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.
Jasmynn Abernathy
I grew up watching my mom work harder than anyone I knew. Despite being a single mother of three children, she always seemed to muster up the energy to show up daily for work; she even managed to work overtime on the weekends. My mom was the definition of a hard worker. She always encouraged me to do my best. Watching her persevere amid adversity empowered me to strive beyond my limits. Read More>>
Kelly Johnson
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the values instilled in me while growing up. I was fortunate enough to have been raised with a strong foundation that emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance. From an early age, I was taught that putting in the effort and dedicating myself to my goals would lead to positive outcomes. Read More>>
Lord Vizion
Other than faith, I believe your work ethic is the number one component, in my opinion, that leads to your success. Someone may be stronger than you, faster than you, rap better than you but if you work harder than anyone, you’ll always come out on top. My work ethic comes from not wanting to be a victim of my environment. I can’t remember a time in my life where we didn’t struggle so the only way I could get out of that cycle is to work harder than anyone else. Read More>>
Gabi Sperry, CKD, CAPS
My strong work ethic comes from generations of my family living in poverty in Guatemala. They had no choice but to work hard to simply, survive. It is in my blood. My Grandparents tried their best to give my parents a good life but were faced with many struggles. Both my parents had to stop going to school at a very young age, to sell items in the streets to help support their families. My parents went through a very difficult journey to bring my brothers, sister and I to California when I was 3 years old, in a desperate attempt to give us a better life. Read More>>
Airius Reed
I’m a co owner of SOBO clothing which is a street wear brand. Started the brand with a few childhood friends a couple years back. What’s most exciting about the brand to me is just being able to express ourselves through clothing and art and just staying true (being original) not following the crowd. We have recently had a few pop ups at Navy Pier, MCA, and we currently have one more coming up on August 13 at “Sundays on State” event. Definitely looking forward to the event. Read More>>
Daejha Baines
My work ethic comes from knowing no one is going to show up for me .. but me. I have big dreams that only I can fulfill. I have a vision so big, beyond the average human mind can ever even imagine. My work ethic developed from not having, and wanting better. Back in 2018, I lost my grandmother and she literally provided my every need and want, with no questions asked which had me super spoiled. However, I remember the days she worked so hard, consistently, she always showed up for herself even if no one else did. She’d always tell me even as a little girl you have to always work hard for what you want in this life. At the time, it really didn’t dawn on me because “why would I; when I know I can call and be dependent upon you?” I thought. Read More>>
Megan Ritchie
Honestly, my work ethic has been cultivated through the challenges I faced growing up and the responsibilities I now hold as a parent. Unfortunately, both my husband and I aren’t close with our families and we don’t really have a support system. It’s the lack of support that has motivated me to be self-reliant, resourceful, and to give my best effort everyday. When you come from nothing, the allure of success becomes even more captivating. Read More>>
Mi.Yayø
My work ethic comes from being a product of my environment, in Miami, Fl! Fast pace city where you’ll learn you got to hustle more than relax to eat let alone live life. & also complements to the people who seem potential in me and didn’t let me slack. One of my daily affirmations questions is, “if I don’t do it, who will.” Read More>>
Sasha Camille
The magic of my ancestors runs in my DNA. I come from a family of hard workers. My bloodline originates in Haiti and my people have always had a fighting spirit. My grandparents and my parents immigrated to the U.S for better opportunity. They worked long and hard even despite the language barrier to get an education and a career here. My grandmother was much older so she jumped straight into working minim wage odd jobs to provide for my entire family. Read More>>
Kourtnee Monroe
My work ethic was instilled in me from an early age. My parents were both two hardworking individuals who taught my siblings and me to apply ourselves and go after our goals. My father was in the military and very disciplined so a lot of his characteristics rubbed off on me! Read More>>
LaTasha Hyman
I thank God for the awesome parents he has blessed me with. They have been great examples of how a person should strive to walk in integrity and be a person of good stewardship. I was always told to be careful of the company that you keep. With that being said, I always kept good company by surrounding myself around positive people. I am very observant and an excellent listener. Therefore, I would have to say, not only did I learn great work ethics from my parents but also from my teachers, previous supervisors, and spiritual leaders. Read More>>
