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.
Jenna Duranko
Through out my early school days I was not someone who got excited about school. I was never a student who was motivated to get straight A’s. I think I found my motivation when I was in college. I was a music major, studying music business and percussion performance. I started playing percussion my sophomore year of college with little percussion background. I had to work hard to get up to a college level of playing and technique in just one year of lessons. My motivation through this came from my percussion professor. Read more>>
Darrell Scott
I come from a family of workers. Grandmother worked at Fisher Body for 45 years. Uncles worked for 40 years and aunts for 35 years. I myself started working at 15 years old. I went to high school and worked at restaurants after school. Each relative was successful and respected. My aunt and Grandmother help start a national women’s group. That organization was well known in the city. Once I got into radio, I was one of the honorees, two of the women leaders asked me if I was related to Julia Carswell, I said yes and showed me the original charter of the group and there was the name of both my grandmother and my aunt. Read more>>
Eric Broser
Work ethic was not something that I was born with, nor was it taught to me by anyone. It was something that took me a long time to truly develop. Very early on I decided that I wanted to work for myself, and not be anyone’s employee. Thus I started my own business shortly after I graduated from University. My love was exercise and bodybuilding, which led me to create an in home personal training company. The process of starting from the ground up was not easy, and I quickly learned that if I wanted to be successful, I could not “half-ass” it. Read more>>
Adrian Mathis
I get my work ethic from my mother, Eunice Chiles, and my late step-father, Kenneth Chiles. I began working jobs when I was in middle school because I wanted to help out my family and I wanted to be able to buy the things I wanted personally. Growing up, my mother, being a single mother, worked several different jobs to support my sister and I. We always had what we needed no matter what, and as I got older and started to appreciate the position we were in, I really admired that and those moments stuck with me. Read more>>
Emily Giglio
I think for me, my work ethic stems from my parents and how I was raised growing up. I was always taught to work hard for what I want in life and I had the best two role models as my parents who showed me that every single day. I know that nothing in life comes easy and there will always be challenges that you may face, but how you grow and learn from those challenges says a lot about you and how much you are willing to work to get the things you have always wanted and deserved. Read more>>
Sarah Jo Anson
My work ethic comes directly from watching my mom while I was growing up. This woman was a powerhouse: she owned a business in a male dominated industry (programming) and was incredibly successful at that; she was the manager of my competitive soccer team and did all the programming for my club’s yearly tournament and their website in addition to owning her business, and being a parent on top of that. Read more>>
Ileis Figueroa
My Mother. She moved to Florida from Puerto Rico with all 4 of her children, all under the age of 10 and pushed through every obstacle to make sure we had a better future and more opportunities presented to us. She always found a way to provide even when she had no idea how she would make it happen. We always call her “The go getter” of the family. Read more>>
Amanda Bravender
I come from a long line of entrepreneurs, starting with my great-grandmother, who became a beautician after her husband passed away. My grandfather was a successful business owner, and I grew up watching my dad work two jobs to provide for our family. This legacy instilled in me a strong work ethic, and with a large family to care for, I’ve never had a choice but to work hard. But more than that, I’m driven by a deep love for what I do, which makes the effort all the more rewarding. Read more>>
Susan Popovich
My mother gave me a great work ethic. She was Italian and she had to work hard most of her life, because she came from a large family and they didn’t have much. She always wanted her children to have more than she did. I started working as a teenager and I’ve never been afraid of hard work. Now that my mother has passed away I look to my son for inspiration. He is a very hard worker and has worked with me to help me with my business. Read more>>
Angie Vogel
I learned from a young age that no one was going to just hand you the things you wanted. I grew up in a lower middle class family, with working parents. We had what we needed, but never much for extras. One story that comes to mind is in middle school i wanted the sneakers that everyone had, and my mom said we couldn’t afford them and that if i wanted them i would have to earn the money to get them. (they were vans by the way!) So i got a paper route. I don’t even think that job exists anymore. The gratification of working for then buying my own sneakers was enough to instill in me to get what i wanted, I had to work for it. Read more>>
