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.

Tess Vockler

My mother and family have instilled in me an extraordinary work ethic. Ever since I can remember, my mother would wake up at 5am, even in the dark Australian, cold winters. She would come into my room to say goodbye, dressed impeccably in a business suit after having already been at the gym, and was ready to drive an hour to the city as an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Kristin Langenfeld

I get my work ethic from my parents. Growing up, their relentless drive seemed normal to me. Now, I see how exceptional they are and how much it has shaped my brother, myself, and our families. Even in their late sixties, they accomplish more in a day than most people do in a month. One of our core values at GoodBuy Gear is “GSD” – getting shit done – and that’s definitely part of who I am and how I was raised. Read more>>

Sophia Heemsbergen

Not only does it feel good within yourself when you accomplish something you worked diligently on, but it also feels good when you help someone else do the same. I think I learned that at a very young age. My personal work ethic is a culmination of the way I was raised, good (and bad) experiences, and certain expectations that I have set for myself. In childhood, and still to this day, my family instilled in me just how vital an enduring, tenacious work ethic is.  Read more>>

Christian Vincent

Firstly, I feel that I have a strong work ethic which makes me want always do my best at whatever I am working on. I believe much of my work ethic comes from the encouragement I received from my parents growing up, and a lot of it comes from the fact that I never thought of doing otherwise. As a child I do think I was competitive, so that also fueled my need to do my best and succeed. Read more>>

Lauren LoGrasso

I get my work ethic from my strong Italian and Sicilian American ancestors, my Parents, and from being raised in the great state of Michigan—I love that Midwestern work ethic.
I could go on and on about all of the above, but for this, I want to delve deeper into my amazing Grandparents. Read more>>

John Lopez

I grew up on a ranch in South Dakota where hard work is the only way to get things done. Read more>>

Rita Lynne

My work ethic is influenced by my parents and two Indian Chefs we knew growing up in Northern Michigan My father comes from a framing family in Wisconsin, my mother comes from a manufacturing assembly line working family. in Michigan. Read more>>

Will Frederick

My work ethic has been shaped by my grandmother. Growing up, I watched her always pour her heart and soul into everything she did. She taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance. She lived through the Great Depression and was always reminding me how quickly things can change. Read more>>

Melissa Foster

My work ethic stems from a deep-rooted passion for helping others, influenced by the inspiring examples set by my parents. Watching my mom start her own business and never give up on what she wanted taught me perseverance and determination. My dad’s extreme work ethic to support our family showed me the importance of dedication and hard work. Read more>>

Jorge Duarte

Working in the music industry is a very proactive environment. From an artist, manager or even A&R stand point you get what you give. It’s definitely something that is developed over time but being consistent when things are “slow” or there’s no imminent deadline is what has opened doors for me as an artist and A&R.  Read more>>

Ryan Swan

Interestingly, when I was in my early twenties, people thought I had a terrible work ethic because I would leave a job if I wasn’t happy with it. My perspective is that I would rather be happy than be in a job that makes me miserable. However, others perceived me to have a poor work ethic. Read more>>

Farai Gotora

I get my work ethics from my circumstances. For much of my life I have been in situations where waiting for things to happen or change on their own was not an option. I’ve had to take action towards my goals and that is still the case. The goals themselves have shifted from time to time but I’ve always had to make the time and put in effort for things I’ve wanted. Read more>>

La Taunya Starr

My strong work ethic, rooted in the belief that hard work is essential to personal growth, is a reflection of several key influences and experiences in my life: 1. Family Values: From a young age, I was instilled with the importance of hard work and perseverance by my family. I observed my parents working tirelessly to provide for my brothers and myself and to pursue their dreams. Their examples proved that I would reap the rewards that come from hard work and commitment. Read more>>

Treassy Jasmin

I think my work ethic comes from my passion for empowering and spreading positivity. Just like you, I love uplifting others and making the world a brighter place! It’s all about that positive energy and motivation to keep going. Read more>>

Abel Flores

My work ethic comes from a combination of factors including my upbringing in Peru, personal values, and past experiences. Growing up, my family and community taught me the importance of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance. Moving to a new country, I’ve seen how dedicated effort can lead to success and new opportunities. Read more>>

Sean Cavanaugh

After working in many different fields I can say that the offering massage is a rewarding profession. I use that board range of experience to make sure that Full Attention is always running smoothly and professionally. Read more>>

Brian Loeffler

As a kid growing up in middle class Akron, Ohio, if I wanted something, I had to work for it. Wanna go to soccer camp? Worked by mowing lawns in the neighborhood. Wanna go to college? I delivered newspapers for the Akron Beacon Journal. Want that MBA? I bartended on the weekends, invested those tips and earnings in the stock market, and I let the stock market pay for my MBA. Read more>>

Curtis & Amber Love

Our work ethic is born out of our love for each other and for the life that we share. We choose to show up every day, to work hard, and create a joyful and successful present, for a future of freedom and opportunity. We both had very different childhoods, but both learnt from an early age the value of working hard. Read more>>

Gage Luce

My dad and grandfather had a huge impact on my work ethic. Both of them taught me my work ethic growing up. My father worked in restaurants and was a block mason, and my grandfather owned and operated a construction company. Watching them do whatever it was that they had to do when I was growing up really had an impact on how I approach things today. Read more>>

Shreya Patel

My parents! My dad studied English under street lights and grew up with no food. The entire family used to survive on leftover breadcrumbs from a bakery and drank a lot of water to fill their stomachs. Despite these hardships, he always had a vision for a better life that drove him forward. Read more>>

