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.

Mayra Velazquez Diaz

I think work ethic, as well as many other characteristics, come from home. Parents have played an important role for our developing personality and of course we have learned a lot of things from them. How to treat people, deal with issues with bosses, coworkers and customers. They held different positions in their jobs, one of those was as a teacher. Being a teacher is a challenging job, you have to talk to students, bosses, other teachers and sometimes, parents. They have developed soft skills that later we had the chance to learn. Read more>>

Katherine Costanzo

When I was a little girl, I used to go to my grandparents a lot. They owned a LOT of chickens. Barns full. My grandfather was a Vet and also showed chickens. They lived on a farm. When I wanted something, I would get it but I had to work for it. So, I would plan a weekend where I would go to their home and for $10/hour I would clean the chicken coops and also weed the gardens. They would wake me up at 6:00am, eat a bowl of fruit and some toast and get to work. I was taught at a young age that you can achieve the things you desire if you work for them. The first thing I ever wanted to buy was a tiny blow up pool, and so I got it but I worked for it.  Read more>>

Liza Brody

My brother, dad and (late) grandfather all work for a family owned-business and they have been my inspiration and role models from the very beginning. I grew up watching my dad navigate the highs and lows of being a small business owner and I am constantly learning from his work ethic, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Read more>>

Brittany Christie

I’d say my work ethic comes from my background as an athlete and the strong influence of my father. Being a former athlete, I was coached by some demanding, high-standard coaches who instilled in me a sense of discipline and a drive to achieve our very best. In sports, you learn to compete fiercely, push yourself beyond your limits, maintain your composure in pressure-filled situations, and build resilience without letting obstacles affect your performance. It’s not just about winning games; it’s about building character, and those lessons have shaped who I am today. Read more>>

Faith Perry

Growing up, I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to watch my mother, a remarkable woman with unwavering resilience. She was a powerhouse in every sense—relentlessly hard-working, resourceful, and wise. As a single mother, she not only managed our household but also took on extra work to ensure we were well taken care of. She exemplified strength, and from her, I learned one of the most valuable lessons of my life: never lay all your eggs in one pot. She taught me the importance of creating multiple avenues of security, encouraging me to think beyond the present and plan for the future. Read more>>

Ryia Cynel

my work ethic was instilled in me by my family who always encouraged me to pursue my passion for hairstyling with dedication and integrity. I’ve never been the one to compare myself to others so having the skill came naturally. Read more>>

Karan Patel (kp)

I’d say my work ethic comes from watching the people around me, especially my family, who taught me early on that hard work and consistency build the foundation for anything you want to achieve. Growing up, I saw how dedication can turn challenges into opportunities, and that stuck with me. Read more>>

Makayla Isley

I definitely get it from my parents. I work hard because of they’re support and the knowledge they gave me to keep my work ethic strong. Read more>>

Raven Keiara

Having worked in the entertainment and media industry since I was five, I would say my work ethic has kind of naturally progressed over the years. There have been so many milestones in my life, and I have learned so much about myself from each and every one of them. From being the youngest producer at Tavis Smiley’s Talk Radio Station to honing my skills in musical theatre, becoming an ambassador at Amazing Grace Conservatory working as a protege under Wendy Raquel Robinson. There are so many more experiences that I can attribute to growing my professionalism. Whenever I am on a set, in a studio, or at an event, I always like to converse with industry leaders, ask questions, and shadow whoever, using that as an opportunity to learn.  Read more>>

Cyrus Apeles

For me I get my work ethic from my parents. Seeing them as I was growing up working multiple jobs to always keep a roof over our head and food on the table. Even if at a young age they decided to devoice the still made things work for the best for us. Seeing how hard they worked and struggled for us really made me appreciate everything that much more. And my dad would always say I needed to make sure I was better everyday and I was the only one I needed to compete with prove something for. Read more>>

Eean Tyson

I get my work ethic from my Grandma Daisy. She passed when I was 14 years old and has been a constant influence on my life. My grandmother raised seven sons, mostly on her own, in Alabama. She achieved what seemed impossible for a woman of color at that time: she owned a home, when most women couldn’t get approved for a mortgage. She started two businesses and worked a full time job. Every summer, she would call my dad and tell him to bring me to her, so we could spend time together. One of those summers, I woke up extra early one day so I could go to work with her. Read more>>

Grace Slansky

There’s a misconception that efficiency or work ethic or cramming so many things into a day equals success, but at the end of the day, it much more likely comes down to interest and dedication to completing a task no matter how long it takes. Read more>>