Jazmin Gatica
I would like to start off by giving credit to my family. They have been my biggest inspiration and what keeps me going through my toughest days. On days I want to give up I think of these people for guidance. My mom and my dad have paved the way for me and showed me their consistency and hard work. Another significant person that I look up to, has been my uncle who has started his own company a few years ago and has been a very successful entreprenuer. Together all these important people have built up my work ethic to create the independent hard working women that I am today. Read More>>
Cervon Williams
I have a fear of failure. I know what it feels like when things are just not going your way and you feel down on your luck. When you get a taste of failure its like you never want to experience that feeling again. My idea of failure varied so much, even in the most minor sense. For example, I remember when I first heard 50cent’s song ‘window shopper’, I am singing along and I am like whoa I am a window shopper lol. I hated the feeling of going to the mall and picking a pair of shoes up and being like “ooh these are dope!” Read More>>
Ezekiel Shrader
I developed a strong work ethic from, oddly enough, fear. And not the fear you might expect such as the fear of never having money or being homeless, but rather the fear of letting my father figure down and disappointing him. I, in fact, still recall the day it dawned on me that I had to be more than what I was. At the age of twelve I had been given a task, which I don’t recall what it was, but I do remember it taking me far longer to do than what was expected to the point where it wasn’t really being helpful. My older brother had a clear sign of disappointment on his face and it was a sure sign I let him down. One of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. Read More>>
Angeliki Papadakis
My family had a restaurant and we all worked there. My Dad owned it, my uncle co-managed it, my mom did the flower arrangements for the tables, my brothers, cousins, second cousins and I bussed and waited tables. My Dad is big on service and instilled that in all of us at the restaurant and at home. At the Papadakis Taverna, he spoke of the “heart of a servant” and the difference between that alignment and just serving people food. We all loved the place he built, our customers loved the place and everyone learned how to work hard together (although admittedly sometimes more effectively than others) Read More>>
Eddie Garcia
I think my work ethic comes from my family. Starting with my mother. Being a single Mom I never really knew her to take a lot of sick time although she had a job where it was readily available to her. I also remember her making dinner just about every night which I really didn’t appreciate until I got older and would usually default to fast food or some other quick option, and I was only taking care of myself. You need a strong work ethic to accomplish both of those things when you are taking care of two kids on your own. Read More>>
Srilekha Cherukuvada
Work ethic is one of the most crucial skills to develop, and the one person in my life I see constantly exhibit this trait is my father. My dad is constantly working on something new at work, and always strives to do better and be a better leader. In addition to work, my dad inspires me every day to try new things and work hard. With work ethic, however, comes balance. I was working 4 jobs at one point in college, and sure, hustle culture was something I absolutely loved, but it was also killing me. I learned how to set work life boundaries- something that we often forget work ethic includes. Read More>>
Christa LaNatra
I grew up with a single mother and watching her work so hard for us taught me what hard work was. I started working as soon as I could getting a job at 15 at the one place in town that would hire me. By 16, I was waiting table making more money than all of my friends and never not had a job since. Looking back, working hard and not shying away from challenges definitely got me ahead, however the older I get, the more I revere a positive mindset and working smart, not hard. Perspective is really everything in life. Read More>>
Stanley Louissaint Aroma
My work ethic is all about holding myself to a high standard at work I always strive to do my best, and identify aspects of my work that motivate me such as tasks, goals or colleagues. I spend my time wisely on tasks that align with my goals and prioritize tasks by impact. and employers value people with work ethic because they will be trustworthy and reliable employees. Read More>>
Jared & Lauren Bowser
Our work ethic was instilled in us from our parents at a young age. They worked hard, and through their example, it showed us the importance of having a strong work ethic. Nobody wants to hire someone who is lazy or someone who doesn’t see things through until the end. We have found that it’s always beneficial to always try and do your best and not cut corners when it comes to work. Read More>>
