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.
Brandon Kent
I believe I get my work ethic from my mother, knowing the importance behind growth and holding yourself to a higher standard will make being consistent easy. Always looking for areas to grow leaves me never to feel comfortable with my progress. Grateful for the journey but determined to excel in who I know I can be. Read more>>
Tennille Taraszkiewicz
Work ethic is a core value I received from my family, and I take pride in doing good & timely work. Why put off what you can do today… I think people with good work ethic are “precrastinators” which isn’t a real word but should make sense. Don’t procrastinate, but rather get it done before other stuff piles on your lap. Read more>>
Tierra Jones
Work ethic is very important. I was raised by two very strong individuals that worked one job my whole life. My family (Bingham/Jones) are all some go-getters I was brought up knowing you have to work hard to get what you want! Read more>>
Marin Davis
I attribute it to growing up in a farming family. I am originally from Kansas and we were active in 4-H so there was always something to do, something to take care of and something to work on. I’m also grateful social media and technology weren’t as prominent because it allowed us to play, be imaginative and experience the rewards from practicing and hard work. Read more>>
Justin P. Slaughter
My work ethic comes from growing up in a place where the “land of opportunity” wasn’t so diverse and finally being in an environment where the diverse opportunities are of abundance. When you never had something and you finally get THAT CHANCE to get it. This phenomenon takes over where you want to put your best food forward to achieve it. Read more>>
Anniesha McDonald
From a young age I witnessed my dad commute to and from work. My dad was always the first to enter work, and the last to leave. He instilled in me that “the early bird gets the worm”! “Always show up early, if you are early, you are on time, and if you are on time, you are late”. My dad is a reliable man, that treated everyone with respect and versatility. He never looked down on a person due to their social status, or financial position. Read more>>
Sherrie Handrinos
“I’m from Detroit” – is usually the answer I give to that question. And truthfully, I am from Detroit and when you grow up in a blue-collar town, seeing your parents work hard, and seeing my mom work up to three jobs at times to make ends meet, you get that drive in you to do more, to never give up and to simply, work hard. I am a true believer in hard work pays off. I have always been willing to work hard. Growing up, that was not an option in our home. Read more>>
Helen Susan
I hate the feeling of being unstable or not assured. My work ethic is driven by these feelings. I try to do everything in my power to not ever have those feelings in my work or life. I also like nice things haha. And it was instilled in me at a young age that if you wanted nice things you have to work for it. Jokes on me because I always thought my parents were just being annoying and wanted me to do yard work. Read more>>
Steven Kenneth Bradshaw
The finite nature of our time on the planet compels me to keep making art. I’ll be gone soon enough and I want to leave behind physical artifacts of my psyche. The sense that it’s essentially now or never keeps me creating at a steady clip. Read more>>
Sarah Terrill
Growing up, the foundation of resilience and work ethic was instilled in me through the constant encouragement to never give up and follow my passion. This invaluable lesson carried me through adulthood, shaping my journey into becoming a professional artist. The unwavering belief that hard work pays off became evident in my experiences. Read more>>
Deborah Kang
My work ethic comes from my family the discipline imbued into my mind since little, my parents used to say “first comes your duties and then fun time” I always used to hate that phrase since little but now I understand its value, it is gratifying to know that once all “work chores” are done you can enjoy life without guilt or worry. Read more>>
Janna Blackburn Engel
I would have to say my work ethic comes from my parents along with my strong desire to be successful in all areas of my life. The examples that my parents set provide a solid foundation as I grew up. Being raised in a large family of six children and later adding two stepbrothers, which totaled eight siblings required having order, within those strict guidelines everyone had the role/responsibility they were required to participate in. Read more>>
Tara Moore
My very first job was working at a horse farm and that job taught me so much about accountability, consistency, and resilience. When you’re working with animals, you can’t just call out of work, show up late, or slack off if you’re feeling tired. Quite simply, the horses’ livelihood depends on you consistently showing up and performing your job the best you can every day no matter the weather or circumstance. Read more>>
Aruna Lee
So, when I was about 6 I was adopted by a Buddhist nun. I was the youngest of four daughters with a single mom. We lived in a small town in Korea, and, because things weren’t easy, my grandma suggested that I go to live with this nun she knew in a city to the south. Long story short, I grew up in the temple, and when I finished high school I shaved my head and entered the monastery. Read more>>
Jonathan Penright
Without a doubt, my work ethic came from my mother and grandparents. My mom was a single mom of a teenager, and I remember watching her work nonstop to provide for us. My grandparents owned and operated a successful interior design business when I was younger, and I would always go with them to help with installation jobs for their clients. While I believe that work ethic can be taught, I lived and breathed it and it’s sewn into my DNA. Read more>>
Tasha Caines
My work ethic came from my parents and started way back when I was just a kid. Coming from a small town in Newfoundland there wasn’t much for work. From the minute I could understand words my parents made it well aware that if you want something you must work hard for it. Nothing worth having will ever be handed to you.Read more>>
Hilda Lucía Estrella de Lev
When I was a child I was taught to do the best in my studies and I was pressured to have good grades. We had economical reasons for it and I saw it as my way of contributing to our household. I got used to give my best in what I considered to be my contribution into our lives. When that weight got lifted I could not feel comfortable with myself if I didn’t do my best in wherever I decided to invest my time in. Read more>>
Trey Duffey
