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.
Daniel Pereira
When I think about where my work ethic comes from, I can’t help but look to my mom. She worked tirelessly, often clocking 12-hour days while managing a branch and eventually overseeing multiple locations as a regional bank manager. Read more>>
Kristen DiMercurio
I get my work ethic from my parents. When someone needed help, my mother’s answer was always ‘yes.’ And my father still works long hours to this day, only to come home and help around the house. My whole family, even my extended family, are the kind of people that can’t help but throw themselves into a project headfirst. Read more>>
Diana Seo
I get my work ethic from my family, especially my grandparents. They came to the United States with very little, not knowing the language or the culture, but they worked incredibly hard to build a life here. They didn’t just survive, they thrived, and they were able to put all four of their children through school up to college for most of them. Read more>>
Ioannis Koutroubis
I owe my work ethic entirely to my parents. I was born to immigrant parents and raised in the 70s, and in our home there was no such thing as “talking” about dreams—you worked for them. Read more>>
Samantha Hastings
My dad owned a company as I was growing up and I watched him work so hard to make it successful. He was the first person in the office and the last employee to go home. If he wanted something done right, he had to do it himself. Read more>>
SHALEV ALON
My work ethic comes from a combination of my upbringing and the journey I took to build a career in the music industry. I grew up in a small farming town in Israel, where my parents worked long days growing peppers and dates. Read more>>
Curstin Andrews
I got my worth ethic from being myself and my workaholic. I’m self discipline so I know when I show up I will show out and will not give up until the work is done. I don’t skip corners I take the full steps to get things done. I’m all about potential dedication skills and ability. Read more>>
Charlie Bolivare
My work ethic kicks in as soon as I meet a client and we go over their design needs in their home. It brings me joy to see how proud they feel about making their house a place called home. It brings me joy and pride knowing that I’m changing people’s lives by making them happy with my work. Read more>>
Joel Myers
I’d say my work ethic really comes from growing up playing competitive sports. When you’re constantly training, you learn early that improvement isn’t about giant leaps — it’s about showing up every day and getting just a little bit better than you were yesterday. That mindset of breaking big goals into small, achievable steps has shaped everything I do. Read more>>
Nick Dunkenstein
My work ethic is pretty much passion and project driven, imagining ideas and being creative keeps me going when times get hard. Diving into creation and letting it consume me helps me get away from the outside world, and be in a place that feels safe. Read more>>
Javaid Nayyar
My work ethic comes primarily from my parents. They both emigrated from Pakistan to New York City under a both economic and social pressures, as well as religious persecution in their home country. They had to really grind to build a life in a foreign land and I picked up that grind. Read more>>
Brennan Cooper
Definitely my parents. My mom and Dad have been an inspiration my whole life and have always pushed the saying “work hard, play hard” on me. They have taught me that things are never easy but they are worth the effort regardless. If you want something you have to work for it. Read more>>
Massimiliano Rivetta
Simply put, my family. Both my grandfather on my mother and fathers side were business owners, early mornings and late nights. My father moved to America at a young age and built a company from the bottom up. My uncle on my mothers side took over my grandfathers company when the time came. Throughout my life I’ve always been told that hard work pays off. Read more>>
Kymberlee Helmuth
My work ethic comes from a deep belief that nobody is coming to save you—you build the life you want. I learned early on that passion means nothing without discipline, consistency, and follow-through. I started Big Shot Marketing almost 30 years ago because I wanted freedom and impact. I started Fly Girl because I wanted community. Neither survive on talent alone. Read more>>
Brandon Essig
I tend to get distracted easily, or overthink my artistic process from time to time. ‘It’s gonna take me FOREVER to learn this part, I won’t do it justice,’ etc. But something I’ve learned over the years is that progress IS the process. Read more>>
Sarah King
Having a structured time to create the life you want comes from being diligent. Making time for the things that matter to you. Family, health, friendship, interpersonal relationships and of course your goals. I believe that to have a good work ethic is to prioritize the things that drive you, bring love, inspiration, joy, and peace. Read more>>
Said Saliba
I trace my work ethic back to two major influences in my life — my mother ‘Samar’ and my father ‘Joseph’ — each shaping a different side of who I am today. My mother is the source of my creativity, originality, and passion. She is the one who awakened the chef within me. Read more>>
Jan Shapiro
My work ethic came from both of my parents. My father grew up very poor , living in the ‘poor’ side of town . He was in WWII and was a war hero .. He and his brother started up a Scrap Iron business that became successful.. Read more>>
Magda Fuskova
