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.
Sigal Erez
I realized from the time I came to America by myself with such a long to-do list that I had to develop a system, whether it was subconsciously, whether someone told me back then about it, I can’t recall. But what I do remember is I always had notebooks with me and I always wrote down a to-do list. Read More>>
Cassidy Grevious
Coming from a military father and a mother who was a school teacher, I’d say they instilled some very core values. My father stressed the importance of discipline, accountability, and always following through on your commitments. My mothers approach was patience, consistency and the value of always learning while giving your best effort. Read More>>
Evan Weisberg
Work ethic runs in my blood. From going back to my grandfather who used to finish work in Brooklyn and catch the ferry to Staten Island to do tax returns and various accounting work until 2am in the morning. Read More>>
Tommy Martin
My work ethic comes from believing that if I wanted an uncommon life, I had to be willing to put in uncommon work. For years, I was building behind the scenes. I spent countless hours producing, learning the business, studying branding, and constantly finding ways to improve my craft. Read More>>
Dr. Delatria Sam
I get my work ethic from the people who raised me and the experiences that shaped me. Growing up, I watched others push through challenges with determination, consistency, and pride in doing things the right way, and that became my blueprint. Over time, my own journey academically, professionally, and personally taught me what it means to stay committed. Read More>>
Saraphina Davidson-Gurney
I get my work ethic from my parents. My father had his own company and would work very long hours, often starting at 5 am and finishing later than 10 pm! Read More>>
Paul Chitlik
My work ethic developed from necessity. When I reached a certain age, I got an allowance, but after awhile, that didn’t seem like enough money to me. My parents said if I wanted more, I’d have to work more. At that time, that meant working in the dish room at the school cafeteria and getting a paper route. Read More>>
Elena Schick
Without question, my parents. My Mom worked two jobs, and my Pop worked full time, but they always made time for me. We lived with my grandparents, so our home was always full of life. We had dinner together every evening, and afterward my aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and friends would often stop by to visit. Read More>>
Jesse Waughtal
When I entered high school, everyone seemed to have their own advice about preparing for a future, what I should take in post-secondary, and other topics like that. It made me feel the weight of anticipation for what was to come. I wanted to prepare. Read More>>
Allison Saleh
I get my work ethic from my family. I come from a family that started an industrial paint business over 50 years ago. I worked for them and saw how they operated and learned a lot. I think both my mom and dad had very high standards also for my siblings and I. Read More>>
Rudy Mage
My work ethic comes from watching my mother. I grew up seeing her work hard and struggle, doing whatever it took to keep things together, and that stuck with me. It taught me that showing up and grinding through hard days isn’t optional, it’s just what you do. That’s the example I carried when I started from the bottom myself. Read More>>
Kristen Kukta
My work ethic comes from my father. He built Great Western Reserve Corporation from the ground up, not because success was handed to him, but because he had the courage, discipline and resilience to create something of his own. Watching him build a business from nothing showed me that hard work is more than putting in long hours. Read More>>
Shannon Gregg, Ph.D.
My work ethic came from watching my parents. My dad gave me an intellectual curiosity and the willingness to change my own path when it made sense — even when that meant walking away from something comfortable. My mom gave me the drive; she’s the one who, mid-PhD, would just check in and say ‘get this thing done, girl.’ That’s basically the family motto. Read More>>
Reynaldo Salazar
My dad. He’s been a handyman since I was a kid, and he’s still working hard to this day. Growing up, I watched him take on jobs where there was no manager checking his work and no shortcut that wouldn’t come back to bite him — the job was done when it was done right, and his name was on it. Read More>>
Christopher Derrick
I was one of three Black boys (out of 30 students) in a gifted program from 3rd to 6th, and I routinely received ‘Unsatisfactory’ grades. Yet, my teachers favorite refrain to my parents was, ‘He has so much potential.’ I did know what to do to earn higher grades, and soon if I put forth minimal effort or maximum effort, it was the same result. Read More>>
Mario Ramirez
I get my work ethic from my parents, who owned a bakery for more than 30 years., I grew up in their bakery and in that environment I learned how to work hard, how to treat people, and how to appreciate a family business. Read More>>
Shantel Davis
I get my work ethic from my family. My Mom has been working ever since she was 12 first without payment. She is still doing hard work. She was sewing my eldest sisters clothing without a pattern. Clothing back in the day was so expensive, so what she used to do is sew from memory. Read More>>
Berry P.
