately my work ethic truly comes from God. I find encouragement in verses such as Proverbs 31:15-18. Read more>>
Emily Hahn And Josie Smith
Having met in 2022, Josie and I discovered one very important common ground immediately. Hardwork. Both being hired as new comers, in the same company, we leaned on each other and quickly discovered we are each others yin to the others yang. Our strengths combined made us invaluable to our team and the business. Once working together for a year, we decided we had a strong desire to continue this bond and start our own private chef and catering business. Read more>>
Codi Stonehouse
My parents instilled a strong work ethic for my siblings and I at a very young age, especially my dad. He was a talented carpenter and plumber, he often worked side jobs on the weekend and would bring us along to work and earn some extra cash! My parents would also help get me to and from babysitting jobs so I could save up and buy my first car, a 1999 Ford Explorer I named Dora! She was an absolute wreck that was held together with duct tape and a prayer, but she was all mine! They taught us that hard, honest work pays off and to always go the extra mile, and I’m so thankful they did. Read more>>
Steve Gerrard
I think from an early age I knew life was fleeting and that, if I wanted to look forward to my days, I didn’t want to be working for somebody else who dictated how my life would go. I then found that I actually enjoyed the experience of finding success on my own terms, but that required dedication, focus, and continued hard work. Read more>>
Pete Abdou
I think when it comes to Music and music related “Work” I have always stayed focused and driven to accomplish as much as I could while still having fun with it. If I couldn’t’ have fun doing something I wouldn’t do it. My father was always working towards something to support his family or just to stay busy, learning things, reading books a lot, He would be doing something in the yard every day, even through retirement and he enjoyed it. He was into crossword puzzles and word searches in the news paper, always kept his mind going. So I suppose I inherited that from my father. Even though I am into different things than he was I got the work ethic from him. Read more>>
Yen Quach
My work ethic is largely influenced by my mother, who has been a tremendous role model for me. As a single parent, she dedicated herself to providing for our family, often working seven days a week to ensure we had everything we needed. Her commitment to hard work instilled in me the values of perseverance, responsibility, and determination. Watching her navigate the challenges of life with such resilience has inspired me to adopt a strong work ethic in my own endeavors. Read more>>
Ronald Russell
I grew up without much money and started various jobs by around 12 years old. At 16, I started working at a restaurant and I was always considered the hardest worker. I worked at 3 different high end restaurants as a busser. Then, at 18, I began working as a cook. I became head cook within 6 months. After a year, I felt very overworked and quit. That’s when they offered for me to become a manager! But I had become a vegetarian by then and so I didn’t want to work with meat anymore. Read more>>
Bethany Tesarck
I attribute my work ethic to my grandmother. She owned a dance studio for 45 years. She taught be everything I know about dance and is the reason why I fell in love with theater. Watching a woman own a huge business and do it with such grace was inspiring. I think being in the presence of her work ethic taught me how to apply those same skills.
In our industry, perseverance along with patience is key. As I continue to age in my career and foster what is important, a deep work ethic is key. Read more>>
Zuanci Lemus
I get my work ethic from my mom, aside from my grandmother, she is the strongest most resilient woman I have in my life. She has always been a very disciplined woman when it comes to working and has always influenced me consciously and subconsciously when it comes to jewelry. She migrated to Los Angeles from Mexico City and worked very hard to give me the opportunity to have a better life. She instilled in me that I should always make sure that I can survive on my own, to keep my head up and give it my all. Shout out to Leticia for being a great mother. Read more>>
Kelsey Branch
My work ethic comes from my parents, who taught me the value of discipline and perseverance. They always emphasized the importance of giving your best, no matter what. However, for me I’ve found hard work and work ethic aren’t just about putting in long hours—it’s about being reliable, staying curious, and taking pride in delivering quality results. I can also thank many of my chefs before me for my desired sense of staying the course and always keeping focused. Read more>>
Phirada Kanjanangkulpunt
Since I can remember, I always prioritizing ethics in a work environment and when collaborating with others. I was raised to be independent, some might say because I am a single child, but it never drives me to not enjoy group projects. While growing up without siblings, I was taught to be empathetic and care about others around me, which I treats them with respect regardless of their race, gender, or other identity group they belong to. The exposure to multi-cultural environment also affects my work ethic and my favor to inclusivity. I was born and raised in Thailand. But at 17 I moved to Wales for the last two years of high school, then to USA for my undergraduate degree in Visual Effects and now I am based in Dublin, Ireland for my Master’s degree in Computer Science. My endless travel history is a key that shapes my moral compass and ethical concerns. Read more>>
