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.
Shadesha Johnson
My work ethic comes from a deep sense of responsibility, determination, and independence that has been with me from a young age. I believe in seeing things through and doing whatever it takes to accomplish my goals. For example, when I first moved to Maryland, I was determined to find a job within 90 days. Read more>>
Alana Cole
I think my work ethic was shaped predominantly by two influences: my parents and my work in neurosurgery. My parents always made me feel like I could be anything I wanted to be, as long as I worked hard for it. Growing up, I loved both singing and basketball—two very time-consuming commitments—and instead of making me choose, they helped me make both work. Read more>>
Keri Suffoletta
I developed my work ethic from my father. During his 40 years as a Maintenance Manager, he rarely missed work, only once due to Shingles so severe he couldn’t even put on his shoe! He consistently worked through colds, back pain, and knee problems. He instilled in me the principle that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Read more>>
Ashley Foster
My work ethic comes from a mix of passion, hustle, and purpose. Growing up in Greenville, I didn’t have everything handed to me, so I learned early on that if you want something, you have to go get it. By the time I was 15, I was running my own promo company, calling artists and DJs, and making connections from Greenville to Atlanta. Read more>>
Dalton Tolliver
I’d probably say my work ethic comes from a mix of how I was raised and what I’ve chosen for myself. Growing up on a horse farm, there was no “day off.” Animals still needed care no matter the weather, mood, or schedule. That taught me responsibility, consistency, and that hard work pays off. Later, playing Division 1 volleyball built on that. Read more>>
Yuna Kim
My work ethics begin with loving the things around me. While viewing various art exhibitions, I often encounter works that tackle unconventional or violent themes. Of course, I enjoy and respect all types of art, but one concern has been the potential impact on children I have met from the exhibition. Read more>>
Amiya Phillips
I get my work ethic from God, for He motivates me to complete specific tasks. I feel like when it came to publishing my poetry book and enrolling in graduate school, He set each of those as assignments that He wanted me to complete. That motivated me to not procrastinate and to not give up. Read more>>
Klaudia Schaller
I grew up in relatively modest circumstances (but didn’t know it!) in rural Austria. My dad went to work in an appliance store every day and my mother was a homemaker. Homemaker seems to be such a quaint and underappreciated concept today, but she was the hardest working person I ever knew. Read more>>
Roberto Silva
My parents. They taught me to be responsible, follow through and always leave through the front door. Read more>>
Latoya Williams Shelton
I’d say I got my work ethic from my dad! He retired very early and has been an entrepreneur every since. He encouraged me to start my private practice right out of law school. I’ve seen him work hard in every facet all of my life. Read more>>
Claudia Neal
I get my work ethic from my parents. When I was born, my dad worked a full-time job and a part-time job while finishing getting his degree, all while being an involved parent. My mom, once she returned to work after I was little, showed the same kind of perseverance and loyalty, building a career and remaining a dedicated employee for nearly two decades. Read more>>
Kate Meyers
I get my work ethic from my faith. The Lord gave me a servant’s heart, and that has shaped how I approach every task in my life and business. Read more>>
Claire Balch
I get my work ethic from my parents, who doesn’t!? My dad has inspired me after starting his own successful company while still working his full time job and balancing his family life. My mom spent many years selflessly raising me and my 5 siblings. She always inspired us to do our best and showed us that hard work pays off. Read more>>
Killian Payne
My work ethic stems from multiple sources. My parents divorced when I was a toddler, so I learned to be very organized when switching between homes for days at a time. As I got older, the packing became my responsibility and if things weren’t packed, they didn’t magically appear. I learned to be very diligent and detail oriented as a result. Read more>>
Robin Vadehra
I’ve always had a strong work ethic, and I truly believe that what you put into your work is exactly what you’ll get out of it. Growing up, I was surrounded by hardworking parents—even though they divorced, I watched my mom work full-time while also putting herself through college, and that inspired me to always push harder. Read more>>
Saira Quezada