Gabrielle Seunagal
My work ethic is largely driven by the desire to achieve, advance, and get ahead in my career. Since I started freelance writing in January 2017, I knew that truly building a business, a brand, and making a name for myself would demand hard work, consistency, and never giving up. Read More>>
Marisa Leilani Mustard
I have had such amazing role models, My aunt and uncle are both artists (welder and graphic designer) and I see how hard they work every day and how happy and successful they are. Not only that but I throughly just enjoy painting. Even when I take a day off you can still find me painting or doing some type of art project. I’ve never been a person that can just sit still. Read More>>
Alex Creighton
My parents always had high expectations of me. Both of them were very successful in their careers and always expected the best grades and behavior from me. For the majority of my childhood I never accomplished this. I was pretty lazy and didn’t apply myself all that much. I mostly just wanted to get high with my friends and play guitar. But, something changed for me in my senior year of high school. I decided to apply myself in school and take it seriously. Nothing really happened I just decided to have some focus in what I did. I think all of the seeds my parents planted in me were finally starting to bloom. I wasn’t a straight A student that year but I did much better than I ever had in school and it did me well enough to get into college where I graduated with honors. Read More>>
Lorna Daniel-Dupree
I have always believed that my work ethic stems from a combination of factors, with my parents being the primary source of inspiration. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the unwavering dedication and hard work my parents put into their own ventures as entrepreneurs. They instilled in me the importance of persistence, determination, and a strong work ethic. Read More>>
Taylor Laws
My work ethic was instilled at a young age thanks to my parents. My mom and dad taught me that nothing is earned and that you have to work hard to earn what you want in life. When I was about 13 (maybe younger) I started asking my mom and dad what I could do to earn money. I think my interest came from seeing my 16 year old sister start working and making money. At the time, my dad owned a dental practice in southern, Oregon. They would let me take on small tasks like assembling new paper charts, alphabetizing files, shredding papers, cleaning the bathrooms. I quickly became obsessed with the process of crossing out a completed task with my marker. Read More>>
Destiny Campbell
My work ethic has always stemmed from a child. My mother always taught me how important it is to work, especially as a woman. Joining the work force at just 16, has also allowed me to learn many great tools progressing now into the present time. It all happened to mold me into this thriving business woman I am today. I believe in “ working hard and not being lazy.” Nothing comes to a person who doesn’t work towards what they desire. Read More>>
Aremintto Morris
Where did I get my work ethic? LOL thats super easy! My work ethic comes from both of parents. My mother Lavern and my father Kelvin. They always taught me to work hard for what I want, need and my dreams. The beautiful part about them teaching that is that they lead by an example. My father Kelvin got up every day at 4am to go to work as a truck driver to provide for his family and he was very focused dedicated to do so. My mother Lavern also showed my siblings Maurice, Lovell, Doris and I to be dedicated and stay consistent in our goals as she still works in the medical field til this day. I am super grateful for them instilling that fire i would need in my life and to pass down to my children. Read More>>
Mike Hathcote
I think I get most of my work ethic from my parents. Both are hard workers, both before and after retirement. They taught me the importance of working with my hands and being self-reliant. I grew up in Knoxville, TN and that mindset was pretty prevalent in those days. Some of my earliest memories are of helping my dad in his wood shop and doing household chores like hauling firewood and yard work. We lived in a normal middle-class neighborhood, and my parents were very much a DIY mentality. Read More>>
Keno
I get my work ethic from my parents. I started working at 15 years old and have been able to gradually increase my knowledge and income throughout the years. I saw my parents work hard to provide for me and each other. Even when my mother was forced to retire from her job early, she still tried to find ways to make a steady income for the household. I am big on growth and having a good worth ethic helps me propel in my career. Read More>>
Kendra Preston