Justine Parra
My family! My gramps is the greatest guy alive and will out work anyone with his eyes closed. From sun up til sun down he’s working-at their shop or helping anyone that needs it. My nawnee, gah she’s just the best. She’s everything for every one all the time. My dad- he’s a real hustler & provider and the greatest cook. He’s the one that makes it all happen. My uncle stayed persistent and patient and now it’s all happening for him. I love them. Each person is so inspiring. Read more>>
Kathy Simpson
My work ethic comes from my mom and dad. My dad , Vincent Marra, ventured to America from Naples,Italy in 1924. He was 3 years old at the time. He and his family moved around to a from a few cities, but settled in what is now South Philadelphia. His mom and dad opened an Italian restaurant in 1927, which will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2027.. (My cousin Robert D’Adamo owns it now.) Read more>>
Rick Ornelas
My work ethic definitely comes from two of the hardest-working people I’ve ever known, my parents. For a long time I thought it solely came from my father and wasn’t giving my mother enough credit. Growing up, I was fortunate to witness firsthand the power of dedication, perseverance, and a relentless commitment to one’s responsibilities. These lessons have profoundly shaped my understanding of hard work and continue to guide my actions to this day. Read more>>
Nile Livingston
My work ethic stems from watching my grandfather, Walter R. Livingston Jr., and my mother, Nadine Livingston. My grandfather, a Philadelphia architect, lived across the street and wore a suit every day, always greeting us with a signature clicking sound to announce his presence. His drafting papers became my first canvases, and his involvement in civic boards taught me the importance of creating work that serves the community. Read more>>
Jose Ignacio Santos
I’ve always liked art in general, but drawing has always been close to my heart. I draw since I have memory, at first like any other kid, drawing cartoons and things I watched at the time, but later drawing portraits and concept art from my mind. Also I was self-taught when I started and achieved professional level at age 16. But I mention this because I used to spend hours and hours drawing, some times it getting up to 12 hours in a day just stopping to eat. Later, I went to art school and my technique got incredibly better and I could do the same quality work in way less time. Read more>>
Kata Walters
I am sure my strong work ethic comes from my parents setting that example but also my heritage. My grandfather went to New Zealand at 14 from Croatia ( then Yugoslavia) and worked in the gold mines. He didn’t speak a word of English. He made a life for himself there and I know that is in my blood. I have a slightly stubborn attitude as far as ” I can do anything” and that strong will has pushed me beyond my known capabilities. Read more>>
Sammie Pechkurow
I think my work ethic comes from having two parents who I have looked up to since I can remember. My dad was in the military when I was growing up and then became a police officer and he’s the best man I know and continues to amaze me. Then I have my mom who is just a force to be reckoned with. She has overcome more than her fair share of obstacles at past jobs and her current job and being able to watch her accomplish so many things growing up was truly inspiring. Read more>>
Alexis Louder
My mother taught me, through word and example, from a young age to work hard for what I want to gain in life. My mother worked multiple jobs to raise her children and still was very attentive to each of us. She helped us to be diligent in our school work. That diligence help me excel to the point I was taking college courses while in high school. Now, that same work ethic translates into my acting, writing, and producing. I am very thorough in everything I do. Read more>>
Emily Lopez
My work ethic comes from both of my immigrant parents. They have always worked incredibly hard. Sometimes 2 or 3 jobs at a time to support my 4 siblings and I. Read more>>
Teemaree
A strong work ethic is a wonderful thing to have, although I must say it can also evolve over time. My work ethic comes from a mixture of influences. My childhood experiences, how I was raised, and my personal drive/ambition. As a first generation American, there are aspects of the immigrant experience that colored the way I view work. My grandparents and parents worked hard to provide and I saw all of that which then made it normal to me. I also was raised without a lot which made me desire to have and do. Read more>>
Nikki Barnes
From a very young age, I have always been known as the organized hard worker. I recently went through some old boxes from childhood and found a chart from my dance team that I’d made. I was the appointed “manager” at age 8 or 9 and had collected all of the dancers’ information, which I then made into a color-coded graph with their names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses in alphabetical order. It felt really good to be able to keep things in order. Read more>>
Amanda French
