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.
Kyle Carter
My work ethic stems deeply from my experiences with sports during my childhood. Participating in swimming, cross country, and basketball not only instilled in me the values of discipline and perseverance but also nurtured a desire to excel and be the best version of myself. Read more>>
Christalee
My work ethic came from being a makeup artist in the Film/Television industry. There is a degree of finesse, grace and positive attitude that is essential when you are in the industry. Knowing how to read the actor that is in your chair, knowing when to speak to them and when not to, is so important. How you treat your actor literally sets a precidence as to how your actor feels when they are ready to walk on the set. It sets the mood for the day. Read more>>
Eric Byford
This is a good question and one I haven’t had before but I talk about quite often. With my father passing when I was two, I watched my mom work three jobs to keep the lights on. I learned early on if you wanted to something then it was on you to go out and make it happen. Read more>>
Bree and Nate Millard
Work ethic is something we have both always had in common. You want something, you work for it. We both come from strong households with a solid work ethic. “I’ve for whatever reason never felt I was worth it when it came to making money. But I learned I could put in the hard work and get what I wanted by building it. Read more>>
Jazz Nixon
Our work ethic is deeply rooted in our family and military values. Being a family-operated business, we grew up learning the importance of loyalty, dedication, and hard work from our parents. They taught us that the success of our endeavors always lies in the happiness and satisfaction of those we serve. Read more>>
Calipso Aranda
I get it from just working in so many industries I feel like I have lived over a dozen different lives I am laughing as I say this I have worked many jobs up to 3 jobs at one point , because I wanted to learn everything and it isn’t till you realize you gotta work smarter not harder I exhausted myself for so long but I knew everything was going to lead me me to where I needed to be , my parents also taught me my work ethics, Read more>>
Joshua Florhaug
My mom. I grew up with a single mom with two other siblings and she showed us nothing is impossible if we put our head down and give it our all. She put herself through nursing school as well as moved us to our dream home all while taking us to school, sports, and keeping us fed. Read more>>
Christopher Jones
My work ethic came from my Mother & Grandmother. My Mother, Shirley Jones, was the hardest working woman I knew. She instilled in me the spirit of ‘never giving up’. After my Mom & Dad divorced my Mother had to work two jobs to keep a roof over me and my Sisters head. She also maintained our 3 bedroom house for several years. Read more>>
Ashley Ortega
A way I keep motivated with my work is taking things in small pieces, it can be easy to look at a big task ahead and get so overwhelmed by it, that achieving it can seem impossible, thus this makes the habit of procrastination a lot more enticing. However I always think back to the saying “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” Read more>>
Loren Scott
The need and want for change. I love seeing progress made in my community and in the movement for Black Lives Matter. I love being apart and supporting and sharing myself to others and pushing to continue doing what I love. Read more>>
Annie Untalan
I get my get your work ethic from my mom she is the hardest working woman I know. She sacrificed her life to provide for me and my family. She would give you her last dime to someone in need, that’s the kind of person she is. Read more>>
Travis Love
When I was younger I was always a determined individual I grew up in a strict household my mother would make us do chores and keep our rooms clean every Sunday. I guess that kind of translated into me being an adult. I also have a great passion for what I do so that helps a lot. I often think I’m not working hard enough. Read more>>
Alison McGrath
If I’m being fully transparent, I think some of my work ethic actually stems from anxiety. I feel better when I’m in motion and feeling productive. In recent months I’ve been working on finding the balance. I can be productive and have a solid work ethic without driving myself crazy. Read more>>
Seth Yakatan
I think it was just in me since I was young. My Dad grew up in an orphanage and became quite successful . He was always working and I wanted to be like him. I had my first job at 9 and have not had less than one job ever since. Read more>>
Chris Zinkel
Work ethic is shaped by the environment you grew up in, the people around you, and your personality. Growing up in a small Wisconsin town where factory work and family farms were the main sources of income, I was surrounded by blue-collar workers. Read more>>
Rahsha Batiste
My work ethics come from 25 years of Corporate America. It was truly the best experience for me prior to getting into entrepreneurship. You knew if you were late, that you would get written up. If you didn’t come to work, then you might not have a job the next day. Corporate America taught me customer service, emotional intelligence and to have good work ethics. Read more>>
Gabrielle Goldberg
I’m a first-generation American with Latvian-Ukrainian-Russian-Jewish roots. My family left the Soviet Union in the late ’70s before I was born because of the oppression of Jewish people. My ancestors survived pogroms, the holocaust, and imprisonment in gulags. A gulag is a forced labor camp for political prisoners in the Soviet Union. Read more>>
Helena
It comes from a lot of places, I draw on what I need to depending on the day.