Judy Morgan

I get my work ethic from my family. Both sets of grandparents came from very humble beginnings. One grandfather dropped out of school before junior high to work to put food on his family’s table. He was an entrepreneur who didn’t believe in banks, saving his money in tobacco cans buried in his basement. He bought, refurbished, and sold many vegetable and dairy farms, then moved on to owning a general store and then a furniture store. My other grandfather worked hard to put himself through college, eventually becoming a county school superintendent. Both my parents worked hard to make things better for the next generation.  Read more>>

Andy Tabar

I suppose my work ethic was always there from the start, but it was really fostered by coming up in the DIY punk and hardcore music scenes. In that world there is an understanding that no one is coming to save you. No record label is going to scoop you up and make you successful, no venue is just going to book you out of the blue. So you learn to do it yourself. That means handling everything from finding a basement or a rented hall to throw the show, cobbling together a PA, making your own flyers and busting your butt to get them out to everyone. You put out your own records, act as your own promotional machine, book your own cross country tours. Your success lives and dies by the amount of effort that you are willing to put in. Read more>>

James Dale

My work ethic comes from a combination of personal values and life experiences. First with my Mom and Dad. Growing up, I was taught the importance of discipline, responsibility, and perseverance. Watching people around me, and being inspired by mentors, to see them work hard and push through challenges instilled in me the belief that It’s about doing your best, even when no one is watching, and staying committed even when things get tough. Read more>>

Lora Tchekoratova

I am a trained classical musician who learned to work hard from a young age. While I was unaware of the importance of my early training for the person I was to become, I am forever thankful for my early years in music. Over the years, I have realized that enjoying the discipline required to bring any project, idea, or dream to reality is what I need to have a fulfilling and happy life. Read more>>

Jamal Lawson

I get it from my father first and having played sports second. My father retired from People’s Gas in Chicago and is a general tradesman skilled in plumbing, carpentry, and electrical. He took me on a lot of jobs and fixing things around the house to learn how to fix things yourself and the value of working. All the things that come with like discipline, willingness to learn, and tenacity still play a part in how I approach everything as someone that runs their own video production company. Read more>>

Niki Croom

Since I’ve decided to pursue my artistic career, my work ethic has been consistent. The decision to pursue what seemed to be the impossible I knew meant having many sacrifices. I was ready for that, but what I and I think many other artists overlook is keeping a healthy physical and mental lifestyle. Yes, it is important to work and to get a lot of hours in the studio but in order to work efficiently and keep my inspiration alive I’ve learned I must take the time to give myself what I need. Whether that’s sleep, actually cooking and eating a home-cooked meal, taking a walk outside, hanging with friends, you get the idea. I needed to try and change my lifestyle because if I continued the way I was, I knew I was approaching burnout. Of course I still have the occasional all nighters. But my rule now is to try not to have two or three of them in a row. It’s usually not worth it. Read more>>

Debbie Adams

Work ethic will show the kind of person you really are in the fact that it shows how you handle situations that arise whether work related or personal. It shows the values that you possess and how you use those values. I would say part of my work ethic I learned from my dad and the other part I learned through life experiences. My dad is a strong motivator and encourager, and he taught me early in life to always do things correct the first time, so you won’t need to be correcting things. He also taught me that if you’re working for 8 hours, then you need to put in 8 full hours of work. People with a good work ethic are motivated to get things done and I strive to always be motivated with a strong work ethic to always do what is right and to get things done correctly in a timely manner.  Read more>>

Maya Oster

My work ethic was mainly instilled in me by my parents, who taught me the importance of treating people with kindness and working hard regardless of project size or scale. Not only did I hear about this from them, but I also saw it in practice as they moved through their own careers and personal projects. It is their advice, plus my natural can-do attitude that allows me to follow through on the tasks I undertake. As a student in the University of Southern California’s MFA Film & Television Program, I have been working on some of the largest projects of my filmmaking journey yet.  Read more>>

Stephen Love-wade

It all comes from my mom, Carolyn. My mom had me at 40 years old and from then till retirement at 71 she’s always had two jobs working around 60 hours a week but still making time for the things that mattered. It’s hard to make excuses when you have that example as your foundation for what hard work looks like. There’s some lines between the work/life balance in todays society but by anyone’s standards, she’s a hell of a worker. I find myself saying I’m tired from time to time at the age of 31 and just imagine how my mom felt at 45 with me as a 5 year old, that’s wild. I constantly give her her flowers for setting that example. Read more>>

Anton Baranenko

My strong work ethic is a direct result of the example set by my parents. As a child, I witnessed them relocate from the Soviet Union and tirelessly work multiple jobs, often three at a time, without complaint in order to provide for our family. This unwavering dedication and willingness to do “whatever it takes” became ingrained in me as simply “the way of life.” Now, as an employer responsible for the livelihoods of those who work for me, I approach this great responsibility with the same steadfast commitment, understanding that their reliance on me is not something I take lightly. Read more>>

