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.
Nicolette Samson
I get my work ethic from my dad. Growing up, I watched him handle challenges with determination and resilience, even when resources were limited. He always emphasized that consistency and effort matter more than circumstances. That mindset shaped the way I approach both life and business. Read more>>
Keino Spring
I get my work ethic from growing up on the Caribbean Island of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Giving up was never an option and working hard and giving your all was greatly valued. Growing up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, life was very hands-on. Read more>>
Murat Gocmen
My work ethic was forged in the military. As a pilot, I learned early on that discipline isn’t just a value — it’s a survival skill. Every mission demanded precision, focus, and responsibility not only for myself but for the entire crew. Long hours, strict training schedules, and the pressure to perform under any circumstance taught me that excellence comes from consistency, not convenience. Read more>>
Wanda Mumm
Growing up on a farm in the Midwest fostered any early sense of work hard, take care of your family and pride in a job well done. My first set was a John Nagey art set. Even though I always had chores, I would steal away a few hours a day to work on my art. Read more>>
Mike Ellis
As a child I was raised by a single mother who more times than not worked 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. There was three of us kids and she didn’t get much at all in the way of child support. She also had a little help from my maternal grandmother, or Granny as we called her. Read more>>
Juli Blount
I grew up with a father who ran his father’s direct mailing company for over 40 years. He lived and breathed work, and it was easy as a child to miss the simple, everyday routines that could’ve involved him. Fast forward 30 years when I began working for the company myself, I was able to see first hand just how dedicated he was. Read more>>
Jordan Weeks
I learned my work ethic from my mother, Tresi Weeks. I grew up watching her build her law firm from the ground up as she faced more than her fair share of challenges. Her resilience never wavered – she taught me that real success isn’t just about ambition, it’s about consistency, integrity, and showing up even when it’s hard. Read more>>
Stephanie Castaneda
My work ethic definitely comes from my family. Growing up, I saw firsthand what it meant to show up, stay humble, and give your best no matter the job. That mindset stuck with me — I’ve always believed that if you care about what you’re doing, it shows in the results. Read more>>
William Garcia
My work ethic was shaped by watching my family and from my grandparents who helped guide my values and moral compass. I grew up seeing the value of showing up every day, doing what needs to be done and taking pride in even the smallest tasks. That example taught me that no matter the job; it deserves my best effort. Read more>>
Artreice Westmoreland
I got my work ethic by watching my granny run two businesses. My granny had a cafeteria and a day care. My granny believed that you shall paved your own in society and leave a mark behind when you pass away. Read more>>
TinTin Beligan
I think I definitely get my work ethic from both of my parents. My mom was already working while she was in college while studying to earn her Bachelor’s degree. My dad has always worked 12 hour shifts at the hospital for decades. So I started working at a young age when I was 14 even though the hours weren’t as long. Read more>>
Wendy Meyers
Over the years of growing up, watching my father work 12 hour days growing his own business I realized early on, you had to live and breathe to make it Read more>>
Jugashree Bosoi
When people ask me, “Where do you get your work ethic from?” my answer comes from two decades of experience, discipline, and a deep love for creating. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked as a professional fine artist—studying, painting, and sharing my work with collectors and admirers around the world. That journey has shaped my work ethic more than anything else. Read more>>
Jennifer Zmuda
My work ethic comes from a lifetime of disciplined dance training. I started my serious dance training at 8 years old, and continued with increasing intensity through middle and high school, supplementing with 6-week-long live-in summer intensives at various prestigious programs around the country. Read more>>
Freya Padmore
Growing up, my mum was a self-employed painter and decorator and not just any painter and decorator. She was one of the very few women in what was (and still is) a very male-dominated industry. She ran her own business while raising three children, and she built everything from the ground up. Read more>>
Nnamdi Ngwe
My mom! My mom is the reason I have a strong work ethic. I grew up with my mom and 3 siblings. The 5 of us crammed into a small apartment. It wasn’t much but it was ours. We got by from the salary my mom made working with children. Read more>>
Stephen Stokes
My family. My work ethic comes from family. The one I was born into and the one I’ve built. Growing up, I watched my mom work night shifts and doubles without complaints or excuses. She did what had to be done to provide for us. She dragged us from Section 8 housing to the suburbs by relentlessly attacking the work that was required. Read more>>
Sarah Kaiser
I get my work ethic from my parents, who are both of German descent. So naturally, I have a strong German work ethic. My mom went to the ‘School of Hard Knox,’ as she says. My mom, Donna Maus, was one of four kids–two boys and two girls. Read more>>
Kwanisha Carson
My strong work ethic is deeply rooted in my family, particularly in my dad and my grandmother. Growing up, my dad was the sole working parent in our household, while my mom stayed at home. I watched him dedicate himself to his job without making excuses, always showing up to work no matter the circumstances. My grandmother, my dad’s mother, was the same. Read more>>
Danilo Villanueva