I feel like I have always had a strong work ethic and I don’t know that it came from any one place. I believe my maternal grandmother had a good work ethic and I think that was passed on to my mother so I had them as role models. My faith also has played a big part in having that ethic. There are Bible verses that talk about it and working for the Lord and not men among other verses that speak to the benefit of hard work. I am also an Air Force veteran and my time in the military has also played a role. Read more>>
Edward Ray
I love this question. I now have this newborn fantasy that a teacher from highschool might stumble on this interview and baulk at the thought of me having any kind of work ethic whatsoever. I was a terrible student. Just scraping by was my idea of succeeding, in most classes. I distinctly remember getting a school report once, it said I’d done the bare minimum to pass the class that year. I was genuinely perplexed when my mum got angry at me. Read more>>
Stacey Shevlin
From an early age I was required to self motivate. I started competitive figure skating in elementary school. My mother was a very sheltered child and she wanted to give me every opportunity to explore my interests. Turned out that was ice skating when I was a kid. I dove in head first. We joined a local club and I got a coach. After a few months my coach saw that I had talent and encouraged us to really go for it. Read more>>
Fate Winczuk
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing and life experiences. I was born in Iran, and my mother made the brave decision to flee with my siblings and me to America in 1999. We started a new life here, and from a young age, I witnessed firsthand the value of hard work, resilience, and determination as we adapted to a new country and culture. Read more>>
Jay Kurt
My mom grew up in a lower-middle class family in Türkiye, and her greatest pride of joy was her academic achievements. She believed that with hard work, she can not only elevate herself, but also her family and her mom who sacrificed a lot for my mom’s success. As I was growing up in Istanbul, she instilled those same ethical values in me. If I wanted to dream big about my career and my life, I was taught that there is nothing holding me back except for myself, and if I work hard enough, I can achieve all my aspirations. Read more>>
Rebecca Demeter
I get my work ethic from my parents. My dad immigrated to the US in the early 90s, and my mom, my brother, and I followed a few years later. I grew up with a mom and dad who worked hard every single day to provide a great life for myself and my siblings. No matter how tired they were, they always made time to be there for us. Read more>>
Anna Wenger
I credit a huge amount of my work ethic to my Dad. Growing up he didn’t come from much at all and worked any job available to him to support our family while still building his career as a professional classical musician. He not only served as an inspiration to me to never give up on my creative endeavors as an actor, but also that you can do anything you set your mind to, as long as you are willing to dedicate your time and trust the process. Read more>>
Houston Fry
I would say that I got my work ethic from my Dad Steve Fry. My dad was from Dalhart Texas. He would always tell me stories about how he would work full time at an oil rig at night to pay for college. After college my dad served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. During his time in the Navy, he earned a purple heart and various other air medals. Read more>>
Jacob Perez
My Parents. Mom and Dad were both hard workers. By watching my Dad and the passion he had from learning new things and conquering uncharted territory, it installed a sense of drive in me. I found my passion at a young age and wanted to reach many goals and I believe that passion and drive is like fuel. Read more>>
Jessica Vicars
I developed my work ethic at an early age, learning from my family and from swimming. My parents always taught us to set very high goals and work hard to achieve them. We learned that it takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance to achieve goals and dreams. Read more>>
Taylor Tefft
I strongly believe that my work ethic came after realizing that nothing comes with a handout. After opening up One Call Logistics in 2018, I did not understand why business wasn’t just booming and it did not make sense to me. After many months of trying to learn the ins and outs and push myself to understand how to run a business, I simply realized that in order to be successful you just have to outwork everyone else. I’d start my days at 5AM and close my laptop at 11PM daily and this went on for about 3-4 years consistently. Read more>>
Aleks Kapett
Without a doubt, my work ethic comes from my upbringing. I was born in Serbia during it’s war torn era, and in 97′ my parents brought me to America to give me a decent chance at a life. Growing up with foreign parents, I think many could relate on how that naturally leads to a strong work ethic, but more specifically, my father made sure I understood where we came from and what it would take to create a good life for myself. Read more>>
Rosmery Ramirez