Mingxin Cheng

I believe my work ethic stems from my passion for creating thoughtful and impactful designs. Today, the rapid development of technology has transformed how people receive information, with digital screens dominating the advertising landscape. This shift brings both opportunities and challenges in ensuring accurate and honest information. Read more>>

DeAnna Valdez

I believe my work ethic came from watching my mother raise four children on her own. She was a RN and worked the night shift, but that did not stop her from being involved in everything we did. Swim practice was five days a week and meets were pretty much every weekend, she got us to each practice and meet no matter how tiered she was. Read more>>

Viri Dukes

I have a deep appreciation for the work ethic my parents instilled in me. Their immigrant background and the values they have demonstrated, have clearly shaped my own approach to work and life. I see traits like dependability, reliability, trustworthiness, and dedication as integral to my own work ethic, reflecting what I’ve learned from my parents. Read more>>

Bolor Saruul

My work ethic comes from my upbringing and how hard I saw my parents working. I was raised to understand it as a very positive value and the path to self-reliance. Read more>>

Marilyn Chychota

I grew up in a small town in southern Alberta Canada. My parents were very hard workers who installed that in me. We had a farm and no matter my size ( I was small) or being a female my father would have me work on the farm. Growing up in the horse world, it’s daily hard work, and can be heavy work. Read more>>

Jesoma Briggs

I think my work ethic comes from my parents one hundred percent! I loved that they were always able to put their best foot forward when it’s come to anything that they’ve done. I think that really translated well into my childhood and business from mowing lawns and washing cars as a child to managing social medias and websites for businesses I carry that hard working attitude and perseverance that has been passed onto by my parents. Read more>>

Barbara Mulleneaux

To be a working artist requires a lot of self discipline and a strong work ethic, I have to have a plan for my day, prioritize and remind myself, “this is your job”. I show up. I make an effort to maintain business hours, shut off personal time for after hours and have a dedicated space in which I work. Read more>>

Donna Ruff

I’ve never really thought about why I am motivated to work. I was surrounded by strong women in my childhood, especially my grandmother, who was an immigrant from what was then part of Russia. She and my grandfather started a business recycling paper in Chicago- I’m guessing in the 1940’s. Read more>>

Julia Howes

My work ethic comes from my Father. He was born into a low income family and ended up being a child of a divorced family. He also had a step father who didn’t welcome him into the family due to not being his biological son. My dad worked very hard at a young age to provide for his mother and siblings. He got married and started his family at a young age which required him to be a hard worker and provide for his family.  Read more>>

Angela Carter

While growing up, resources were limited. I learned early on that this was my life (at the time) and that nothing would be handed to me, and that nothing would come easy. Beginning at a young age I learned that if I wanted something outside of necessities. I’d have to work for it. So, I did. I started my first part-time job after school around age 13. Read more>>

Cameron Russell

Growing up, I didn’t need to look far for a role model because I had my grandad, father, and brother who helped mold me into who I am today. The men in my generation have always been extremely diligent. I have been shown what work ethic looks like and have truly applied that to my life as well as my business. Read more>>

David Suarez

I get my work ethic from my dad. Growing up, I remember falling asleep to the sound of him working on cars outside. As a kid, I didn’t quite get why he worked so much. I’d ask him or my mom about it all the time. He did it all for us—me, my brothers, and our family. Now that I’m older, I’m really thankful for everything he did. Read more>>

Ale Lista

I think from my childhood and my parents, my dad taught me the value of your word, and the core values you shouldn’t break. Read more>>

Chibie Louis-Okoye

I have always been driven by a commitment to excellence. I realized early on that choosing excellence requires discipline. My strong work ethic stems from my ability to “walk the talk.” I affirm that I am a person of excellence, by consistently dedicating long hours to high-quality work, learning new skills, showing up, and getting things done.  Read more>>

Michelle Botticelli

In my first job as an apprentice editor, I learned from the editor Kris Boden that the more time you put in, ultimately the better the edit. I watched her edit when she would come on weekends just to check out cuts and over go over certain performances. Now that I am editing projects, I take that lesson and continue to strive for the best edit, performance and way to tell the story the best way I can. Read more>>

Yashwanth Munukoti

I think my work ethic stems from my passion for doing things that I like doing and the urge to get them done the right way and see them through to completion. This naturally evolves into that sense of obligation to the task at hand and the work I’m engaged in. When I get something done, it builds confidence in me and now I’m motivated to take on more challenges. Read more>>

Aatif Rasheed

First and foremost thanks David for the honour and opportunity. I appreciate your efforts in approaching professionals worldwide to cover their stories and hope my part would add value to your passion. From the beginning my two main interests were calligraphy and design besides storybooks and cricket. Read more>>

Elle Cole

Growing up, I was fortunate to witness firsthand the embodiment of a strong work ethic through my parents. They instilled in me the values of dedication, perseverance, and the importance of hard work. My father, with his unwavering commitment to his profession, demonstrated the significance of diligence and consistency, while my mother, through her tireless efforts in managing our household, showed me the value of balancing multiple responsibilities with grace and efficiency. Read more>>

Dilayla Mena Adriano

I get my work ethic from my parents! Both of my parents are extremely hard working, and my mom has always pushed me to be a strong, independent woman. I would say I’m a workaholic, exactly like my mother. If I’m not doing something or working on a new project, I feel like I’m wasting my time here ! Which sounds silly but it’s true. Read more>>