Amanda Kathryn Liguori

My work ethic is one of the character traits I am the most proud of. I have working since I was 12, starting with babysitting and coaching gymnastics and I loved the independence having my own money gave me. I also learned early on that the harder I worked, the better I felt. I felt that the quality of my work was a direct reflection of who I was as a person. I have always been a people pleaser, so it made me feel good when my supervisors were impressed with my performance. So I guess the ball just kind of got rolling and was positively reinforced and that resulted in me becoming this adult with an extremely strong work ethic! Read More>>

Kiel Batanian

When I was in 4th grade, I started to learn to play the violin. It was super frustrating at first; a struggle to resonate the right notes, without squeaks and scratches. I had teachers that wouldn’t let me quit though! They inspired me to push through the early years and keep going, because the prize that lay on the other side was well worth it. Through my school years, and into college, and ultimately in my current career, Dedication to being a good musician is what inspires me to give everything my all. I think its because music is about short term battles, that lead to long-term gains. You practice to work on techniques that ultimately translate to you being a good ensemble member or solo artist. Read More>>

Danielle DeHanes

I get my work ethic from my grandparents. They taught me at a young age what it was to get up and work for your own business. My grandfather Joe always had his own mill working business and during the weekends I would go with him to his shop to work. Whether that was cleaning up, doing paperwork, computer stuff, assembling cabinets, etc.. My other grandfather Robert had a toy train company, Trains by DeHanes. He made them in our basement and we would travel the country during the summer to sell them at various train shows. I’d help put stickers or small parts on the trains, package them, load & unload them, set up the table and sell. Both of my grandfathers are gone and so are their businesses, this little company is my way of passing the torch to my kids. Read More>>

Terrence Hanou

Having worked as a California Peace Officer for 27 years, I have worked with thousands of professional men and women who have inspired me and guided me throughout my career. Taking an oath of our country is something I hold dearly and strive to teach others the values of our country and way of life. Read More>>

Evelyn Oluchukwu

It was born out of necessity. As a teenage girl in secondary school, I lived in a single room with eight other people. The only time I could study was at night—when the room finally fell silent. My days were spent in school, followed by house chores, and I’d catch what little rest I could amid the noise. But as soon as everyone was asleep, I’d get up to study.

That routine shaped me. Even after school ended, I kept waking up at night—not just to read or practice something new, but to pray, reflect, or get things done. My body just knew it was time to work. Read More>>

Jaan Harrison Kohm

Digging down to my roots, both my parents are super hard workers and proud of the work they do, especially my mom. She is a social worker and is and has been involved in many non-profits in TN. They both showed me that to accomplish a goal it’s not going to be easy and you will have to put in extra effort. In terms of music I barely got into the songwriting program at Belmont back in 2019 and my writing was very adolescent but I was aware of how behind, and lack of better words, untalented I was compared to my fellow classmates. Many people use that observation to quit, especially at Belmont and in music, however I knew it meant I was just going to have to work harder, and now I believe my writing exceeds that program, all because of just writing often and with purpose. Read More>> 

Kilmar Ramirez

Honestly, my work ethic comes from two things: being raised with traditional values and going through life as a woman who had to figure things out for herself. I’ve always believed in showing up early, staying late, and making sure everything I do has purpose. I’m originally from Venezuela, so I grew up understanding resilience. Nothing was ever handed to me. I had to build it. And when I created Eggvise, I didn’t just want to build a business, I wanted to set a new standard in an industry that can sometimes feel transactional. I pour myself into every detail because I know what’s at stake for both the donors and the families we’re helping. It’s not just business for me it’s deeply personal. That’s where my drive comes from. I don’t believe in shortcuts. I believe in building something that lasts. Read More>>

Dakiesha “Diamond” Threatt

I get my work ethic from my grandmother I watchher work hard for everything she had. She’s the reason I became a business owner. I watched her start 2 businesses of her own and be super successful with them. She showed me that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Read More>>

Jalisza Proctor

My work ethic has always been rooted in a deep desire to do more, be more, and see more. Growing up as the oldest sibling in a single-parent household, I naturally stepped into a leadership role early on. I helped care for my siblings, supported my mom, and learned how to handle responsibility from a young age. That experience shaped me into someone who shows up—no matter what.