1. I’m a workaholic. It’s a coping mechanism for what I haven’t healed yet.
2. I’m a perfectionist despite understanding the illusory nature of perfectionism. Read more>>
Jake Smith
I believe the best answer for this would be that I am a combination of both my family/family history and my sport, specifically running. I design most often for the sport of running, whether that be running footwear, recovery footwear, activations, educational systems, etc all because I feel as though the sport itself has given me more than just fitness but sound mind and an outlet to both combine with my professional work but my time away from working as well. Read more>>
Tanya Garboushian
My parents were entrepreneur’s, and being the youngest of 4 daughters, we witnessed their hard work every day. They balanced life, work, and took on any challenge the world threw at them. They pushed each and every one of us to finish school, work hard, and be independent. Read more>>
Tony DeVoney
I believe my work ethic stems from a yearning to achieve goals I’ve set for myself, in all avenues. One life type of mentality. Why waste time? I tend to be quite competitive and when I set my mind to something, most times, I put blinders on until its met. It’s very much an ebb and flow but for the most part I keep a good tunnel vision with a touch of procrastination here and there. Have to keep a healthy relationship! Read more>>
Mikaela Simon
I have no doubt that my work ethic comes from my parents. They both have been incredibly hard workers my entire life, and I look up to them for their determination and their belief in themselves and their abilities. Both of my parents grew up in situations where there wasn’t a lot of excess, so they both went into adulthood with the intention of making life easier for their kids than they had it. Read more>>
Oscar Garza
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the values instilled by my family. While it may sound cliché, witnessing the unwavering dedication of my mother, who rises at 3 am each day, tirelessly fulfills her responsibilities at work, and repeats this cycle consistently, has profoundly influenced my own approach to work. Read more>>
Austin Gingerich
My work ethic comes from experience and my failures (which we all have plenty of.) Being able to see those shortcomings as opportunities to improve has helped me not stop the first time I get turned away, denied, or don’t measure up. Read more>>
Dorota Mani
Growing up in a household where work ethic wasn’t just a concept but a way of life has certainly colored my professional demeanor. My mom, an opera singer, practiced every day with the kind of relentless dedication usually reserved for Olympic athletes—rain or shine, like it or not, the arias had to go on! Read more>>
arnold chun
I’m so thankful for my father who was my role model and example of hard work. He was an orphan because of the Korean War and despite being adopted into another family after abandonment, he achieved so much in life. Read more>>
T’Swan
My passion is the driving force for my work ethic. My love for music is impossible for me to escape. I wake up with music in my head, I go to sleep with music in my head. Read more>>
Ramona Fantini
I have to admit that I did not know there were different “work ethics” at first. From a very early age, my parents, particularly my father, set an example and verbalized expectations for his children to “do the best you can do”. That requirement carried through all aspects of life- school, commitments, work and projects. Since my family, extended family and friends had similar beliefs, I grew up with the understanding that everyone gives 150%. Read more>>
Jonglak Knight
My work ethic has its roots in my early years when i navigated the path of self-sufficiency,funding my education independently. The experience of working tirelessly to achieve my goals instilled in me a profound respect for diligence and perseverance. Read more>>
Jason Hunt
I’ve always been fueled by a relentless work ethic that I inherited from growing up in a family where sports and dedication went hand in hand. As a kid, I played baseball and hockey, where teamwork, resilience, and a strong competitive spirit were crucial on and off the field. Read more>>
Lacy Freeman
I remember watching my dad go to work as a welder every day growing up, taking a lot of pride in his craft, facing difficulties and challenges, yet still remaining positive when he returned home each day. Tired as could be, but absolutely positive and proud of his work, and the jobs he was working on. His positive attitude has never wavered. Read more>>
Brandon Holley