My parents demonstrated what real work ethic looks like from a very early age. I was always taught that even though you may not be the most talented or the smartest person in the room, your work ethic can help close the gap. That mindset and principle alone is what has sustained me as a small business owner since I started on my own in 2018. Read more>>
Carrie Rapaport
It’s been a combination of nature, nurture, and necessity. My father coined the adage, “He who says it can’t be done had better stay the hell out of the way of the guy doing it.” That motto was written on a plaque that hung on my family’s living room wall, and it served as a constant reminder to ignore the naysayers who might not share our vision, passion, or belief in the possibility of things. Read more>>
Kate Anlyan
Like so many Americans, I come from immigrant grandparents and great grandparents who came to this country on ships and worked tirelessly to make lives for themselves in the US. I feel so much influence from them and my parents in the way I approach my work with grit, determination, hustle, transparency, and a really strong sense of humor. Read more>>
Judaea Wilbon
My work ethic and my optimism go hand in hand. I know the goals I have set for myself and I am actively working towards them everyday. When you have a certain place you want to be in life you’re going to want to do whatever it is you can to work towards that. Especially when you know it’s on you and only up to you to get there you’ll take it more seriously. Read more>>
Chris McNish
My unwavering work ethic is a cherished inheritance from my family roots. Despite being born in the US, my heart swells with pride when I am called a Jamaican. In the tapestry of my lineage, both sides boast uncles, aunts, and cousins who embody the essence of hard work, yet none surpass the resilience of my beloved grandma, affectionately known as “Mama.” Standing at a mere 4’8”, she effortlessly outshines anyone I know in dedication and industrious spirit. Read more>>
Katherine Krause
My mom has always been my biggest role model, and I gained a lot from her work ethic. Even as a child, my ethos was “Complete your work first, and relax later”. So for any project for cosplaying or even dance, I practice or update the item I need first before sitting or lying down. Read more>>
Ryan Gomillion
My work ethic is shaped by a blend of influences. Firstly, growing up in competitive sports environments, I learned from my parents and coaches that even if I wasn’t the most naturally gifted player, I could surpass others through sheer hard work. Witnessing my skills improve through dedication created a positive feedback loop, motivating me to consistently work harder. Read more>>
Steve & Dawn Woodburn
Both Steve and Dawn’s work ethic is grounded in their upbringing and family dynamics. Dawn was raised by parents who valued hard work, as her mom was a nurse and her dad worked in sales his entire career. She saw you must put in the effort to receive the benefits, which she took to heart in her long career as an Executive Assistant. Steve came from a family of small business owners, a challenge that will either make or break you. Read more>>
Tammie Peterson
Having been laid-off multiple times from a full-time job, is what drove me to ensure having a good work ethic. Always have multiple streams of income coming in at various times was very important, especially with being single. Have a good work ethic is what keeps you to be able to survive and stay afloat with daily living. I also, want my good credit score to remain intact and not decrease. Read more>>
Sam Heaton
My work ethic has been developed by always working in places that make me happy. I’ve been working with the public since I was 15. Restaurant, retail and the salon life has filled my life, bank account and spirit for a really long time. Working along side so many different people, working as a team and having fun doing it. Read more>>
Sylvan Weekends
We formed ‘Sylvan Weekends’, our band, after we spent a night off-grid in a cabin in the woods, playing and writing music by candlelight (with the help of some wine and a campfire). It started off as a bit of fun, but we quickly realised we had the same passion and drive to make the music as best as it possibly can be. Read more>>
Amanda Pacheco
My exceptional work ethic can be traced back to a combination of factors, primarily rooted in my independence, strength, and military background. The foundation of my work ethic is built on the values that are instilled in my experiences throughout life. Read more>>
Kelly Bartnik
I believe I get it from my Dad – he instilled in us at an early age that when you work for something you can achieve it. He had us all delivering papers every morning from a very young age. I can’t say I enjoyed having to get up that early at the time, but in retrospect I appreciate the experience because it forced us to engage with neighbors as well as offered the opportunity to earn our own money. Read more>>
Wellon Bridgers
My father had a huge influence on my work ethic. While I grew up in an affluent community wherein not many of my friends were doing yard work, we on the other hand never let a weekend pass without some weed pulling or pine straw spreading! It was engrained in us that work (which could be enjoyable!) was part of life, whether in school or at home. As an adult, this comes with its own challenges, as relaxing doesn’t come easily for me, but I am very grateful to have been modeled and taught a strong work ethic. Read more>>
Niyaz Pirani
My work ethic comes from two places within. First, I was a pretty bad student growing up. The kind of kid that would tell my parents my report card didn’t come, but really I threw it under my bed hoping it would be forgotten (it never was). I especially had trouble in my English classes because I never read the books we were assigned.Read more>>
Zeine Charabati
I get my work ethics from who I am on a personal level, which is a result of how I was raised, who I surround myself with, and most importantly, what message I want to instill in my children. Work ethics are just a reflection of my own way of living, outside of work. Read more>>
Heather O’Donnell
Work Ethic. I guess I was just blessed with that Midwestern work ethic. I’m sure that growing up on a small farm helped— I’ve always had additional responsibilities and chores, no thanks to my parents, and while at the time I may have huffed and puffed at times, boy am I thankful now! I have always worked a job since I was legally allowed to (14 yrs old), and then some. Additionally, I partook regularly in sports, particularly cross country and track. All of that carried over to college, and after. Read more>>
Rhyan Geiger, RDN
Growing up, I was raised by a single parent who showed the importance of hard work. I’ve always been a hard worker and given things my all. I like to think I am naturally hard-working, but I do think the environment where I grew up greatly impacted me. Not only did my mom work hard for things, but so did my grandmother. Read more>>