Definitely from growing up at home under strict parenting and clear rules. There was no such thing as gentle parenting during my childhood — and I’m 100% grateful for that. My extracurricular activities were chosen for me for a reason, and I had no choice but to follow through. Read more>>
Heather Squicciarini
I grew up in a family business,a florist and landscaping company, so work was simply part of life. Read more>>
Ciara Lewis
I attribute my strong work ethic to the remarkable women in my family: my grandmother, my mother, and my aunt. From a young age, I observed these three women tirelessly balancing work and education. My grandmother dedicated herself to lengthy 12 to 14-hour shifts at General Electric, yet she still managed to prepare delicious dinners and spend quality time with her family. Read more>>
Lindsay Curtis
Here’s a warm, professional, and heartfelt draft you could use for that question: — **Draft Answer:** I get my work ethic from my dad. He was one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever known — steady, reliable, and deeply committed to doing things the right way, not just the easy way. Read more>>
Cedric Acrie
I think my work ethic comes from watching my mom grind through everything life threw her way. She had that ‘find a way’ mindset—no excuses, just solutions. Watching her make something out of nothing taught me early that consistency beats comfort every time. My dad played a huge part too—he’s one of the most dedicated people I’ve ever known. Read more>>
Leandro Taub
I try to build my work ethic from Torah — from the understanding that work (avodah) is not merely labor, but service. The same word used for “work” in Hebrew is also used for “divine service.” That means our daily efforts, when done with the right intention, become a form of worship. Read more>>
Gabrielle Sterbenz
Growing up, I actually did not have much work ethic at all. As the third and last child of my family, I was often left to my own devices, with very little supervision in the ways of helping me learn what hard work was, how to do it, and what the benefits were for long-term happiness. Read more>>
Mitchell & Michael Anderson
We’ve always considered ourselves a blessed family. We grew up surrounded by love, faith, and parents who taught us to be grateful for what we had. Even though we didn’t have a lot of extra money, we never felt like we were without — but it did mean you learned early on to take care of what you owned and fix things yourself. Read more>>
Naomi de Hart, Ph.D.
Growing up in the Netherlands, my mom showed my brother and me what true work ethic looks like. We were given every opportunity we could have wished for because of the effort she put in every single day. I come from a family that deeply values education and personal growth. Read more>>
Naama Sarid
Being your own boss is fun but sometime can be hard. A lot of discipline is required. There are a few strategies that guide me: Being dynamic and exploring new ways of growth and new exposure – for instance, recently I have been creating short videos about my everyday life and business. Read more>>
Brandon Tuttle
When people ask me where my work ethic comes from, the answer is simple: my dad. From as early as I can remember, he set the standard for what it meant to work hard—not for recognition, but for the benefit of others. Read more>>
Casey & Gregor Macpherson
We are both Gen X and older than a lot of people in our field. We had older parents who were of the Silent Generation. A lot can be said about what’s wrong about that generation and its parenting style, but it has served us well. The very basic fundamental principle of you get what you work for was instilled early. Read more>>
Jessica Crouch
It’s how I was raised. Growing up on a five generation family farm in Washington State I grew up learning that when crops were ready to harvest, or hay needed to be put up; wether it was hot, raining, you were tired or sick, it had to be done. The animals got fed and stalls cleaned no matter what. Read more>>
Teresa Pruitt
My parents are the two hardest-working people I know, and they instilled that same drive in my sister and me from a young age. I’ve never been able to approach anything “halfway,” and I owe that entirely to them. Read more>>
Jude Merkel
I got my work ethic from my father, without a doubt. He was always doing something. Whether that be building a pavilion in our backyard (goodbye to my summer of ’09) or mulching 100 trees on our property, my father STAYED busy. When I was born I already had seven older siblings, and they were helping him out, you know, contributing 1/7th of their time. Read more>>
Cindy Gordon
I built my work ethic not from doing more, but from learning how to finish what I start, even when overwhelmed. Early in my career, I equated success with being constantly busy. I thought the longer the hours, the stronger the work ethic. But eventually I hit a wall, juggling too many projects, running multiple businesses, and realizing I wasn’t actually moving forward. Read more>>
Joel Martinez
Our work ethic comes from our own experiences. We have learned to listen to our clients and as different views as we may have, the goal is the same for all, success. We were brought up in a family environment with values, with being respectful and attentive. Read more>>
Weam Namou
I get my work ethic from my mother, a woman who never held a job outside the home but ran her household with the skill and precision of a top CEO. She gave birth to 12 children, endured the heartbreak of burying two, and managed to keep her family together with unwavering focus on what truly mattered. Read more>>
Caroline Roche
I like to think that I get my work ethic from my very first job – in a barn. Around 15 years old, I started working for my riding instructor, Paul, at his farm a few minutes from my house. The day started bright & early at 6:30am with feeding the horses and turning them out into their paddocks. Then we went to work mucking out stalls and filling water buckets. Read more>>
Darryl Jackson
I have had two careers going at the same time, throughout my adult life. Music was more than a hobby. It is because over 50+ years involved in the music business, any many facets of that industry, I devoted my talent in music in helping other budding musicians with my experience. Read more>>