I think my work ethic and discipline comes from a sports background . If you want to be successful , you need to work for it, it doesn’t happen automatically … I always want to be reliable for others. Before I promise something, I think about it and don’t promise if I am not 100% sure. Read more>>
Anne – Marie Coleman
I get a lot of my work ethic and inspiration daily from God — my faith grounds me and guides the way I show up in my business and my community. I also draw so much motivation from my husband, who is one of the hardest-working people I know. Read more>>
Tisha Spencer
My work ethic comes from a long line of disciplined, resilient women. I’m a proud Army veteran raised by an Air Force mom and a Southern grandmother who believed that grit was non-negotiable. And as the oldest of three, I learned early that you don’t wait for permission to lead — you just do it. Read more>>
Gladys Perez
My work ethic has been shaped throughout my career as a visual artist, working on both commercial and residential projects, primarily in Manhattan and the Hamptons. These demanding and sophisticated environments pushed me to constantly elevate the quality of my work and taught me the true value of professionalism in the art world. Read more>>
Tony Wright
I get my work ethic from my parents. I never realized how he hard they worked to provide for us. My father and mother showed us that education is great and you need that but grit and grind is where you get your genuine moment from. Read more>>
SEKTOR 8
My work ethic comes from a very personal place. Growing up, I remember the version of myself who wanted a bigger life but didn’t always have the tools or confidence yet. I’ve worked hard to become the person that younger version of me needed. So now I show up with discipline and consistency because I don’t want to waste the opportunities I’ve created. Read more>>
Lefty Pachino
My work ethic comes from a long line of hard and prideful men in my family, we were one of the less privileged families and the family is huge but full of love .I watched my grandfather and my father along with all of my uncles do whatever they had to for the bills to be paid and the family structure to stay in order. Read more>>
Vladyslav Yalenko
There were different times and stages where I developed my work ethic. The foundation was laid by the primary sources — my parents and the significant adults around me. The fundamental qualities are kindness, respect, and love for the world and nature. Over time, I deepened my theoretical and practical understanding of work ethics through studies at universities specializing in theater and psychology, as well as through educational courses and master classes in the fields of performing arts, pedagogy, and psychology. Read more>>
Adam Pener
Work ethic is built, forged early in life as we are forming our identity. For me, it stemmed from my first go as an entrepreneur — launching an owner / operator lawn care company at 14. Looking back, it was a tremendously successful business. The overhead was low, the debt paid off within three months (i.e., paying Dad back for the lawn mower), and the lessons were ones that proved useful throughout my career, namely, the importance of sales, customer service, hard work, and running a debt-free company. Read more>>
Jordan Justice
Working is something I have enjoyed since a young age. Admiring how hard my parents worked to provide for my siblings and myself. Although I don’t consider what I do as an artist as work when it comes to painting. The possibility and opportunity to uplift others through my artwork is a dream come true. I work as an Aircraft Mechanic as my full time job and paint any chance I can. Providing for my family is priority. Read more>>
Shontae Carter
My work ethic definitely stems from my childhood. I remember as a child seeing my mom working countless back breaking jobs to provide for me and my three siblings. She was a single mother who did everything she could to take care of us. We always had what we needed but we didn’t always get what we wanted. That’s when I realized that nothing in life is free and you have to work for anything you want in this life. Read more>>
Tiffani Haslam-Ramírez
Probably my dad! He has always been so hardworking at his job and taking care of his house. He is also always willing to help others too. My dad taught me the importance of hard work. Read more>>
Bonnie Kwan
My work ethic was born from watching my parents fight to survive in a new country with nothing but their hands, their hope, and their will to build something better. I grew up seeing what perseverance really looked like—not glamorous or easy, but quiet and constant. They taught me that even when life feels unfair, you show up, you do the work, and you keep faith that the struggle will one day mean something. Read more>>
Ken the Rapper
I get my work ethic from Miley Cyrus. She’s always been fearless, driven, and dedicated to her craft, and that inspires how I approach everything I do. Read more>>
Alli Villines
I get my work ethic from my parents! My parents are both Entrepreneurs & encouraged me & my brothers to be very hard working! Read more>>
Linda Colonna
Definitely got my work ethic from my parents Read more>>
Chloe Colton
From my mother, she single handedly raised myself and my brother and had two jobs to afford childcare for my brother and I growing up. I watched a very independent and self-sufficient woman try to do everything. Thanks mum, love you! Read more>>
Su Iyer
My work ethic comes from the quiet resolve and determination of my grandmother, Rukmini, who had to fight to survive. Married off against her wishes as a child in the early 1900s, and widowed soon after, she defied immense odds as a single mother—feeding and educating my mom all by herself during a time and in a country where women had no rights. Read more>>