My work ethic comes from my life experiences and my mom the late “ Janice Pendleton “ My Mom was a very hard worker and dedicated mother . I’ve faced challenges that taught me early on that nothing is handed to you—you have to earn it. Those experiences instilled discipline, resilience, and a commitment to always give my best, no matter the circumstances. Read More>>
Faith Schwalback
My work ethic came from my parents. They weren’t people who talked about hard work, they lived it. Every morning they got up and went to work. It wasn’t a question of whether they felt like it that day. They had responsibilities, they had commitments, and they honored them. That was simply the culture in our home. You showed up. You kept your word. Read More>>
Pamela Bowers
I’ve been blessed with great mentors and leaders during my experiences working for corporate America. My first influence was Jan Baylog. She believed that you pour yourself into those under your leadership so that they can become great leaders. She also had fantastic long-term relationships with those who she met along her career. They were business colleagues, yet they were dear friends. Read More>>
Tish Roberts
I definitely get my work ethic from both my mother and her father. My grandfather (who was an officer in the Air Force) raised my mom and her other three siblings as a single parent in the 50’s and 60’s which was very rare for a man back then. Read More>>
Marsha Guillory, PhD
My work ethic comes from my father. He ran his own business, and I grew up working with him. Watching how he showed up every day shaped the way I approach my own business. He taught me that consistency is a form of integrity — you do the work, honor your commitments, and you treat people well. Read More>>
Steve Christo
I grew up in my parent’s restaurants starting by peeling potatoes at age 5. Watching and working in the buzz of the kitchen was exciting and helped me to develop my ability to plan and multitask. Hard, fast work and long hours was the norm. I carried those skill through everything I’ve done. Read More>>
EVitta Hobbs
I get my work ethic from a mix of faith, discipline, and the example I saw growing up. Dance taught me early that success takes consistency, preparation, and showing up even when it’s hard, and that mindset carried into everything I built with OnCuE Fitness. I also draw a lot of motivation from my purpose: helping people improve their health, confidence, and quality of life. Read More>>
Natalie Crenwelge
When I was growing up, my parents raised my brother and me to always be doing something. On summer breaks, we read books, visited our grandparents, and occupied ourselves in every way we could. When we visited our grandparents, we often helped with yard work, renovations, and tagged along for errands and outings. We never stayed home sitting without something to do. Read More>>
Chef Turtle
My work ethic was instilled in me at a young age from watching my mother work extremely long hours to take care of us while I was growing up. She always made sure we had everything we needed. And then when I started working in kitchens, a philosophy that was taught to me that I still live by this day is. Read More>>
Lindsey Goodman
We’ve all heard the Mark Twain quote, ‘find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life. We all know it’s a lie. Read More>>
Olga Ojeda
I get my work ethic from hospitality. I learned that when someone hires a bartender, they’re trusting you with their party. My job is to take the stress away. I make sure every guest feels taken care of. I work hard because my name is on the business.’ Read More>>
Nathan Nordstrom
I got my work ethic from my parents, who were also working artists. My mother Irene is a Latina actress. My father Bob was a visual artist. I was taught from an early age that if you want something – you work for it. The mentality of hard work carried on into my professional life as an artist. Read More>>
Claire Sully
My work ethic is driven from how passionate I am when it comes to music. I started out very young, at 13 and built a strong presence, really owned in on my craft and worked really hard to get to where I’m at today. Read More>>
Andrew Sarowitz
I think my work ethic doesn’t always look like work from the outside. The biggest challenge for me was finding a way to connect my career with the things I’m genuinely passionate about. Once I did that, everything changed. I’ve always had this constant need to create. Read More>>
Edsger Studio
I have to give credit to my parents for installing in me a strong sense that everything worth doing is worth doing well. Especially my father was a perfectionist who set the bar high. Now that I’m older, aiming for the best possible result is ingrained in me. Do what is worth doing and take the time to do it well. Read More>>
Caitie Thompson
Without question, I got my work ethic from my parents and from watching others around me. We didn’t grow up with money, and though we weren’t destitute there were definitely times when times were tight. Read More>>