Gabrielle Radow

I’ve always been an extremely hard worker. My passion comes from loving what I do. If you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life right? I work best under pressure when I’m in stressful or overwhelming scenarios. It lights a fire under me to keep pushing forward. I want to be able to live the life I’ve dreamed of in terms of being financially stable and comfortable as well as being able to provide ad be able to do the things I love doing like travel, shop and self-care. Read more>>

Kristen O’neall

My work ethic is deeply rooted in the responsibility I feel toward our clients and the people our ads reach. At Mirage, we’re not just crafting campaigns; we’re helping shape real decisions that impact lives—from the colleges people choose to the products they trust and the destinations they’re inspired to explore. Every ad, every strategy has the potential to change someone’s life. It’s easy in this industry to get lost in numbers and metrics, but behind every statistic is a human being making a choice. That knowledge drives me every single day. Read more>>

Spencer Hill

I believe that my work ethic stems from the group of friends and colleagues that I have surrounded myself with over the last 5 years. I think that it is important in life to never be the most successful person in your closest group of people, but also never be at the bottom of the pyramid either. Somewhere in the middle keeps you motivated and driven to succeed in life, and I will always keep that in mind. You can strive to be the best while still helping your close friends and colleagues to be more successful as well. Read more>>

Joshua Crisp

Throughout my life people have said to me, “You’re the hardest worker I’ve ever met” or other similar statements. For most of my life I have heard that, but never really unpacked the statement. Where did it come from? Is it a compliment? Am I born with that work ethic or is it a developed or learned behavior? I’m not sure I know the answers to these questions, but the older I get, I can look back and see people and circumstances in my life that have helped to shape me and no doubt contributed to my work ethic. These people and circumstances, and both the good and the bad experiences have given me leverage to have a strong work ethic with an unquenchable motivation to get up every day and put my best effort towards whatever my hands and feet lead me to do in any given moment. I only really know one speed and that is 100 percent. Read more>>

Syannah

Growing up with two hard-working parents definitely shaped my understanding of what it means to truly work for what you want, and it has greatly influenced my own work ethic. My dad is a doctor, and my mom is a physical therapist. Though neither of them are musicians, they taught me what it means to give 110% to your profession. My mom always said that giving up is not an option if you really want something, and that if someone says, “You can’t do it,” I should use it as fuel to push even harder. Read more>>

Marissa Mauro Flemming

When I was in high school, I told my high school band director I wanted to major in music in college. I had successfully won first chair in the all-county band, was drum major of the marching band, and principal flute in the regional youth orchestra. She laughed in my face and told me to come back in four years and tell her I was still doing that. Having people constantly questioning my abilities and doubting me only fueled my drive and passion to prove them wrong. Read more>>

Bailee Strickland

Growing up, my parents were and still are the hardest working people I know. Some could call it being restless, but I have a hard time when I’m not doing something productive. My husband is actively trying to teach me how to rest but I can’t be convinced that it’s as simple as napping…. Read more>>

Kyle Mastropole

My work ethic is from a combination of individuals I have met personally and professionally. It all starts with my Dad. Growing up I can remember going to sleep while my Dad was still at his desk working. I’d wake up, and there he was in the morning, standing in front of the hallway mirror tying his tie to get ready to go to work. He worked a lot, but never seemed flustered, was always calm, and regularly showed up for our games and practices regardless of the long days he had. As I got older, I realized how much he worked to make sure we were all taken care of and I’ve always looked up to my Dad for his work ethic and calm, but strong demeanor. Read more>>

Jawon Im

I developed my work ethic during my five years studying architecture in Korea. Architecture studies really showed me what it means to work hard because it’s not just about designing buildings – you have to understand many different things like construction laws, history, and design principles all at once. Read more>>

Filomena “mena” Maimone

I am very proud of my work ethic, which I get from my mom, Rocki Maimone. She is a serial entrepreneur who has started various businesses, so I have seen her grind since I was young. She is a businesswoman and Realtor with more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, senior housing and real estate. I followed in my mom’s entrepreneurial footsteps by opening my own business, the law firm Maimone Legal PLLC, which focuses on immigration law and estate planning. I always looked up to my mom for her work ethic, and now, she works with me as the senior business manager at Maimone Legal. I’m so fortunate to have her on our team to utilize her decades of business experience. The firm has already grown significantly since its opening in 2023, and I believe our hustle and grit will continue to bring the firm to new heights. Read more>>