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.

Kiyanna Singletary

I have a strong work ethic because I learned it from my hardworking parents. They dedicated themselves to providing for our family needs and even went the extra mile to give us some of the things we wanted. Their dedication and perseverance have inspired me to always give my best in everything I do! Their hard work and determination made me the strong woman I am today and I am forever grateful! Read more>>

Stevél

Honestly, I was raised in a family of hard working individuals. My mother being one of the hardest workers I know. Growing up I would see alot of individuals say they would “put in work” but none of which were ways I wanted to get my money. Read more>>

Sebastian Zufel

My work ethic comes from all three of my parents. My mom has worked retail & customer service her whole life, and seeing her through the highs and lows of that physical work motivates me to work hard as well. Read more>>

Lauren Zandy

Born and raised in the Midwest in the Southside suburbs of Chicago, a strong work ethic was ingrained in me since as far back as I can remember. I watched as my parents worked their fingers to the bone to give us everything we could have ever needed. Things weren’t always handed to my sister and I on a silver platter. Read more>>

Alice Martin

I was told it is the New England work ethic, the very valuable ability to do whatever needs to be done in adversity. I began my work life at 16 and have worked now for 53 years as a banker, mortgage officer, tax accountant and Professor. Read more>>

Paris London

My work ethic comes from a place inside of me that wants to help. Often times in my profession there needs to be and independent Investigation of the facts done and with the information i have found through my years of experience I know by performing this investigation it will help each and every case I work on. There in lies the work ethic that is essential to help my clients! Read more>>

Keys Harper

I inherited my work ethic from my mother. She was incredibly hardworking, always striving to provide for my sister and me, often taking on a second job to ensure we had everything we needed. She instilled in me the importance of working hard for everything I want, ensuring that no one can take anything I’ve worked hard for on my own away from me. Read more>>

Jade Breyon

I get my work ethic from my own internal self motivation, I have a vision for what I want my career to look and feel like. Read more>>

Zhanae Janae

I’ve always had a great work ethic since I was a kid. I’ve always witnessed how hard my family worked at whatever they did in their lives and they always pushed me to do my best. One saying that I can remember as a child that really resonated with me was “If you’re going to do something, do your best or don’t bother doing it at all.” My mom really drilled that in my head. Read more>>

Amber Brannen

I can honestly say that my work ethic comes from my dad. Growing up, my dad always worked so hard to make sure that me and my siblings had everything we needed. He works in sales, and anyone who works in that field knows how up and down the job market can get. If the paycheck wasn’t coming, he found a way to make ends meet.  Read more>>

Giovanni Rafii

My work ethic comes from an inner determination to always strive for progress and never become too complacent. Especially, when it comes to the technical aspect of creating/playing any technically demanding style of music. In my opinion, the more technical command you have over your chosen instrument(s), the easier it becomes to convey a certain emotion, which is most important. It allows you to not have to overthink and just feel it. Read more>>

Sarah CHILLAN JEANTY

In my industry, as a sponsorship manager I am always in contact with some of the highest positions in the companies I work with. When you work with the bests – you have no choice but be one of the bests too. Read more>>

LayToya Carter

I draw my work ethic from the inspiring examples set by my parents, Harvey and Dora Carter. My dad, Harvey, has been working as a roofer all my life, tirelessly laboring from sun up to sun down. His dedication was unwavering, even on days when he didn’t feel well, because his priority was always to provide for our family.  Read more>>

Sarah Mack

I started babysitting at 12 years old and have been working ever since. My mom had my sister and I each take a Red Cross babysitting course when we turned 12. When I was 15, I started working at a marina gas pier and learned much about customer service. Later in college, I held various internships before starting my first corporate job. Read more>>

Lucy Luckovich

To be an artist, I think it’s necessary to be an incredibly hard worker. Not only is it important to develop and master your craft, but you also have to learn how to advocate for yourself and essentially run your own business. When it comes to art making, I’ve been able to look to my dad as an example of the hard work an artist needs to put in to their career.  Read more>>

Andreas Sellinidis

To excel as a wedding photographer in New York, a robust work ethic must stem from various sources. My passion for Photography and Storytelling or love for Art.A genuine passion for capturing moments and creating compelling images should be the driving force behind dedication and hard work. Read more>>

Kelsie McDonald

I don’t know if I was born with a fire in my belly to chase all of my dreams at full speed, or if that’s something I learned from the people around me. I’m inclined to think that I got the gene from my dad, who truly is the hardest-working guy I know. Dad was always the dude who finished anything he started, no matter what! Nothing could get in his way!  Read more>>

