We asked some of the hardest working artists, creatives and entrepreneurs we know to open up to us about where they think they got their work ethic from. Below, you’ll find some of those responses, stories, and advice.
Tanis Evans
I can say I do get my work ethnicity from my mom. My family have always been hard workers and my mother and family raised me up to work hard for what I want. Read more>>
Sugar Joiko
I believe I get my work ethic from my mother and grandmother, who both worked very hard to make sure my siblings and I had a good life to pursue our dreams and success. Read more>>
Chef John & Natasha Ford
My husband and I have very different backgrounds however, our work ethic and our work attitude are the exact same. We started our first company – Fluent N’ Food (Catering Only) – with only certain skill sets, we were clueless when it came to the wedding industry. The Wedding Industry although beautiful – behind the scenes can be much different. Back to how we got our work ethic. Read more>>
Tracy Wilson
Being from a home with one child- me, I learned from a very early age to not only keep at a task even if it’s tough, but to take responsibility for my actions. I’m not afraid to say that I made a mistake, that there’s a better way than mine, or that sometimes I don’t like the job but if it’s my responsibility to complete it, that’s what I do. Read more>>
Chris Gaunt
My father was an big force in my life. I saw his strong work ethic in action and I wanted to model that behavior. I started doing work around my neighborhood as a young boy and always liked having my own money versus having to ask someone for something. Then, I had my first “real job” at sixteen. From there I worked my way through college. Read more>>
Eboni Cohran
I grew up in a household full of women who laid the foundation and showed me daily the purpose of having great work ethic. I entered the workforce at the age of 16 establishing a culture, moral principles, and values around how to be effective in anything that I do. Read more>>
Atasha Kelley-Harris
I inherited my strong work ethic from all those who raised me – both my parents and both sets of grandparents and their parents’ parents – My Ancestors. Read more>>
Shevaun Poole
Ever since i was little i always found myself striving to be the best version of myself. I always watched my parents and grandparents put their 110% into the work activities and activities around the house. This made me realize as i grew older that the more you put into something the more that comes out of it. Read more>>
Amber Graham
I attribute my work ethic to my dad. My dads work ethic had a deeply rooted impact on shaping mine. By observing his dedication, perseverance, and diligence in tasks; I learned the value of hard work. He taught me the importance of responsibility. I cultivated commitment to achieving my goals through watching him. The qualities that I saw in him inspired me to adopt a similar mindset and approach to my endeavors in life. Read more>>
Aija Talley
Before I became a self employed nail tech I was a single mom that didn’t have a stable income in cosmetology school. My son was two/ three years old and I lived with my great grandparents. I wasn’t no more than 10$/20$ a week while in hair school. I got laid off from my job and was on unemployment. Read more>>
Mary Kate Benitez
I get my work ethic from my mother, Ellen. She has owned her own small business for most of her life. I have grown up watching my mother raise a family while successfully advancing her career. As a child, I remember brainstorming business ideas with her, which was a lot of fun. Read more>>
Ken Kilday
From my parents. Had they lived, they would be 83 and 80, respectively. Their core value was an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, which meant delivering our best effort in all I did, no matter the job. It was beyond their comprehension that people would call in sick unless they were deathly ill. Read more>>
Amber Nemer-Garcia
My strong work ethic is a reflection of the values instilled in me during my upbringing. Growing up, I witnessed the dedication and perseverance of my family as they consistently prioritized hard work, discipline, and commitment. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and their unwavering determination to overcome challenges have left an indelible mark on me. Read more>>
Mary Gold
My mother, Frances, was a beautiful, intelligent role model for our family. Raised during the Great Depression, she was pulled from 7th grade to attend Secretarial School, and at age 14 got a job as a Secretary earning $9 per week to help her family. Her mother was a Seamstress and did what she could but it was not enough to support three children. Read more>>
Eddie McDonald
My work ethic comes from my parents and life itself. My mom showed me and my siblings what it was to be a hard work adult as she has and continues to be a faithful worker and mother of three. My dad always had us working some kind of project from home repairs to yard work. We used to even go do other family members. As a child, I used to get upset that we worked so much but life has taught me that success requires or rather demands hard work. Read more>>
Jennifer Strumbel
Working hard is hard work. Read more>>
Edwin Saghian
Sierra Gee