I know we’ve all heard the saying, “if you do what you love, you will never work a day of your life.” That couldn’t me more true with my perception of life. I never got into music to make money and it was always my way of diving into my own world to create what I wanted to hear. Read more>>
Lindau Jax
I definitely get my work ethic from my Parents! If you have a poor work ethic you will always be envious of others success. But if you work hard even on the days you don’t want to, you will be successful. Read more>>
Belen Gomez
Definitely from my family and siblings! Being the youngest and the only girl in my family was fun but they definitely made me strong and taught me that just cause I was “the baby “ of the family I didn’t automatically get what I wanted. So having that always in my head made me work for what I wanted. Read more>>
Aileen Quintana
My work ethic is influenced by a combination of factors including my upbringing, personal values, and a drive for continuous improvement. Read more>>
Heather Bostick
My dedication to excellence is evident in my commitment to continuous learning and skill development, values instilled in me by both parents. My approach to work is with a mindset of constant improvement, always seeking new knowledge and techniques to enhance my craft. Read more>>
Mascha Davis
When I was seven years old, my family came to the US as political refugees from Ukraine. My parents arrived with $500 and a few suitcases, and I watched them re-do their degrees while working multiple jobs and moving around a lot. While it was difficult to grow up with so much instability, it made me really resilient, compassionate, and hard working. Read more>>
Maria Moyano
My work ethic stems from watching my mother, a single parent who worked tirelessly to provide for us in a new country. Witnessing her resilience taught me the value of hard work and seizing opportunities. Whenever I’m tempted to give up, I think of her strength and determination. Read more>>
Makani Nakasone
I get my work ethic from my parents who are both small business owners. My mom started a natural foods store when she was 17 and my dad was the first of his family to graduate from college and open his own practice. From the time I could add all of the variations of 15, I worked behind the cash register – checking people out and learning how to deal with customers and coworkers. Read more>>
Stanley Babb
I think a lot of my work is fueled by passion. Over the years I really fell in love with Weddings. I love everything to do with weddings, the love stories, the travels, the memories, the networks I’m able to get in. I’m really inspired by the challenges I overcome. Read more>>
Blessing Adogame
Before the age of 18, I had lived in Nigeria, Germany, Scotland and the United States. I come from a background where opportunities were not handed to me, rather, I had to create them. It’s funny that the experiences that test you are the ones that teach you the most. Read more>>
Elee Joven
For a good chunk of my childhood until I was 13, I was raised by my maternal grandmother who passed away back in 1992. I was educated in both my hometown of Guam as well as the Philippines. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I realized how big of an influence she was in shaping my work ethic. Read more>>
Enrique Ferrer
I believe my work ethic was inherited from my father. I used to see him work when I was a kid, and one of the things that always caught my attention was his professionalism. The way he treated clients, the work place and the job itself, was always top quality, regardless of the budget or job scope. Read more>>
Erick Bardales
Short answer, from my mother. I always remember working for my mom at all of her businesses. She’s an entrepreneur for sure. Even when she didn’t have enough capital to start a business she would start small and build it up. Read more>>
Kathryn Sauser
work ethic started at a young age. Growing up without the privilege of fortunate circumstances, I never really had the luxury of choice but to be independent. Despite the tumultuous environment at home, plagued by the presence of an alcoholic father, I found solace in my work. Read more>>
Matthew Caplan
I was lucky to inherit a strong work ethic from my father. Growing up I watched him work long hard hours to provide for his family. The pride he took in building up a successful family law practice set a great example for me and my sister. Read more>>
Ben Adams
My strong work ethic is deeply rooted in a family tradition of hard work and unwavering determination. Raised by exceptionally hard working parents, I inherited a profound sense of diligence and commitment from them. Growing up alongside four siblings, we not only learned the value of hard work but also how to approach tasks efficiently and creatively. Read more>>
