How did you develop a strong work ethic?

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.

Mike Johnson

Great question! The work ethic is a skill set that took a great time & dedication to develop. I’ve been in the work force since the age of 16 learning and growing from each experience. It took forever but eventually I was able to learn the value in hard work. Hard work always pays off! Read more>>

Bin Luo

My work ethic is a composite of influences from three key sources. Firstly, my upbringing in a science-oriented family ingrained in me a sense of discipline and seriousness, setting the tone for a strong work ethic since childhood. Secondly, the camaraderie with friends both within and outside the film industry has been influential. Read more>>

Brittany Webb

My parents! Read more>>

Mack Ogden

I think the best way to explain it is by sharing a Mark Duplass quote, “The cavalry isn’t coming.” When you realize that you are the cavalry, you come to terms with the fact that everything truly is in your hands. And what great news is that!? Sure, it’s not as “easy” as someone just handing you an opportunity, but the amount you learn by creating your own opportunities provides for bigger opportunities next!. Read more>>

Angela White

The foundation of my work ethic was laid by my parents, both educators, who demonstrated the value of diligence and perseverance in our working middle-class family. Their struggles and achievements taught me that to attain anything in life, sheer hard work is paramount. From a young age, I was determined to be financially independent, which led me to run a newspaper route before I even reached the age of 10. Read more>>

Kristie Kennedy

As a child, I remember constantly being upset with my mother when she would tell me to get out of bed and do a chore all over again because I did a sloppy job. I didn’t understand at the time that she was instilling a spirit of excellence inside me to set me apart in the world. When you are the first in your family to break through barriers it comes with great responsibility and thus requires attention to details. Read more>>

Shana Martin

I learned my strong sense of work ethic from my mother. When I think of my now 85-year old mother, my mind immediately flashes back to my childhood. It conjures a capable young working woman who back in the day could have easily graced the cover of Family Circle Magazine with her adept balancing act of making family life and the demands of her career look like a stylish cakewalk. Read more>>

Brandon Vick

I remember when a local theater first opened here in Nashville, Tennessee, the first to have stadium seating by the way, and my mother wanted to go see a movie there. She suggested As Good As It Gets, the Oscar winning film starring the greatest actor of all-time – Jack Nicholson. That was in 1997 and I have been going to the theater religiously ever since. Read more>>

Anton du Preez

I’ll try to organize my answer with a few of my favorite quotes. Read more>>

Julie Mai Tran

My parents have always instilled in me a strong work ethic since I grew up. I watched them hustle everyday to give us a life filled with opportunities that they didn’t possess. With that privilege, I give my commitments 200% of myself. My folks sought refuge in Thailand from Vietnam right after the Vietnam war ended. Read more>>

Tom Megalis

Without a doubt I get my work ethic from my late mother Sophia Megalis. She was a young seamstress in Greece who desperately wanted to leave her village and a life of near poverty for a better life in America. Through an arrangement she met my father who was thirty years older. And off to America she went with little money and zero grasp of English. Read more>>

Jeanine Centuori

I love work. When you love what you do, and you can get into the flow, it does not seem like work. I truly love to make things with my own hands. When I am constructing something physical, my attention is totally on it, and the time flies by. I seek these moments, though they do not always happen. Read more>>

Michael Seril

My parents are two of the hardest workers I have ever met in my life. My parents both immigrants from the Philippines showed my sister and I the meaning of “hard work” Neither one took days off from work because they were “tired”. My father would wake up at 330am during the week, head to work and not come back until 6pm in the evening. Read more>>

Joshua Ampuero

My father is the hardest working man I’ve ever known. He has already retired and he still keeps working and earning money for himself on top of helping my mom build her own business. When I was growing up, my dad would wake up every single morning before the sun came up and would drive over an hour away to work and get home after 6pm every night. Read more>>

Michell Mateo

Here is a little bit of my story. As a professional licensed master hair colorist and hairstylist with 20 years of experience, I have dedicated myself to continuous learning and growth in the hair industry. Throughout my career, I have sought out advanced education courses and training to enhance my skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. Read more>>

David Addison Jr

I got my work ethic from my mother and high school football coach Coach Jordan always taught us don’t stop or quit until the job is done .” To always be the last man out” since then I work til the job is done. Read more>>

Jillisa Lynn

My work ethic comes from example of my mother, father, dad and great friends around me. My mother was a single mom when I was younger working 3 jobs at once to provide for myself and siblings. She’s been a pillar of hard work, dedication, compassion, creativity, discipline, consistency and encouragement. Read more>>

Celina Wong

I would have to credit my work ethic to my parents. My mom and dad are immigrants from China and worked at restaurants to support my family and I. The hours were long and it wasn’t easy work. Read more>>

Kennedee Devoe

I started working when I was fifteen years old. My parents instill the importance of being self- sufficient an early age. I take my work seriously and devote my time to going above and beyond what’s required of me from my clients. My passion for my craft means that I’ll complete tasks quickly and to the best of my ability. Read more>>

arthaya nootecharas

I think my work ethic really came from my mother’s side of the family. My mother is one of eight siblings and, fortunately, I was raised by all of them; including my grandfather and grandmother. All of them are very independent and have perseverance. Read more>>

Derrick Carter

I get my work eithic by being inspired from earlier underground artist in the game who has had major success from being consistent. Artist like nipsey hustle, dom kennedy, curren$y, Larry June and more. Read more>>

Christian Toto

I didn’t have a choice, really. Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream come true, but it’s one without an official “off” switch. If I don’t work harder than the competition I’ll fall behind and stay there. Becoming a parent also increased my work efficiency. Read more>>

Mychal-Bella Rayne Bowman

That’s an easy 1…my mom! That’s all I have ever seen. She was business owner of 25 years since the age of 19 who took me & my sister to work with her everyday. I witness the operation of what took to sustain a business early on and I also witness how she responded to environmental changes and strategically rebranded herself which incorporated myself and has brought us here…NC to LA! Read more>>

Christon Blake

I definitely got my work ethic from my mother and my Uncle who passed away a couple of years ago…I watch my mother support a household with 3 kids and no help and she made sure we ate and had clothes on our backs and we never wanted for anything…And I also watch my Uncle go to work from Monday thru Sunday with no break and the pay wasn’t good at all but he kept getting up and going because he knew bills and other things had to be paid… Read more>>

Amber Shea Hodge

I get my work ethic from when I was a kid. My father was a car mechanic and fisherman and his goal was to raise hard-working kids. That meant that I became his first deckhand at age nine and received my first job outside of my family at age 11, as a banquet server. Read more>>

Diana Zetnick

I got my work ethic from my dad. Watching him run his sporting good store when I was a teenager inspired me to run something of my own! Read more>>

Christian Rodrigo

From my childhood school and my university. Read more>>

Alan Goldsher

I was born and raised in a farm by immigrant parents, so having to work hard from a young age was never in question. Read more>>

Lila Ash

I got my work ethic from my four years as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Today, it comes from an almost obsessive need to check things off my to-do list! Read more>>

MegPie Pollard

I get my work ethic from my parents and my grandmothers. They always finished what they started and make sure they did their best Read more>>

Sarah Lynn Dawson

I really enjoy what I do so that helps, most of the time it doesn’t feel like work. Also I went to boarding school in the UK which really taught me how to be disciplined and maximize use of my time. I have set up several companies and that also created challenge for me, which made me work harder. I have never been one to just relax, I like to be in motion creatively. Read more>>