Building Blocks of Success: Work Ethic

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.

Charnise Love Jones

I get my work ethic from the incredible women who influenced my life, starting with my mother. From a young age, I watched her work tirelessly to provide for my sister and me, instilling in me the importance of hard work and determination. She taught me the value of putting in the effort to bring my visions to life. I was also blessed to have strong women in my life who not only worked hard but also put God first in everything they did. Their example inspired me to do the same when building YOU FOR GOD. Once I committed to the vision and partnered with God for all the details, I understood it would require dedication and effort. My faith has been my anchor, especially during moments when I felt like I couldn’t keep going. Read more>>

Mia Mirzayan

Definitely my parents, who are huge inspirations to me. Specifically my dad, who is a first-generation immigrant from Iran, who started his own companies as an adult after moving to the US. My mom and dad owned a dental practice together, and watching them build something from the ground up, into a successful business was always very motivating for me. Read more>>

Scott Erwert

My work ethic comes from my upbringing and the hard-working values that came from my parents and siblings. From an early age I was taught the importance of work and earning a living of some kind. My father, who recently passed, was a model of that work ethic. In addition to working for a utility for 40+ years, he had a home life that centered around providing a self sustaining living for the family: raising produce, logging lumber for heat in the winter, metal working, construction and many other skills which made him a constant mentor to myself and my siblings. Read more>>

Benjamin Cantwell

My work ethic comes from my time in the Marine Corps. The discipline, resilience, and drive to never quit were instilled in me there. Whether it was enduring tough times with my brothers or pushing through challenges, I learned the value of hard work and staying focused, and I carry that into everything I do today. Read more>>

Carmen Alvarez

I am the single US-born oldest daughter of two of the hardest-working people I have every known–my parents. My father was raised on a small farm and began working at an early age. My mom, born in the city, helped her parents with their small business. The both worked from childhood and went to vocational school and college, respectively, in Cuba. When they arrived in the US with nothing but their suitcases and my infant brother, they were determined to make their version of the American Dream come through. My father worked every job he could find, 7 days a week, morning and night, to scrimp and save. My mother did the same, only taking time off to care and raise my brother. They often shared stories with me of going to the bank on weekends to all help my father clean it, as it was one of his weekend jobs. Read more>>

Nora Kezer

I was born in Eastern Europe – or as Hungarians like to call it “the heart of Europe” -, where I think by default, due to past wars, the way we are raised, etc., we are hard workers and resilient as you never know what tomorrow brings, so you just prepare for the possible difficult times. I also saw my grandparents and parents work hard, take risks and giving a go to all sorts of business ventures, out of which some have worked out and they managed to build a great life for us. This not only provided me with good education and opportunities, but also taught me how to make the most of these opportunities. I have never been one to rest on my laurels. When I had the chance to learn something new, travel and try new things, I took it. I believe this is what has taught me to be ok even when things are uncomfortable for extended periods of time and persevere. Read more>>

Brock Labelle

I truly believe my work ethic was instilled at a very young age from my parents. Growing up my parents were great role models and did a great job of introducing people into my life who were also good role models. And role models of many varieties such as sports, business or family. Read more>>

Jeremy Griggs

Personally, I derive a lot of my work ethic from what I’ve learned being in the gym and working out for 18 years. With bodybuilding, all of the progress takes immense amounts of time, patience, dedication, and hard work. It can take years to see any improvement in certain areas which can be frustrating. However, the patience pays off and in the end, the results are always worth it. In time, this built up my work ethic and bled into my business. I apply the approach of taking the time to learn to do things right, and improving whenever, and wherever I can. Read more>>

Terrance Smith

I get my work ethic from my family, especially my father. His military background and the discipline that came with being raised as a military brat instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility, focus, and perseverance. Those values have shaped how I approach everything I do. Read more>>

A. L. Boomer

Without question, my father. Dad was a Civil Engineer who took the plunge and started his own firm right before the market crashed in the mid-eighties. He hustled like you wouldn’t believe to survive and later thrive. He took extra jobs running rural water systems that the state of Texas had put in receivership on the weekends to bring in extra income. I went with him as a kid and mowed wellyards while he read water meters. I saw him do everything he could to make ends meet and take care of his family. As time passed, he was able to build his business into a success and could finally earn the rewards of his hard work. He died unexpectedly in 2018 as he was easing into retirement. How could I do anything but learn from his example and work hard? His work ethic is part of his legacy and I try to honor it and him every day. Read more>>