I’m the daughter of immigrants and an immigrant myself. I arrived in Kansas City when I was seven years old, and from a young age, I witnessed firsthand the scarifies my parents made to build a better life for our family. Read more>>
Nilesh Patel
My work ethic wasn’t built in a boardroom or taught in a classroom—it was built alongside my parents, who came to this country with nothing but determination and grit. They started with jobs in fast food chains and as housekeepers, doing whatever it took to build a better life for us. Read more>>
Kina Arnold
My work ethic comes from my mother who structured my life to be centered in God and Faith in the impossible. She made sure that I understood that nothing less than excellence was expected no matter the task or what I choose to do. Read more>>
Justin McEwen
It comes from a multi forms of things. My mom, Dad and kinda step dad also then Situations that tested me and asked me ‘Is this all you got?’ and lastly people from my job who looked at me and saw something in me. Read more>>
Jessica Smith
I definitely get my work ethic from my mother. She is a hardworking soul who put her whole life on hold to make sure her children were taken care of. I lost my father at a young age so my mom is all I had growing up, I watched her go through some of the hardest things she ever had to overcome in her life. Read more>>
Anai Fonte
I don’t think I can pinpoint one exact thing, but now as a mother, I know it is something I aim to pass on to my son. My mother modeled responsibility and the importance of showing up, whether it was hard or I would rather not, so I had her example to follow. Read more>>
Dr. Kel’li Sherrene Cole, M.S.C,Ph.D.
I get my work ethic from my late mother—God rest her soul. She was the kind of woman who woke up early, was the first in the office to pass out medication to her clients, and the last to leave at night. And as if that wasn’t enough, she would still come home and do hair for her longtime clients. Read more>>
Ryan McGuigan
My family taught me the value of strong worth ethic. My grandfather had two businesses which all of my family members supported in one way or another. Sometimes this was for employment and sometimes out of necessity. My parents also had sports photography business for several years, outside of their 9-5s. Read more>>
Xavier Meza
I’d definitely say I learned how to work hard from my dad. He’s the hardest working person I know, and he passed those values down to me early on. While most kids were watching cartoons on Saturday mornings, I was outside pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, or learning how to weld and work on cars. Read more>>
Grace Millard
I get my work ethic from the passion I have for all of the things that I do. Whether it’s putting together programs for my local Red Cross Club or scaling infrastructure for a global initiative like Restoring Rainbows, I put my heart into these projects because I believe in them. Read more>>
Audra Smith
I have inherited my work ethic from my Father who was a self made Millionare via the Car industry and from my Grandfather who was an entrepreneur with civil engineering and had his own construction company. The Houston skyline is his Masterpiece he laid the foundation for majority of the skyscrapers in the Houston Skyline. They tought me everything I know about work discipline. Read more>>
Paulina Teng
I got my work ethic from my parents. Both immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s, carrying with them the belief that hard work opens the door to opportunity. They rarely took sick days or vacations, and they taught me that perseverance is the path to success. Read more>>
Eamonn B. Shanahan
For me, it’s always been about access and impact. Creativity has shaped how I see the world, and I’ve never understood why something so vital should be kept behind closed doors or filtered through elitist structures. The arts have a unique ability to communicate complex ideas in ways that are immediate, emotional, and accessible to everyone, regardless of background or education. Read more>>
Chuck Hutchison
I was raised on a dairy farm in N.E. Ohio. I was in the barn at age 8. The work is demanding, never ending, and essential for your lively hood. You relied on no one but yourself. Life is what you made it. I was a good athlete. Read more>>
Cedric Brown
The Roots of My Work Ethic Growing up as a child, I would always watch my dad come home from work. Though he didn’t live with us because of my parents’ divorce, I would visit him and sit on the porch, waiting for him to come home. Read more>>
Gunnar Koleznar
I get my work ethic from my amazing mom. She has always been my biggest inspiration, not just for what she’s accomplished, but for how hard she worked to achieve it all. Growing up, I watched her juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and even then, she never let go of her dreams. Seeing her come home late, exhausted but determined, taught me the value of perseverance and commitment. Read more>>