My work ethic comes from my peers , they are the ones that keep me going and give me hope. From all the things that I’ve been through, it is very mentally draining. But I’ve learned how to turn a negative to a positive through music, I’ve realized that I know I m not the only one going through the things I go through. I love sharing my stories and visions through music , everybody needs to heal and hopefully my music helps. Read more>>
Jose Nissan Cohen
Drawing from a robust athletic background in rowing, I’ve assimilated the tenets of resilience and an unwavering work ethic. Picture a daily routine of stepping onto the training field before dawn’s break and returning for another session in the afternoon. Read more>>
Vanessa Wallace
When I was a child, I idolized my grandfather, a hard working, serial entrepreneur who–with an eighth grade education–built 5 successful small businesses in rural Mississippi during a time when black men were not expected to do so. After a sudden and tragic twist of fate, my grandparents became my guardians, and my grandfather quickly became my hero. Read more>>
Becca Pineda
10000%. MY DAD! My dad had me at only 15 years old, despite his young age he started to work to provide for my mother & I. My mother decided that she would no longer be caring for us, right after my brother was born, leaving my dad to raise my brother & I alone. Read more>>
Shronica Holmes
I get my work ethic from me having to grow up without things. I knew early on if I didn’t want my life to end up how I was growing up then I had to work twice as hard as those around me. My mom was addicted to drugs and alcohol so my brother and I always stayed with other people and thankfully those people taught me that if I wanted something I had to get it on my own. Read more>>
Karmashia McDuffie
A essential part of developing a good work ethic is to always have a ” I can do all things, nothing is impossible” attitude. You can do this by being proactive strategic planning,networking and be resilient. Read more>>
THIRD DAGREE
I can honestly say I was born into it (working), the narrative is in me and on me! I was honored to be placed in the presence of a man Mr. Edgar Robinson and as he would say cliché things like “use your head for more than a hat rack” or “don’t take any wooden nickel’s!” Sayings like that have resonated with me from my childhood throughout my entire adult career! Read more>>
Derrick Collins
I get it from my parents. I saw them struggle when i was younger, and i don’t want that to be my life, nor my children’s. My mother was a school year for over 40 years, she won multiple teacher of the year awards working with youth ranging from elementary to high school. Read more>>
Emily Hoang
My work ethic finds its roots in my mother’s entrepreneurial spirit, a driving force that continues to inspire me daily. Throughout my upbringing, her unwavering dedication to providing for my two siblings and me was a testament to her diligence. As a first-generation college graduate, I owe my present accomplishments to her unwavering support, which enabled me to pursue higher education at George Mason University. Read more>>
MacKenzie Galloway
My parents and my ancestors. My parents run very successful businesses that they each started from the ground up. These are businesses that are driven by their passions and what they love. My parents never let society, money, or circumstances be a deterrent to pursuing what they love, and that is truly admirable. Read more>>
Mona Boakye
My work ethic comes from my ability to dream without limitation. When I was younger I -like most children- had a vibrant imagination. I felt like I could be anything I wanted to be and do anything I wanted to do- nothing in this life was off limits to me. Read more>>
Marisol Lopez
That is a very interesting question! I want to go back from where I rooted from when I was a teenager. Before I started in the beauty industry, long before I obtained my cosmetology license in 2012. I worked quite a few restaurants, fast food and retail positions. Read more>>
Nita Piano
I get my work ethic from my daughter, and her admiration for me serves as a powerful motivator to maintain a strong work ethic. Knowing that she looks up to me pushes me to be the best version of myself professionally. I want to be a positive role model for her and show her the value of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Read more>>
Breana Jackson
I have set goals that I aim to achieve, and I plan on working hard in order to reach them. I am motivated by envisioning my future self and knowing that I will be successful and accomplish all that I set out to do. Read more>>
Sarah J. Schwartz
I think my work ethic was instilled in me when I was younger. In school, I was always super diligent, maybe even perfectionistic at times, but I think it has helped me get to where I am today. Perhaps I need to unlearn some of that and let even more creative energy in but it’s at least been crucial in creating a consistent art practice. Read more>>
Mary Voelker
My work ethic stems from the love and guidance of my parents. Growing up as one of four children, it’s safe to say that my parents were always busy. My dad worked long days, but his early mornings and late nights didn’t deter him from making our lunches, coaching our sports teams, or organizing a kickball game in the backyard. Read more>>
Nicole Malcolm
My work ethic stems from, as I think most artists can agree, the extreme desire to create as much as I can, to connect with as many people as possible. The more work I make, and the more people I get to talk with, fuels my love for what I do. Read more>>