Alvard Mayilyan

Over the past years, I have had numerous opportunities to work in diverse environments and settings. In the opera and theater world, colleagues and collaborators frequently change. While there is always the possibility of working with someone again in the future, the short-term nature of many projects has likely shaped a specific work ethic in me. I have been fortunate to work with outstanding professionals who consistently created a positive and inspiring work environment. Additionally, my background and rigorous education have significantly influenced my work ethic over the years. Read more>>

David Dibble

I grew up on a farm in Utah and work was part of life. Admittedly, I wasn’t always the best worker when I was young, but overtime I learned to love and crave the sense accomplishment from working with my hands. Also, in my younger years I worked as a staff members at several Boy Scout camps and loved the strong work culture that existed there. Read more>>

R. Scott Edwards

I started as most kids with paper routes, mowing lawns, etc; but when I was 10 my folks divorced (a big deal in 1965), and from that point on, I was working to help support the Family. When I was 15, I got my first real job at a pizza parlor (back then pizza parlors were bars…so a bit strange). In fact, it was so unusual, I was able to get my drivers license at 15 (Calif. age was 16 at the time) because I was working to help Family financially.
Anyway, I had many jobs and learned two things…1st, you need a good work ethic, and 2nd, I usually got fired wherever I worked; so at age 17 I started my own small construction company. That is a different story! Read more>>

Ashley Adams

For as long as I can remember, I have always had the desire to go far in life. At a young age I learned that in order to achieve my goals I needed to work hard. I watched both my parents work long, hard days at industry jobs, never having been handed anything. No matter what I set out to accomplish, I too knew it would not be handed to me. Throughout my high school and college days I worked multiple jobs, always striving to get ahead which fueled my strong work ethic. Read more>>

Gary Renshaw

My Father & Mother shaped my work ethic and the way i approach all my projects. My Father, would get up every weekday morning at 4:30 am, turn on the coffee pot, leave at 6 am, only to return at 6 pm with a piece of candy or bubble gum for my sister and I. On the weekends it was non-stop Football, Baseball or Hockey Games that my sister or i played that consumed his time. My father drove us to every practice and game, bought all our equipment and stood in the stands on all those cold winter nights. He shaped my drive, my passion and my ability to overcome things i thought i could never do, just by being the man he was, and always being there with encouragement and support. When it came to my passion for music and the arts, he was my first fan and biggest fan, buying my first drum set at the age of 5. He loved to bring my mother, who has been in a wheelchair with M.S. since i was a teenager, to every show i performed at, smiling from ear to ear. Read more>>

Aiyla Paulin

My undeniable work ethic most certainly came from my dad. I grew up watching my father run his business with the highest form of integrity and commitment. I saw him work long days and work straight through weekends. Is he a work-a-holic? Sure, but he definitely gets the job done.

I was brought up with the sentiment that “how you do anything is how you do everything”. That notion has driven me to push myself harder and harder every day. Is it not easy to be a business owner, let alone an art business owner; one must have the ability to self-motivate and stay consistent if there is to be any form of success. Read more>>

Judy Balunda

I developed my work ethic at a very young age. My Father worked for a large jewelry chain, and every Christmas (once I was old enough) I would work as the gift wrap person. It was important that the tape never showed, and that the package looked beautiful. If it was anything less than “perfect”, the package was re-wrapped. I learned at a very young age that you have to make the customer happy, so that they would continue to shop with my Father. He helped me to understand the relationship between happy customers and pay checks. Today, young people and some older, just don’t have a clue. This always makes me sad, and it is a concept that young workers of today, just don’t get it. If their paycheck is 50 cents off….that they notice. Read more>>

Nylah Cook

I get my resilience from the strong lineage that I have, my mother and grandmother were entrepreneurs and singers. My grandmother selling Avon my grandfather owning a drywall business. My mom owning several salons with her sisters, and me seeing the capital reading her business books when I was bored at her shops. My father wasn’t an entrepreneur or a singer but his hustle was unimaginable and growing up around that inspired me to give back to them for all their hard work. That task has always kept me filled of determination and eternal resilience. Read more>>

Liz Silvestrini

Originally, my work ethic came from a feeling of lack.