Today, that same drive fuels me in business and in life. I believe in staying consistent, doing excellent work even when no one’s watching, and pushing myself to set a higher standard—not just for success, but for legacy. Read More>>

Stacey Martin

“I get my work ethic from my mother. Watching her growing up, I saw resilience, dedication, and grace in everything she did- whether she was working, serving others, or showing up for her family. She didn’t just teach me to work hard; she modeled what it looked like to lead with excellence, integrity, and purpose. Her legacy lives in the way I show up every day.” Read More>>

Christian Jacobs

My family. Specifically my grandfather, aunt and uncle. My grandfather was a planner and always instilled in his kids to get their education and work hard for what they want in life. They instilled this in my generation; however, raising a generation whose upbringing was technology, the internet/ social media, access to work and information were relatively easy. My generation became more lax. Crazy as this may sound, I did not want that for myself. I wanted to be different, stand out, independently on my own. In life itself, I knew there would be challenges, so I never wanted to get to a place where I was comfortable getting things handed to me. I had to work hard for what I want. I want to continue to grow in all areas of my life.  Read More>>

Alyssa Guthrie

I think I first got it from my parents. As a kid, I grew up doing weekly household chores and doing yard work with my dad, whether that was pulling weeds, mowing the lawn or backwashing the pool. Work was always something that we were expected to do as kids. I think being homeschooled as a kid also contributed to that, as I needed to work hard to complete my school work before I was allowed to play with my sisters/friends. Read More>>

Micah Peterson

I grew up always working. I had my own lawn mowing business in my neighborhood as soon as I turned 11 and just wanted to keep working. I started my first official job as a cashier at 14 and bounced around jobs until I graduated high school. Then my decision to go to college has also helped further my work ethic. I attend a work study school which is essentially where I work 15 hours a week on campus and in turn, that pays for my tuition. I’ve also bounced around workstations during my time as a student. From the college cafeteria, to landscaping, to media production, and currently I work at the colleges radio station. Read More>>

Mel Sallese

I owe my work ethic to a mix of family legacy, hands-on experience, and a deep respect for people and connection.

My parents owned a business that they took over from my grandfather when I was young. The company was more than just a job for them—it was a true family business, built on relationships, trust, and care. I watched my parents treat employees, customers, and vendors like extended family. Recently, I came across some old thank-you notes from over 20 years ago—kind words from vendors and customers talking about how thoughtful and genuine my dad was. That’s something special. Read More>>

Chelsea Olivo Benefield

I get my work ethic from the values instilled in me growing up. I was raised to believe that if you commit to something, you give it your full effort and follow through, even when it’s hard. Whether it was school, work, or helping others, I learned early on that showing up consistently and doing the job well matters. Over time, that mindset became second nature, now I take pride in going the extra mile, staying organized, and being someone others can rely on — especially my family. Read More>>

John Varkados

I believe it was my upbringing, education, and the lessons I’ve learned while serving in the Marine Corps. I was born in a mental institution in Seoul, South Korea. My biological mother was in a catatonic state and she could very well be alive to this day. The biological father could have been one of the doctors or someone my biological mother encountered where they found her in the streets – homeless.

I know there are adoptive kids in the U.S. who ends up looking for their biological parents but I never had that desire mostly because the people who adopted me and whom I call my parents have definitely proven to be fantastic individuals. With my biological mother being plugged up with who knows what in terms of drugs – I was born. Read More>>

Sydney Boright

My parents have been my role models for as long as I can remember. I’m fortunate to come from a family of driven, entrepreneurial individuals. My father served as a United States Federal Marshal, and my mother worked as a film producer. Outside of their demanding careers, they invested their time and energy into buying and renovating homes and commercial properties. I admired them deeply—not only for the unique and inspiring careers they pursued, but also for the genuine passion they brought to everything they did. Their example instilled in me a strong work ethic and a desire to pursue work that I love. As a result, I began working as soon as I could, and I continue to be motivated by a deep passion for what I do. Read More>>

Kim Polomka

A disease of the boomers unfortunately, the work ethic gene. My architect father in Adelaide Australia was a work a holic, he loved his work…that certainly had an impact on my own intense creativity. Read More>>