Taylor Doyle
Our work ethic is primarily a passion issue for us. Our members typically have a pretty standard level of work ethic, but when we get together to produce music we tend to hone in on our desire to produce the best sound possible and exceed our personal expectations. This isn’t always the case, but more often than not this is what moves us. Read more>>
Nigel Smith
My work ethic stems from multiple sources. Read more>>
Jerry Justizia
My work ethic comes from my vision. I have big dreams, I want to do this and that and it requires a strong work ethic. Read more>>
Lisa Bell
My work ethic comes from a variety of places. My fathers voice in my head. Some of the quotes that haunt me and makeup me perform well are: “if your going to do a job then do it right, or dont do it at all.” Another one is…” Ten minutes early as in time, on time as LATE, and anything after that is just unacceptable!”. Read more>>
Shetara Rucker
I attribute my work ethic to my grandmother, Frances Smith. My grandmother was 52 years old when she started raising me and early on she instilled in me that nothing is given to you, but you must work hard for it. I’d do daily task in the house, build things, sew, cook, clean, and more. There’s really not too much I can’t do or figure out how to do it. Read more>>
Julie Novak
I started working at a really young age. My brothers and I worked at a pizza shop in the late 70s called Tommy’s on Ohio State campus, and I would sell sandwiches outside the stadium on game days. I like to say I’ve been working in restaurants since “before Jesus was a baby”. My work ethic came from just wanting to be the best at whatever level/position I was in, I naturally grew in my industry. Read more>>
Gregory Gillaspie
I’m not good at doing things I don’t want to do. However, when I’m creating, or executing something I envisioned, I will spend an immense amount of time following it to completion. I definitely developed tunnel vision. When I’m not making pizza, I’m thinking about pizza. Read more>>
Amira Noor
I was raised in a family which emphasised hard work and discipline. Ever since I was little, I have watched both my parents work very hard and teach me the importance of not taking success for granted. This influenced and inspired me to do the same. I also grew up in a circle of friends who are hardworking and dedicated to their careers. Read more>>
Pauleen
As a child, I witnessed my parents’ unwavering perseverance in the face of life’s challenges. They immigrated to this country, learned the language, embraced the culture, assimilated and worked tirelessly to provide for me and my sister. They even worked separate shifts at one point, sacrificing personal time to ensure a parent was always home raising us. Read more>>
Carolyn Kelley
I’m grateful that I was raised with a strong work ethic and life wasn’t easy most of the time. I have found that the tenacity that I developed through continuing to persevere through hardships has created a business that can be sustained even on days that I’m not able to put in a lot of effort. Read more>>
Jugashree Bisoi
My work ethic definitely comes from my parents. Growing up with four children, I witnessed my parents’ hard work. We have a publication business. It was my parents who made the business successful running it from scratch to make it a big success on their own with no source whatsoever. Read more>>
Benjamin Dierker
My work ethic is definitely rooted in faith and family, and is something I carry into my professional work at the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure. Conducting research and providing education of the highest quality is at the core of what we do at Aii. Read more>>
Aren Bazerkanian
My father and mother are both immigrants. My father was born in Beirut, Lebanon and my mother, Allepo, Syria. They both came to America in the early-’80’s with very little, as is the case with most immigrant backgrounds. As one could imagine, coming to a new country with no friends, no money, no assets, learning the language as you’re going, makes for an incredibly tough situation in which to thrive. Read more>>
Cameron Dettman
We have all collectively worked extremely hard over the years to achieve a certain skill level at our craft. That kind of work ethic comes from the determination to become the best we can be as individuals and as a group. Read more>>
John Tucker
I got my work ethic from my mom and dad who made sure their children had a better life , my mom recently passed away and she always told me to never give up no matter how life gets .Read more>>
Majerly Figueroa- Reyes
My grandparents have been a significant influence on my work ethic. From a very young age, I’ve always been around their hard work and dedication toward everything they put their minds to. Having my grandparents own their business was a privilege. Read more>>
Amanda Stafford
My work ethic comes from a family of hard workers. None of their success in their businesses were handed to them, so I knew if I wanted to make something for myself, I was going to need to work hard. Most direct influence of work ethic would be from my mom. Read more>>
Janine Kamei
As a child I always saw my Dad working. Working hard to give us everything that he could. I remember my Dad showing me and telling me what hard works does and how it pays off. Read more>>