I was always taught to work hard, party hard. My cultural context made this a workable strategy for a long time, until my body collapsed. I had been practicing as a lawyer in a law firm. I treated work like a drug. It was always there for me when I felt lonely or insecure about myself. Until one day, on my 34th birthday, I could not get out of bed. Like tired anchors, my bones held me down against my will. I was shocked to learn that I was not in control. Read more>>

Jessica Nielson

I think I’ve always been driven to do things to the best of my ability. Sometimes for the sake of just validating my own sense of self worth and accomplishment, other times because it was a worthy cause that I felt called to be of service to, and other times due to trying to “win” or be the best at something. I got involved in gymnastics at a very young age, which was a grueling after school schedule of physical training and practice and competing with a team on weekends. I was also put to work a lot earlier than most of my friends. Summers were spent working in my father’s factory in Seattle, doing line work to help sort and package products that came through his warehouse. In high school I started waiting tables at a restaurant where I sometimes had to be hostess, waitress, busboy, and sometimes also the bartender due to understaffing.  Read more>>

Nataushia Miller

I began developing a strong work ethic when I was in fourth grade. Midway through my fourth-grade year, my mother obtained a new job that required relocating. She left me behind to stay with my grandmother to complete the school year. My grandmother was an alcoholic and, due to hangovers, would neglect to drive me to school. However, I refused to use her condition as an excuse not to attend and would wake up early enough to catch the public bus from one side of Oakland, CA, to the other to school. Such an experience activated one of my top strengths and talents, which is Responsibility, which is the foundation of my strong work ethic, which I continued to develop over time. Read more>>

Angela Fortgang

My work ethic comes from my Dad. His unofficial motto was always “I’d rather be 2 hours early than 15 minutes late”. He worked hard until he retired and hardly ever called out sick. He was also the camera man for our church and made sure to get the best shots and angles each and every Sunday. He was always reliable to everyone who knew him and I think he enjoyed that people could count on him with a smille. Read more>>

Dave Kish

Imagination fuels my work ethic. It’s the most indispensable part of my creative process, and the reason I’ve been in the art game for over thirty years. Imagination generates ideas, and then compels me to bring them into the real world. To some degree imagination is innate, but years ago, when I taught high school art, I learned that it can also be practiced and improved. I do lots of things to exercise my imagination, but what helps most is simply being curious about things. Curiosity leads to observation, and when I closely observe the world around me, really watch it, see its strangeness and improbability, my imagination opens up. Read more>>

George Ahlmeyer

Growing up, I faced significant challenges. I wasn’t naturally the brightest student and often struggled to grasp concepts, but I was fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents. They worked tirelessly with me, arranging tutors and helping me close any gaps in my understanding. Their encouragement, combined with my relentless effort to study and retain information, built a strong foundation of perseverance that has influenced every aspect of my life. Read more>>

Stephanie Davies

My work ethic is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and family values. I draw inspiration from my maternal grandmother, who raised eight children alone with only a third-grade education. Her resilience and determination shaped my understanding of perseverance. After losing my father to violence when I was just 11 months old, I was raised by my mother and stepfather, who, despite limited formal education, worked tirelessly to provide for our family. Read more>>

Rudolph Jones Iii

I got work ethic from my parents to start at an early age. I watched them work in and day out to eventually retire. They both were teachers. My dad had a business, and I learned from him how to run a business. I watched him run his business and work a job as well. Also, my grandfather was a college professor so that helped as well. He worked until the age of 75. Now currently I get some of my work ethic from my wife. She is very determined, and I get energy from her She is very driven and work ethic, and I often get energy from her. We have a business together, so we work hard together it has truly been a blessing. Read more>>

Venom Clothingg

Growing up in a background where resources were limited shaped my strong work ethic significantly. Coming from nothing, I learned early on that achieving my goals required relentless effort and dedication. I witnessed the struggles of my family and the sacrifices they made, which motivated me to create a better future for myself. Each challenge I faced only fueled my determination to rise above my circumstances. I understood that success doesn’t come easy; it demands perseverance, resilience, and a willingness to put in the hours. Read more>>

Francesco Scialla

My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing in Naples, a city with an extraordinary cultural and architectural heritage. Growing up surrounded by the works of great architects and designers who left their mark on the city, such as Luigi Vanvitelli, who designed the Royal Palace of Caserta, and Domenico Fontana, who shaped much of Naples’ Renaissance and Baroque identity, instilled in me a profound respect for craftsmanship and innovation. Their dedication to timeless beauty and functional design inspires me to approach every project with passion, precision, and a commitment to excellence. Naples taught me that creativity flourishes when combined with discipline and hard work, and that ethos drives everything I do as an architect and interior designer. Read more>>

