Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic come from? Is it something we learn from our parents, or are we born with it? Do our friends, work environment or the city we reside in impact it? We asked some of the hardest working folks we know to share where they think they get their work ethic from.

Sonya Macari

I have always had good work ethic since childhood. It comes naturally to me, but it’s always easier when you are passionate about what you do. As an actor you are constantly striving for work. We all know that the industry is tough and jobs are so few and far in between. However, I work full time running my online platform for actors which is a wonderful sweet spot between my passion for the craft, business, and adding meaning for actors and my guests. With my business I constantly meet deadlines on time.  Read more>>

Cherish Mullins

I would consider my upbringing as a whole “non-traditional.” My parents divorced when I was one, so I never really knew my father, and I watched my mom go in and out of hospitals my entire life. My mother suffered from several health ailments, including diabetes, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. My siblings and I frequently called her superwoman because she survived multiple surgeries, strokes, and heart attacks caused by CHF.  Read more>>

Jeni Cichewicz-Stratton

Work ethic is defined as an attitude or a set of rules that show one’s dedication, determination, and value towards one’s job or professional success. I get mine from my parents; as I am a first generation American. My parents came from communist Poland and moved to America to achieve a better life. In American you had options; you could choose your profession. Read more>>

Jessica Fiesta George

My work ethic stems from losing my father at such a young age and witnessing my mother work tirelessly to ensure we never felt we lacked anything. My father died suddenly from a heart attack when he was 44 years old. I was still in high school, watching my mother juggle working as a nurse and raising me and my brother. My parents had always wanted to be business owners after my father retired from the United States Navy. Read more>>

Christine Bailey

I got my work ethic from my family especially my mother, father, and sister. Growing up in a two parent island household you only had certain options. The option to succeed and which way you take to get there. My mother not going to college made her start working early. My father going to college placed him in a different position. My sister went to college and some. I had many options to choose from and I feel I chose the path of all of them combined. I went to college. I started to work early. I also went back to college for more. I was determined to be a great daughter of Jamaican parents and be able to stand on my own was my huge drive. Read more>>

Kennedy Whitten

Work ethic is something that some people think just comes naturally, but that couldn’t be more far from wrong. Passion drives everything. Without it, you are left with a laundry list of to-do’s and an overwhelming aura over you. When I founded Skin by Ken, I knew this was my passion and I knew I was good at it. Thats not saying I am the best makeup artist in the world because I have connected with so many artists who are 10x more talented than I am! I am good at connecting with people.  Read more>>

Christy Bareijsza

As a second generation entrepreneur, I learned from a young age the time and effort required to develop a sustainable business through watching my father strategize expansion, forge relationships and remain tenacious in times of strife. Read more>>

Gabby & Eric Trujillo

Eric – I can say I get my work ethic from both of my grandfathers. My fraternal grandfather has worked in several different fields throughout his lifetime. He started working at a grocery store for about 2 years. Then at the age of 18 he decided to play the accordion with different bands as a side gig. His love for music inspired him to continue to thrive and work hard at everything he did. He’s never read a music sheet in his life, but he can definitely play a song without missing a beat.  Read more>>

Derek Reed

I come from a line of entrepreneurs starting with my Grandfather who owned a successful local laundromat at a time when growth opportunities for Black Americans were limited. He employed multiple people in the neighborhood and they were treated like family. My Father AND Mother had their own businesses that allowed them to provide for our family until they retired. Read more>>

Chef Chè

I would have to say that my work ethic comes from mother. Growing up, she taught us to never depend on anyone and to go after any and everything that you want. She molded us at an early age to believe in yourself and that nothing comes easy. I remember her working multiple jobs not complaining once, Her motivation is contagious, she’s the epitome of hard work and perseverance. Read more>>

Brandy Mayes

My work ethic comes from Matt Hoffman Sr (father of Matt Hoffman Jr). my God Father. I used to cut acres of grass with him and throughout that time he taught me how to hone my work ethic and to have the tenacity to get the job done. Initially, he was outworking me despite being older. It was the same yard that Matt Hoffman Jr. did the epic jump that landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records on ESPN’s 30 for 30. Matt Hoffman Sr instilled discipline and illustrated first-hand the power of hard work which has carried me throughout my career. Read more>>

Umar Baig

Work ethic is a belief in the value of hard work and dedication to a task or goal. It is a personal attribute that can be influenced by a variety of factors, including an individual’s upbringing, cultural values, education, and personal experiences. I developed a strong work ethic through the example of my parents and other role models. Most importantly I learned the importance of hard work through their my successes and failures. Read more>>

Ben Buck

My work ethic comes from repetition. Within the music industry I work hard to try and find every different avenue I am passionate in and pursue it with all of my energy. I feel most content when I am working on creative projects so I’ve worked different skills to help with them. I do my own video editing, graphic design, cassette tape duplication, booking etc. Read more>>