Tyler Herron

I got my work ethic just simply from watching my mom work very hard my whole life and that inspiring me. Also I grew up playing football so that also is where I get my work ethic from. Read more>>

Tia Codrington

Growing up, I’ve always considered myself to be ambitious, thanks to my mother who is my biggest inspiration. Her hard-working nature and resilience in the face of challenges have shaped me into the person I am today. She taught me kindness, bravery, and the importance of staying true to myself. Read more>>

Juancho Herrera

My work ethic comes from seeing my parents and other family members waking up daily with a clear purpose. My parents are the first generation from our family to achieve a higher education. They met at the university, pursuing a degree in architecture and design. Both came from working families that had transitioned from agricultural labor to jobs in the city. Read more>>

Dalton Rice

I got my work ethic from my family, my mother and grandparents work especially hard and growing up I was fortunate to have that instilled in me. When I went to college at SCAD as well the professors kept pushing that with the intense course work that eventually led me to be here today. Read more>>

Michael “Oda” Reese

My work ethic was passed down to me by my elders and has helped me to thrive. When I was a child, my mother and father always talked about starting a foundation, and they told me, “Take care of your eyes, your feet, your hands, and your teeth.”  Read more>>

David Blutcher

My work ethic stems from my upbringing by my parents, specifically my father. Throughout my childhood, my father instilled a spirit of discipline, determination and perseverance. As a child, I experienced learning disabilities, which limited me in certain areas. In effort to reach my highest potential, both of my parents allow me to make mistakes but pushed me to do my best in every endeavor. Read more>>

Tiesheedah Phillips

I’d like to tribute my work ethic to my parents; Mostly, my mother. Since childhood, I remember her waking up very early in the morning, like 4-4:30am to work. Still she gets up, tends to herself first, then starts getting ready for the work day ahead. Read more>>

Sherry Dial

My work ethic and optimism come from my early life experiences. As a child, I narrowly escaped death multiple times. This caused me to grow up with a strong sense of purpose. Education would become a priority for me, starting in Montessori preschool, where I preferred books to toys. Read more>>

Cindy Kangas

In the 1960s, my parents moved to Lansing to attend Michigan School for the Blind. Growing up, I naturally took on the role of caregiver from a very young age. Starting my own family early, it came natural to continue serving others at nonprofit organizations. Read more>>

Benjamine Lester

My goal as a professional artist was to make my work affordable to the general public. And yes, I do understand my chosen price point of 2k-8k, is a big expense for a lot of people, and I’m comfortable with that. But, if I wanted to eat, pay the bills and keep my work available to the middle class and not just the super wealthy, I was going to have to paint very very quickly. Read more>>

Paris Golden

My work ethic is deeply rooted in the relentless dedication and perseverance I witnessed in my mom. Seeing her tackle challenges with unwavering determination and resilience instilled in me a strong belief in the value of hard work and the importance of giving my all in everything I do. Read more>>

karen demirjian

The strong work ethic I possess is deeply rooted in the values instilled in me by my immigrant parents. They arrived in a new country with little more than dreams and determination, facing numerous challenges and overcoming countless obstacles. Read more>>

Connie Toavs

I take pride in my roots and how they’ve shaped who I am today. Growing up on a multigenerational farm, my family and I worked together to care for the land and animals. This upbringing instilled in me a strong work ethic, teaching me the importance of consistency, commitment, and resilience, even in challenging times.  Read more>>

David Yoshimura

A lot of my work ethic comes from my upbringing. Both of parents were very hard workers, and from the age of 15 I have always worked in restaurants. I began as a dishwasher and eventually worked my way up to better kitchens throughout my life. I’ve always been surrounded by hard workers, including my closest friend who is a U.S. Marine and a parent of many children. Read more>>

Mokiana Kamisese Tauteoli

My work ethic stems from the incredible dedication of my grandparents and parents. They immigrated from Tonga, where English was their second language, to the United States in pursuit of a better life for our family. Witnessing their sacrifices firsthand to ensure my siblings and I enjoyed a fulfilling childhood has profoundly shaped my values. Read more>>

Erich Tamola

I owe a lot to my upbringing. My parents had an incredible work ethic, and I grew up surrounded by their dedication and determination. When we moved to the US from the Philippines, we didn’t have much and had to start from scratch. Witnessing my parents’ relentless effort and perseverance instilled in me a deep appreciation for hard work. Read more>>

Luyao Chang

I was born in Japan and lived there until I was 6 years old, then moved to China with my family. In both countries, there is pervasive manipulation of information through political narratives that are crafted to serve the state’s purposes.  Read more>>