Raphael Jay Peter Lee

I believe my work ethic comes from a mix of life experiences and personal values. Growing up in Sabah, I was surrounded by a culture that deeply respects nature and the resources it provides, teaching me the importance of working with integrity and purpose. My professional training in the fine dining industry further shaped my discipline, where attention to detail and precision became second nature. Above all, my passion for celebrating Sabah’s rich culinary heritage fuels my drive—I strive to push creative boundaries while staying true to the essence of the region. I’ve also been fortunate to have incredible mentors and colleagues who have inspired me to continuously learn, adapt, and evolve in this ever-changing field. Read more>>

Tiera Briggs

I get my work ethic from my mother and many of the other strong women in my family. My mother worked late into the night even on weekends to make ends meet and keep us in a good neighborhood with good schools. She was looking ahead to the future in setting her children up for future success, by insisting we go to good schools. Read more>>

Rio Jiaming Chong

For me, passion is the driving force behind everything I do. My greatest passion lies in filmmaking, a craft that inspires me to consistently aim for excellence. When you truly care about the work you’re doing, a strong work ethic naturally follows. This commitment is not something forced—it grows from a genuine desire to create meaningful, impactful work. Read more>>

Ron Dimabuyu

My work ethic is deeply rooted in the profound immigrant experiences of my paternal and maternal grandfathers, Gelacio Dimabuyu and Oscar De La Cruz, who arrived in the United States from the Philippines during the 1950s. Their journeys embodied resilience and unwavering determination – transformative qualities that have fundamentally shaped my professional philosophy.
These remarkable men demonstrated that true success emerges from bold courage and relentless personal commitment. Their foundational life principles – “All I have is a dollar and a dream,” “You can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it,” and “Don’t think that anything is too hard, you just have to be willing to learn” – became more than mere sayings. They were powerful blueprints for navigating professional challenges and pursuing entrepreneurial aspirations. Read more>>

Tynan Townsend

Growing up I was raised by my mom and sister, being raised by both of them has taught me the true meaning of independence. Since I was young I’ve been doing lemonade stands, pop corn stands until I was 14 when I started working in the fast food industry. Growing up with my mom being both a mother and a father figure in a sense has gave me the strongest sense of independence and responsibility that has led to form my work ethic. Read more>>

Kelsey Shaw

Well, I remember one summer in high school, I was sleeping in and my dad came through my door and said, “If you think you’re going to spend all summer laying in bed, you’re wrong. You better get up and go get a job.” So I did… I’ve never WANTED to work but I knew I had to. So I guess work ethic came because I had no choice. Anytime my kids complain about doing chores or going to school, I always say, “life is full of doing things you don’t want to do. You just gotta do them. I’d much rather lay in bed all day, but that’s not an option.” Read more>>

Jason Martin

My parents. Don’t we all learn from those in our lives? Good and bad, right and wrong, we take these experiences and mold them into our everyday. At 10 years old my father had me on his payroll, getting a check working the orchard, stocking produce to even wrapping candy. He taught me, basic operations to supply and demand. From there, we had a snow cone business, Our garage was the syrup room and we had about 150 different flavours and an ice machine. Inventory was key, scheduling was important because who wants a snow cone in the middle of December in Illinois? My father taught me to forecast, sell and be passionate of my product. Read more>>

Andrew Madrigal

I come from a lineage of hard working Mexican people. My family have scratched and clawed for everything that they have. My parents are probably the hardest working people I’ve ever known. And I feel they have bestowed that upon me. Read more>>

Elizabeth Arway

I am the youngest of three girls, raised by incredible parents who instilled a strong work ethic in my sisters and me. From a young age, we were outside doing yard work, helping my dad in his woodworking shop, assisting my mom with gardening, canning vegetables, housework, and cooking. Sitting around when things needed to be done was never an option. Read more>>

Terry Warren

It is both a gift from God and my parents and their parents before them. Read more>>

Shannon Bonardy

I have to give that credit to my parents. I am one of four children and my parents are immigrants. My parents did not have college degrees, they worked blue collar jobs (sometimes overnight shifts). They did what they could with whatever they had for our family. When I look back and see what my parents made possible or see what was impossible, I know I have to keep up the momentum and go further for my own family. Read more>>

Christina Said

As a first generation college graduate who single handedly built up a makeup business that turned into a full time job, it’s safe to say that I have a very strong work ethic and desire to always keep working towards my goals and make loved ones proud of me. From seeing my dad work long hours at multiple jobs to seeing my mother do everything she can to keep the household afloat, it instilled a need and desire to always keep working towards the things I care about and to always keep going no matter the circumstances. While it’s important to give yourself grace and take time to yourself, I’ve always grown up with the mentality of “there’s no time to waste” and always having a drive to achieve whatever it is that I set my mind to. The desire of always wanting to make my parents proud after all the sacrifices they’ve made for me and coming to an entirely new country and leaving everything they knew behind in order for me and my siblings to live a better life has to be one of the top motivators for me.  Read more>>

