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.

Alexandra Schmuck

From nature. The wild, gentle, unruly growing, unfolding, blooming of a flower, a tree. Each plant follows its own rhythm, they shine in their specific color, sometimes depending on soil or other factors.  Each plant, each animal has their skin, characteristic to them. Read more>>

Jawon Merius

My work ethic comes from my family, immigrants from Haiti who came to America in the 1980s and 1990s. All we’ve ever known is a strong work ethic and being scrappy and resourceful. Since I was a child, I understood that no one owed me anything and that if I wanted anything in this country, I would have to work for it. Being from a working-class family, I saw my mother work multiple jobs to make things happen for my brothers and me.  Read more>>

Mike Mason

As a family owned and operated business, we give credit to our parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, and everyone who comprised our village for teaching us the importance of working hard for what we have and taking pride in who we are. Today, TennesSki Adventures is ran by me, my wife, and my oldest daughter. Read more>>

Anna Blanton

I was raised by two hard working parents. Both were successful business owners who instilled in me at a young age that great things come thru hard work, and not just hard work, smart work. My parents always told me to set goals and make a plan to achieve those goals. Goal setting was a skill I developed further in my youth in 4H, United States Pony Club, and playing in orchestras. Read more>>

BreAnna Jauregui

I believe that I got my work ethic from my family. My parents were always teaching my brother’s and I, from a young age, that if there are things you want, you need to work hard to get them. As soon as we were old enough to get jobs, we did. I think my first job was when I was 14 years old. My parents even had to sign a permission form that allowed me to work at that age.  Read more>>

Casey Barnette

My work ethic derives from childhood experiences and memories. My parents sacrificed everything they could for my brother and I’s success. Watching both of my parents work from sun up to sun down, sometimes 7 days per week – instilled the understanding that hard work is a necessary part of life.  Read more>>

Patrick Schober

Most of my work ethic was born out of necessity. When I graduated from college, I was lucky enough to have a full-time job in writing, but I was loaded up with student loans. At the end of the day, I was making enough money to pay for loans and gas to get to work.And it was depressing. So, I got a second job, and I wound up working five days and four or five nights every week for about four years. Read more>>

Elizabeth Carter Trotman

I get my work ethic from my parents. Growing up they focused on being excellent and giving their best. I watched them build transformative efforts and lead meaningful projects at work and at their local church. They were never satisfied with the status quo, they always went above and beyond. Read more>>

Ajuan Mance

My graduate degrees are in English and American literature. On my first day of graduate school, my cohort gathered in one of the meeting spaces in the main building at my university. We were nervous and eager and unsure of what to expect, and the room vibrated with the sound of our tentative but eager introductions.  Read more>>

JOE PESH

My work ethic comes from the struggles i seen and went through as a child. Born and raised by my single mother in Mansfield, Ohio it wasn’t always peaches and cream. Sometimes we had to sacrifice things that we wanted for the bills that needed to be paid. Read more>>

Shelana Kraeer

I’d like to say I was born with it and then cue to a 90’s makeup commercial, but I get it from the years spent watching my mother keep it all going. Read more>>

Bevla Reeves

When I reflect on my work ethic and its origins, four people come to mind. Two are typical, and two are not. Growing up in a household with a father like mine was akin to being enveloped in the aura of a living legend. He may not have been renowned beyond our family and community, but within those walls, he was everything. Read more>>

Young Anderson

I have parents who immigrated from Seoul, Korea in 1974 on a special Visa for Ministers. They came to a new country with a 6-year-old, 3-year-old (me) and a 6-month-old. They did not know language, had little money and came for the American Dream.  Read more>>

Ferne Elizabeth King

Partially from my DNA, mostly from the environment I grew up in. We were poor and we lived in a poor environment of a primary production community in rural New Zealand. I was determined to do different, be different. My father would say observe those that have fallen down, got back up and kept going. What do they have in them to keep going. Read more>>

Anitra Rowe Schulte

I am generally an all-out type of person. It’s hard for me to do something halfway, which I think traces back to my childhood and, more specifically, to my parents. They had incredibly high expectations for me and my sisters. They always pushed us to improve upon even our best, which was frustrating at times but got us invested in the pursuit of progress more so than a final prize. Read more>>

Mercedes Hickman

I believe I obtained my work ethic from my mother. As a child I watched her work two and three jobs to ensure that my sister and I had the necessities plus more. I can say at times I didn’t like her working so hard, but as I got older I realized the sacrifices she made and the bigger reward that came along with all of her hard work and sacrifices.  Read more>>

Josehan Avila

I get my work ethic from both my mother and father. Growing up we didn’t have much but what we did have my parents worked hard for. Shinning a light on my dad he would wake up at 4am every morning to do a workout and head to work doing sometimes 12-15hr days. I would wake up for school and he has already left and most times id get home, and my dad was still not home from work yet.  Read more>>