Emily Williams

I’d have to say that my work ethic is the way it is due to how I was raised. First of all, I was heavily involved in ballet starting at age 4 and all the way through high school. Ballet is extremely demanding so my work ethic and self-discipline grew every day that I went to the studio.  Read more>>

Sarah Lewis

My work ethic comes from my passion to design and create, and my love of my small business! At the risk of sounding cliche ~ It never really feels like work, but just what I’m meant to do, and blessed to be able to do everyday. I have some new designs coming out soon, that I’ve had in my head for years, I’m so excited about them, and I cant wait to share them with everyone! I’ve been “working” hard on them for the last few months, and the motivation is simply my desire to bring them to fruition. As a 1 woman show, it’s up to me to do the work, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. Read more>>

Jan Sullivan

I come from a long line of hard workers. My parents raised 7 children, all of whom are hard workers; we all had to do our chores to keep the family going. My grandparents, aunts and uncles were all great examples of working hard, treating people with respect, and being honest in your business dealings. Read more>>

Deanna Ductoc

My work ethics came from not only may parents but my grandparents. I heard many stories about how my paternal grandfather, Angel Joaquin Ductoc would own and operate his own stores in Cuba back in the 60s, so when he lost everything and came to the United States, he worked multiple jobs and side hustles to make ends meet; until he and my father Angel Ductoc Sr partnered up to open Los Angelitos Bakery in 1992.  Read more>>

Tishelle Ogunfiditimi

I got my work ethic from my mother. Her strong sense of discipline and integrity laid the foundation for my strong work ethic. My mother served in the military and then went on to work 30+ years in for the Government. She has always instilled in me to be a women of my word and to be carefully selective with my commitments. Her example and lessons have continued to pay dividends in my success. Read more>>

Chandler Chruma

Growing up in a small town, the stereotype really played into it. I was itching to get out, and really wanted to become something much bigger then where I came from. When I was in community college, I realized if I was going to get out of this place, I needed to really put my mind to it and not let anyone get in my way. I moved away in 2015, never went back and never will – to me it was a toxic place but it made me the person I am today – strong and independent. Read more>> 

Karly O’Keefe

My father. He is the hardest working person I know. He is retired now and rightfully so. He worked in the Iron-workers union since he was 18. He would leave every morning before the sun came up and come home every night tired and covered in and bruises and debris from a tedious day of welding iron but he always had a smile on his face. He always made time to spend with us after work. He always asked me how my day was and he truly loved what he did. I can only remember him taking two sick days his entire career. Watching him work so hard but enjoy what he did everyday was incredibly inspiring. I’m so grateful to have had him as my role model and my father. Read more>>

Brooke Papp

My childhood consisted of a lot of inconsistency, moving often, financial hardship and really low moments off family addiction. These experiences left me to learn lessons on hard work and dedication. I knew from a young age that if you wanted ‘x’ it was your responsibility to work to get to ‘x’. Whether that was a material item, a healthy relationship or some of the larger things in life that come from solid morals. Read more>>

Nick Ramsey

I was lucky to have two great examples as parents. My Mom and Dad taught me that to be successful in life you had to work hard. You have to give 110 percent in everything that you do. If it’s not worth giving it your all, then it’s not worth doing. They let me try whatever I wanted and encouraged me to do my best and stick with it. Read more>>

Jake Bogartz

Well, I’m not sure if I just have really good work ethics, or I just can’t sit still for very long. I guess from a very young age I watched my Dad and the way he went about his business. When he set his mind to something, he went 100% no matter what. So, for me, I guess thats what I’ve always seen and anything else seems unnatural. Read more>>

Mrs. Stephanie Jones

I get my work ethic from my father. He runs his own business and is the head of the household. I’ve seen him work late nights and early mornings to ensure he is bringing in revenue for his company. He is the prime stakeholder in his organization. If one of his trucks had an issue in the middle of the night, he would not call another one of his drivers to switch the tracker out. He would get out of bed in the middle of the night, drive to his yard where his trucks are garaged, drive to wherever the stranded truck is, switch it out with the functional truck, or he would ensure assistance is properly met for his other truck and deliver the freight himself. Read more>>

Cynthia Rube Klein

Being from the Midwest, and a proud Chicago girl, I was raised to work hard and then play. Both my parents came from little money and worked their way up to success. My dad started working for Sears when he was a teenager selling fences. By the time he left 16 years later, he was designing kitchens and opening stores in the Chicagoland area. My mom Barbara operated a licensed daycare center in our home. Her days started at 6:00 AM and sometimes didn’t end until 7:00 PM. At the same time she volunteered weekly for the child abuse hotline, all while raising 3 kids and managing a household. Read more>>