Brandon Jarrett

Through out my life Ive always been told I had innate talent or was “smart”. I coasted on my ability to logic answers instead of putting the actual work in. On top I had medical concerns that kept me from habitually being able to attend school.. Although this was challenging I used it as an excuse to not push myself and fulfill the potential i was told i always had. This habit carried on through out college until I graduated and wasn’t under the shielding of academia. My first jobs out of school each taught me the same lesson that my parents always told me but was reiterated so that i couldn’t forget. Your word is all you have to stand on at the end of the day. If you can’t do what you say you are going to do; whether that’s showing up to work consistently despite ailments or not allowing things outside of your control in distract you from the goal at hand then you intrinsically less valuable therefore expendable.  Read more>>

Brian L.a. Compton

“My work ethic stems largely from the influence of my father. As a police officer for the City of Los Angeles, he had a stable and demanding career, yet he never stopped pursuing additional opportunities to create income and build something of his own. He involved our family in many of his ventures, whether it was taking real estate classes, selling wellness products, or running seasonal clothing sales. Watching him take initiative and explore different paths—regardless of the outcome—planted the seed of entrepreneurship in me at an early age. His determination and willingness to try new things inspired me to develop the same drive and resilience in building my own business.” Read more>>

Valerie Lopez

The origin story began with my mom and dad. My father was a long-haul trucker, so growing up, I felt like he was always working. Meanwhile, mom served many roles: wife, mother, daughter (her mother would visit for months at a time from overseas), caretaker, chef, handyman, accountant, events planner, you name it, my mom did it. These combined forces taught me that you serve any role expected of you and sometimes you work endlessly. Through college and then passing actuarial exams, I very rarely slowed down, but when I did slow down, it was always through a memorable travel experience. I learned the real act of balancing multiple roles when I became a mother, and eventually a single mother who had to serve in all those roles for my son.  Read more>>

Katie Morra

I have always attributed my strong work ethic to my father (and of course, to myself). My father has always been one of the hardest, self-employed health care workers that I have had the privilege to so closely watch pave his way. However, what I really attribute it to is the extensive time my father spent teaching and coaching me basketball my entire life. So much so that his dedication to me, led to my dedication to the sport and landing me a division 1 scholarship. Eventually, my interests and priorities switched from sports to education in my masters degree, as did his dedication to helping me succeed. In college, he would go as far as to drive to my college hours away if I felt like I did not understand a concept before a test just to teach me in a way that turned complex matters into easily digested and understood information. It wasn’t until my 30s that I realized my own father had really Mr. Miaygi’ed me into becoming a confident, self-driven, business owner that now aims to helps others take the complex and turn it into digestible information. Read more>>

Retro Hendrix

I get my work ethic from my grandparents. My grandfather was a Jack of all trades , there wasn’t anything he could do and I get that from him. My grandmother held down the household by any means and that’s what I take from her. Read more>>

Kaila Lindsey

“When I grow up, I’m going to be an artist”

I was 7 years old telling my mom my life goals and when asked the question of what I was going to be when I grew up, the answer was ‘an artist’.

My mom, trying to protect me as all mothers do, pointed out the perils of being a ‘starving artist’ in hopes that I would understand a lesson in hard work. To which I replied “Well, then I’ll marry a rich man and then do my art”. Read more>>

Madalyn Ziongas

I believe my work ethic comes from a combination of personal experiences and values. Growing up, I experienced the importance of resilience, dedication, and doing things with purpose. As I navigate through challenges in my own life—like balancing family responsibilities, homeschooling, and building a business from scratch—I realized that hard work isn’t just about effort; it’s about persistence and finding meaning in what you do. Read more>>

Marcos Villegas

I’m probably going to trigger some folks with this answer, but I get my work ethic from my parents.
Growing up in Mexico, we weren’t poor but weren’t rich either, were stable. But despite having all I needed, I learned, from a young age that I needed to work if I wanted anything in life because nothing is ever just handed down for free. My dad was about 75% of the time because he drove for a living, cross country and the few times he was home he was running around working on home projects. As a kid, I never really understood why my dad was always busy and gave us so little time, but now that I’m older I understand how much having a great work ethic matters as well as how far it may take you. Here’s the possible trigger, nowadays, there are people younger than myself and a few my age who feel entitled to receive the same gratification and rewards as someone with a much better and greater work ethic. Read more>>

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