J White Burton

My work ethic comes from my mother who was raised in rural Alabama on a farm, graduated high school at 16, went to college, taught school and moved into corporate America with determination, respect for others and a giving spirit. She taught us that there was no such word as “can’t”. She made us believe that we could do anything. Read more>>

Allie Tichenor

Growing up with divorced parents I watched my single mother struggle and my dad work himself to the point of stress that I could recognize even from a young age. Money was an extremely tense topic in both households. I recognized the need to be self-sufficient as a way to avoid conflict. Read more>>

Natalie Fields

I get my work ethic from my father. I was always told growing up that anything you want in life you have to work for and I have always lived by that. Nothing is easy but I truly believe that if you put your mind to something you will achieve it, be respected, and produce good results. Read more>>

Harsh Arora

I grew up seeing my father succeed in starting and expanding various business ventures through hard work. My father built and ran a chain of luxury resorts and was a true self-made businessman. His work ethic helped our family and the families of those employed by my father’s businesses. Read more>>

Jim Orr

I got my work ethic from my father, Bob Orr. He was constantly working on stuff in the garage -= building inventions, making RC controlled airplanes and gliders, fixing anything from electronics to the movie cameras I bought at the swap meet. He was always working on the house. I saw how hard he worked on his passions to make them come into fruition.  Read more>>

Skyler Greyson

My work ethic comes first from a rooted relationship with Jesus Christ and knowing what He did for me, and that gives me the ability to push forward to be the best I can be because I am joyfully working for Him. I also get my work ethic from my childhood and coming from a family that lived paycheck to paycheck; knowing that I want a better life for me and my family.  Read more>>

Makissa Lewis

I get my work ethic from my mom. She retired from teaching after 35 years. But, she didn’t start out teaching. You see we were immigrants from Jamaica. The fact she had her degree from the University of West Indies she had to work cleaning floors, being a nanny, a cab dispatcher. Read more>>

Brittany Sabatino

My strong work ethic was instilled in me by my parents and grandparents, who exemplified dedication and determination. With over half of my extended family being entrepreneurs, I grew up surrounded by hard-working adults. Both of my parents were entrepreneurs, and I actively participated in my mom’s children’s clothing store.  Read more>>

Samuel M. Lewis

Honestly, it’s a very simple one; my great fear of death. Fortunately, I have however, been able to reconcile myself to the fact that this will inevitably happen. It will happen to the best of us, and this is perhaps the one great unifier of mankind, and for that matter, every living thing we share this planet with.  Read more>>

Diego Zacarias

Well, I believe that honesty and commitment are essential for those who want to build their own business. In my case, as a Spanish as a second language instructor, I know that what students want is to speak Spanish, as simple and as challenging as it may sound.  Read more>>

Dean Russell

My work ethic is deeply rooted in the example set by my father. He instilled in me the value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Watching him consistently give his best effort in his work as a carpenter and construction worker, has been a driving force behind my own commitment to excellence. It’s a principle I carry with me in both my personal and professional endeavors. Read more>>

Karin Nahmani

I guess I got it from my parents as both of them where independent workers they always found the way to support the family and grow bigger. I always had the dream to be more successful as well as make difference in people’s life. Read more>>

Kailan Carter

So much of my strong work ethic came from my college experience. My first few years of school, I was a full time student, worked full time hours at a job, and commuted over 2 hours every day for classes. I still had to find time for homework and projects, many of which took a lot of time and thought as an art student.

Josh Blankinship

I’ve always worked hard. It really never mattered what job I was at or what line of work I was in. There is always someone out there that is more talented, smarter, or more experienced than you. I think it’s important to remember in that in any business. We really can’t control that. But what we can control is how we react to it. Read more>>

Dani Darmanin

My work ethic comes from my mother. She was honest, generous, and solution-oriented. She would roll up her sleeves in a heartbeat. She was forward-thinking and people-oriented. Read more>>

Maty Young

Whilst navigating the path to success in Hollywood’s film production industry, I’ve drawn immense strength and inspiration from a unique family legacy. Unlike most stories of entrepreneurial success that are built on a foundation of previous triumphs, my narrative is shaped by a lineage of business endeavours that, despite their promise and potential, ultimately did not succeed. Read more>>

Jose Martinez

I come from a family of hard workers and selfless role models. My grand father instilled in us the ability to work hard, show gratitude, remain humble, and celebrate others and their victories. I keep those life lessons close, emulate them in my everyday lives, and strive to be the best version of myself everyday. Read more>>

Whitney Renee

My father Jeff Busby, He is well known in our community and has a reputation for being a very hard worker. He is someone most people can’t quite keep up with when it comes to physical labor. I actually didn’t begin to have a strong relationship with my father until I was in my teen years as I lived with my mother for most of my childhood. Read more>>

Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move

From Indecisive to Confident: developing decision-making skills

Indecisiveness is a killer. It can bring even the most promising projects, relationships, and ventures