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.
Joanna Abramo
Where do you get your work ethic from? Read more>>
Alicia Figueroa
I absolutely get my work ethic from my family. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, and seeing them build their own success definitely inspires me every single day. Needless to say, I knew from a very young age that I would have my own business! Read more>>
Krista Hatton
My work ethic comes from my family and my background in working in homeless services. As a creative, sometimes the biggest barrier is myself. Overcoming what holds me back is a constant battle. My family has taught me perseverance, never give up on what you love. Read more>>
Stephanie and Cinthya Rivera
We got our work ethic from our dad. He was one of the hardest working and most honest people we have ever known, and he showed us by example that success is built on effort, dedication and integrity. Growing up we saw how he faced challenges with resilience and never cut corners, and that left a huge impression on us. Read more>>
Jaylia Davis
I got my work ethic from my mother a woman who never gave up, no matter how hard life pushed back. She taught me through her actions that persistence is more powerful than circumstance, and that dreams don’t come true unless you fight for them. Read more>>
Tarli
My parents came to America as refugees from Liberia. I grew up watching them work overnight shifts and take on various odd jobs to support our family, all while pursuing their education. Over time, I saw them climb the career ladder through sheer determination. Read more>>
Lindsay Emerson
To be honest, I owe my work ethic to both of my parents. They didn’t come from money, but through sheer grit and dedication, they built solid lives for themselves and our family. My mom was a nurse, and my dad was a police officer, both demanding roles that required discipline and sacrifice. Read more>>
Brigge D’rappah
Brigge D’rappah from Lagos, Nigeria. From where I’m from, dreams don’t always come true so getting out of negative situations drive me to go next level every day. Read more>>
Eric Freitag
My work ethic undeniably comes from my parents. They raised me to focus on my goals and see them through to the end. I was home schooled, and as I got older, it led to increased freedom for me as a student. When I was old enough, my parents would give me a list of study assignments to do before my school day was complete. Read more>>
Julia Gonzales
When I think about where my work ethic comes from, I always go back to two moments. My dad used to tell me, ‘You need to do things for yourself and never rely on anyone else.’ That advice stuck with me and became a kind of guide. Read more>>
Joey Acker
I’d say my work ethic comes from my parents. They encouraged me to be creative, make mistakes, and figure things out on my own. I’ve always loved problem solving and understanding how things work, but above all, I’m an advocate of showing up, working hard, and doing your best at whatever you are doing. Read more>>
Melisa Quigley
Working for ten lawyers in a city law firm. I had to be organized and meet tight deadlines. Read more>>
Casey Walton
I truly credit my work ethic to my parents. I was fortunate to grow up with incredible role models-my dad is an engineer, and he’s always shown me the importance of perseverance and never giving up. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and she had this mindset of, ‘If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay, just try again. Read more>>
Mary Joy Pagsaligan
I get my work ethic from the Bible verse: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23, NIV). This verse has guided me ever since I started working, and it reminds me to always give my very best effort in everything I do. Read more>>
Antoinette BARKLEY
I credit my work ethic to my mother. Growing up, I watched her rise every day with determination, no matter how tired she was or what challenges stood in her way. She showed me, through her actions, that hard work isn’t just about providing—it’s about perseverance, commitment, and pride in what you do. Read more>>
Tony Gonzalez
My first example of work ethic comes from my parents. They are and continue to be my biggest influences. Both of my parents are Mexican nationals who emigrated here over fifty years ago. My father at best had a second grade education and my mother attended high school here and community college. They met here in Los Angeles and got married. Read more>>
Christopher Jessup
I’ve always had a strong work ethic, which comes from my desire to always better myself and improve. I have ambitious goals, and achieving those goals means putting in lots of hours of hard work. There is no shortcut in the music business – you really have to put in the work in order to get the rewards! Read more>>
Scott Reece
I get my work ethic from my mother from the time I was young. My mother always told me I can do anything that I set my mind to , so I did . Swim team at 5 years old .Still have local record for 25 yard freestyle. Read more>>
Alina Harmann
I hail from a small village in Germany, where my work ethic was forged by default of a rigorous school system intended to create exceptionally bright individuals. In my third-grade science class, we had to grow our own pot of wheatgrass and subsequently track its development, taking weekly measurements like growth and water use. Read more>>
Nicholle Baskerville
Growing up, I witnessed my mom work herself to the point of pure exhaustion. She worked in a store where she was really the only hard, dedicated worker. When I started working, I always wanted to be the reliable person that would go the extra mile to help out. Once I started piercing, I worked with a wide variety of people. Read more>>
Kristen Stivers
My work ethic was instilled in me from a young age by my parents, who always emphasized the value of hard work, perseverance, and never giving up. That foundation was further shaped by my involvement in sports, particularly tennis. Read more>>
Christina Munsey
I attribute a lot of my work ethic to how I was raised. My mom kept me in everything—tennis practice, theater, dance class—you name it. She taught me discipline without ever using the word. There was this unspoken expectation that if you committed to something, you showed up and gave it your all. That mentality stuck with me. Read more>>
Sierra Staggs
Honestly, I get my work ethic from my mother. As a single parent, I grew up seeing her do it all. She worked a lot to put herself through school while raising me. She made time to be a part of my extra curricular activities like girl scouts and gymnastics and was always super involved in my schooling. Read more>>
Lil Vyl
Work ethic is something that separates most and defines many. My personal approach to my hustle is creating a lifestyle that provides me opportunities to build community, culture, and hip-hop. The genre itself teaches a lot about being an entrepreneur and using that lens to life gives a reason to wake up and keep going to help better those around us. Read more>>
Philip Silverberg
I think my work ethic came from sports. In particular, wrestling really helped define me as a person. I wrestled all the way through college. Wrestling taught me that there is always more left in the tank. That when you think you have absolutely nothing left, you actually can handle so much more. Read more>>
Keren Clark
For me, how I approach my work really reflects who I am as a person. When I put my name on something or make a commitment, I need to feel proud of what I’m delivering. It’s not just about meeting expectations – it’s about being able to look back and know I gave my genuine best effort. Read more>>
Envy Room
The most cliché answer you will ever hear, but it’s cliché for a reason: the music. , The four of us are passionate about the work that we do, our love for our music, and the wonderful folks we’ve met in the music scene that makes this all possible. Read more>>
Jen Kinckiner
I get my ability to stay creative and draw via self-motivation. I see each day as an opportunity and take it day by day. During college, I always had more or less good scheduling when it came to deadlines but outside assignments and paid projects, create what you like and that creates daily motivation when drawing, animating, and creating art in general. Read more>>
Robin Williams-Ransom
I got my work ethic from my dad. He was a very hard, determined worker! Read more>>
Nick Fiani
Since I can remember, I have held a desire to make a positive, lasting impact within my community and throughout Michigan. Early on, I discovered that public service is a remarkable opportunity to help others and assist in shaping the future. Born in Michigan, I graduated from Detroit Country Day School with Summa Cum Laude honors. Read more>>