My resilience comes from a deep inner strength and a genuine passion for what I do. I draw on my experiences, education, and the challenges I’ve overcome, which have shaped me into someone who thrives under pressure. My unwavering commitment to helping others, along with my constant pursuit of growth, keeps me grounded and focused, no matter how tough the situation. It’s this blend of determination and empathy that fuels my ability to bounce back, stronger every time. Read more>>
Jose Romero
I was born in Honduras. I lived there till I was ten, then my family came to New Jersey. While I was there, I had the privilege of studying at an American school, for my parents both had good careers. This school taught us how to read and write in Spanish and English at the same time, so you can imagine the workload. They pushed us hard and we learned a good work ethic there. In the summers, my parents would send me to my uncle’s farm in the country. He would wake me up at 6 AM and put me to work with chores until dusk. I credit my parents, my first school, and my uncle for instilling a hard work ethic in me. Read more>>
Mars Kidd
Growing up, I was constantly reminded of my limitations due to my heart condition. I was told that I couldn’t participate in sports, exercise, or take on jobs that might exhilarate my heart. These restrictions were meant to protect me, but they also instilled a belief that I wasn’t capable of doing certain things. Read more>>
Jason Fitzgerald
I’ve been a runner since 1998, first with cross country and track at the high school and collegiate levels, and then with road and trail racing as a post-collegiate and Master’s athlete. There’s no way to be a successful runner without a strong work ethic and that has bled into the rest of my life, too. Running has taught me the value of discipline, self-efficacy, consistency, and being process-oriented. Read more>>
Alexa Goldie
My work ethic comes from experience. I spent years waiting for things to happen in my career and finally realized that things don’t just happen in this industry without hard work and dedication. Once I started putting in the work, I saw results and that’s how I learned to work for this. My parents were also main drivers in pushes me to have a good work ethic. Growing up I got to watch them work every day endlessly to reach their own goals, dreams and ambitions. Having role models show me how hard work pays off helped a lot. Read more>>
Laurent Vrignaud
I get my work ethic from a combination of my experiences and mindset. Moving to the U.S. at 17 was a pivotal moment for me. I started from the ground up in the sports business, and being self-taught, I had to push myself constantly to learn and grow. My philosophy is simple: whatever I do, I go big or go home. That drive has always fueled my commitment to excellence and hard work in everything I pursue. Read more>>
Rekha Ananthanpillai
I grew up in an immigrant household, both my parents had moved to the US with very little money and a dream. They taught me the importance of saving and believing in your dreams. Growing up I was reinforced that to be successful in anything you needed to stay true to yourself and work hard. Seeing both my parents excel in their respective fields taught me that hard work, self belief and dedication are the key ingredients for success. Read more>>
Raghav Gupta
I get my work ethic from my father. He has always been a hard-working man, and even as he nears retirement, his dedication remains unwavering. Growing up, I learned from him that while we can’t always control how smart we are, we can always control how hard we work. He taught me that hard work often compensates for any gaps in skills, and that’s a lesson I’ve carried with me throughout my career. His example has been a guiding force in my journey, showing me the value of perseverance and dedication in everything I do. Read more>>
Cierra Fitzgerald
Ever since I was a child, I have held strong admiration for both my parents who have always been hard-working individuals. My parents are the type of people that work hard for what they want whether it is financial freedom or providing for their family. They instilled in me the drive to work for what I want and to turn my dreams and aspirations into reality. I have also developed from my father a somewhat competitive nature that drives me to want to be the best in all activities I pursue. Read more>>
Joshua Montoya
I come from a family where hard work was a fundamental value. We didn’t have the luxury of wealth, so everyone in my family worked full-time, and nothing was ever handed to us. I started working at 15, bagging groceries in Texas, and from that moment on, I understood the importance of dedication and perseverance. Watching others enjoy things that were out of reach for us—like fancy meals, designer clothes, and vacations—motivated me to put in the extra effort to create a better life for myself. Read more>>
Al Arena
Not to sound cliche but my parents were and always will be what i model my work ethic after. My dad was constantly striving to do more in his career path and event carve new paths in his chosen profession. And my mom worked so hard to find balance between creating the kind of career she wanted and caring for my sister and me because of my dad’s work hours. They showed me that there can be balance without compromising what you want to achieve in life. Read more>>