I got it in part from being a horse kid and in part from focusing on being a professional musician. Horse kids–by which I mean the kids who take lessons, hang out at the barn, trade doing barn chores for rides, and/or lease or own a horse, and are responsible for the welfare of the horses they take care of and for keeping the tack and barn clean and in good order–learn to work hard. I was a horse kid before I started playing the cello, and the self-discipline I learned from it helped make learning to practice the cello easier. Read More>>
Donna Werking
I grew up in the city and rural areas as a child but my work ethic came from my time at the age of nine living on a farm in Queen Creek, Arizona. I bottle fed 300 calves every morning before school. I also helped with the farm chores after school. I know it’s where my work ethic was engrained in me as a child. Read More>>
Chantel Miller
When I was 10 years old my Mother became gravely ill. My Mother had suffered a life threatening stroke and had been hospitalized for a prolonged period of time. At the time; my Father had to not only balance his work life and his home life (providing for his 3 young children) but He also had to prioritize being with my Mother any chance He could while she was in the hospital. After my Mother was released from the hospital she was deemed permanently disabled and could no longer work. Read More>>
Ashley “DJ Desire” Cavasino
Anyone who knows me or see’ing my DJ calendar would say I have an incredible work ethic, and I owe it all to my parents. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I grew up watching my parents work incredibly hard on building their own businesses. All my life I’ve seen what it takes to establish a good work ethic. Everything from long nights, early mornings, inconvenient traveling/commutes, and not stoping until the job is done. My parents had me work in the family business as a young teenager, and on and off as an adult. Read More>>
Big Vet
My mom! As a child when I was coming up watching my mom she was the biggest hustler I knew! From having yard sales to working at the bank (BB&T & First Citizens) to cleaning houses! She was always working to make sure she kept a roof over our head! Read More>>
Roosevelt Merisier
My work ethic comes from my lovely mother. I seen my mother hustle day in and day out. My mother is in the resell business, she would buy products from wholesalers and walk the streets with a bag on her back and sell items to customers. I grew up seeing that at a very early and I will never forget that. Every-time I feel like I’m not working hard enough I think about all the work my mother has put in from the 90’s to this present day, My mother is the epitome of get things done so I mold my work ethic through her. Read More>>
Oso Muka
My work ethic comes from two different motives, first and foremost my kids play a major role in my drive to become a legend in this music industry. The second thing that keeps me going is the fact that years ago I dreamed about being in the position I’m in now therefore, I feel like the right thing is to keep going to keep elevating. Read More>>
Ali Valentine
My work ethic is shaped by a diverse array of influences, including those around me and several role models in my life. Figures like Kobe Bryant, Freddie Mercury, and my own parents have played a significant role in inspiring and guiding me. Observing those around me has let me to witness the dedication and commitment that can drive success. Whether it’s colleagues, mentors, or friends, their relentless pursuit of excellence motivates me to push my own boundaries and consistently strive for improvement. Read More>>
Daricka Simms
I get my work ethic from my granny (who’s no longer with me). She was the epitome of an hard worker fueled by determination. She was born in the 1920’s and she told me stories about her working in factories picking buttons. It wasn’t an ideal job but she was proud of it and would brag about how fast her hands could move. She would often tell me that I get my speed while braiding from her lol. Read More>>
Isabella Diaz
My work ethic comes from my determination to be successful. Whenever I am given a project, I know there will be obstacles, but I never doubt that I will reach my goal. That said, having a strong work ethic is not always easy. It requires self-discipline and perseverance. You also have to know your limitations and remember that balance is important. For example, this past year, I learned the importance of protecting my vocal health. I had rehearsed so much for a show that I ended up losing my voice. When you work so hard, it can be difficult to avoid burnout. Read More>>
April Douglas
I grew up in a large family and without a lot of money. I had to learn to be resourceful. If I wanted something, I had to work for it. It was just a fact of life. I’ve learned that I can create a lot of my destiny. It requires you to show up and give quality work, which usually results in be rewarded for your efforts.
Over the years, I’ve learned that you can really enhance your world by building bridges, showing kindness, and giving more grace. I have a long way to go on fine tuning my work ethic, but more than anything, I love my job. It’s easy to show up and work with my patients. Read More>>
