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.
Vanessa Nottingham
I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by incredible people who showed me that life can be exciting and fulfilling if you spend it doing what you love. My work ethic comes from years of observing my family—my parents, brothers, and cousins—who have a passion for their jobs and work relentlessly because it brings them joy. Read more>>
Jiayue Yu
My work ethic has been largely shaped by the experiences I’ve gained from working alongside others. Throughout my professional journey, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate in both positive and challenging group settings, and these experiences have been instrumental in shaping my approach to work. Read more>>
Heather Ferrato
I get my work ethic from my parents. To give you a little backstory my sister and I (yes, I am a twin) had a rough start. We were born 2 months early and only weighed 3 lbs each. I was very sick and went through many life saving surgeries. Read more>>
Kristen Theisen
I developed a strong work ethic partly from growing up in the midst of a family business – a greenhouse passed down from my grandfather to my dad. I began working during the summers when I was around 8 years old, selling vegetables and flowers. As I got older, weekends were spent at the greenhouse as well, so I’ve never known a time when I didn’t work. Read more>>
Elizabeth Quiroz
I first learned about ethics from my parents when I was a child. They used to say, “There is no bigger treasure than sleeping in peace at night, knowing you did not trespass on anyone’s rights.” Years later, I attended a French Catholic school in Peru. Read more>>
Steve Salisbury
When I was 10 years old, my parents purchased their first farm. It was a dilapidated old farm with buildings that required work but with great land for growing grapes. Within a couple of years they purchased more land bringing our total acreage to 60. As an only child, the three of us took care of all of this, and over time planted about 15 acres of grapes. Read more>>
Brianna Meshone
I get my work ethic from my friends. My friends play such an important role in my self development, character development and overall growth as not just a creative but as a woman. Throughout my time as a creative artist, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many amazing people in my community that honor and value their craft the same way as me. Read more>>
Don Uselmann
My work ethic came from my grandparents and parents. One grandfather was a restauranteur (his home was behind the restaurant) and consequently my father started working at a young age. The other grandfather was a private contractor who, working with one of his sons, designed and built homes, some custom, but many speculative. Read more>>
Elizabeth Gomez
My mom was a Korean immigrant. My dad left when I was young, so I watched Umma work very hard to keep everything afloat. She waitressed 7 days a week, usually double shifts and under the weight of fear her small kids were home alone, no family to help, and having minimal English skills. Sometimes, I wouldn’t see her for days, but I knew she was working. Read more>>
Robert Lear
I was raised by a Marine Corps Aviator father, and a mother that always served in volunteer positions wherever Dad was stationed. By the very nature of my Dad being in the service, a work ethic was instilled in myself and my sister. Both of my parents were born during the ‘Roaring Twenties’, where everything was easy to get. Read more>>
Mattie Jo Cowsert
I grew up the youngest of four kids in rural Missouri. My father was a Baptist pastor to small churches, not mega churches, and my mother a kindergarten teacher. Anyway, we weren’t exactly “rollin in it.” In my community, as soon as you could work legally, you had a part time job, no exceptions. Things like a car or clothes or weekend trips to Chilli’s with your friends were not a given. Read more>>
Aimee Nielsen
I think my work ethic is a combination of my upbringing, something intrinsic within me, and also external factors. I grew up being involved in sports and being around sports from a young age where you learn really fast the importance of hard work if you want to be better at your craft and its really only up to you to do this or the consequence is your performance will suffer. Read more>>
Hope Georgiou
I always love this question because it’s the easiest to answer. It will always be my parents. At the age of 13 my mother came to the US from Greece, worked in a suit factory, and did everything in her power to support her family and build a life for herself in this country. Read more>>
Twila Mason
My family struggled financially for a lot of my childhood. When I was around twelve, we went through a very tough time, and I watched my parents work through it to make a better life for us all. My dad has worked at the same factory for over forty-five years, working his way up from a basic operator to maintenance and then an electrician. Read more>>
Vadell Gabriel
My grandfather, mainly. He and my grandmother raised me and my siblings, and he always worked hard every day to provide for all of us. And when he wasn’t working at his day job, he ran his own church. He inspired me to work hard at my craft, no matter the bumps in the road, or how frustrating it can get at times. He was a very patient man who never tried to cheat to get to where he was, he simply worked at a steady pace until the time was right to move to the next plateau. Read more>>
Kathryn Budig
This is such an interesting question because I absolutely get my work ethic from my father, but I can’t say I’m always pleased about it. I’m grateful for the fortitude he taught me, but he also came from an era where he believed one could only find happiness from success. Read more>>
Christian Hatcher
My work ethic comes from both of my parents. Growing up, I watched both of them work hard daily. My father, a mechanic, and my mother, a nurse, would; often take me to work when I was a toddler. I have the faintest memories of being in my Dad’s old shop and playing games or watching movies. Read more>>
Cameron Earle
I would say that I primarily get my work ethic from my family. We are all unique in our own way, but one thing we definitely have in common is having a strong work ethic. One other factor that has fueled my work ethic is that over the past decade I have tried to surround myself with likeminded individuals who are just as passionate and driven as I am. Read more>>
Julie Jones
Julie Jones attributes her strong work ethic to her immigrant background from the UK and her extensive experience in management roles prior to real estate. Although she did not grow up in South Florida, she learned the area through hands-on exploration and community involvement. Read more>>
Emily Eklund
Since a very young age both my husband and I have displayed a drive to succeed and a desire to help others. I know that for both of us, that was instilled by our parents and watching them hustle and work hard to achieve their goals and continue to grow beyond each goal set. Read more>>
Debbie Shepherd
My work ethic comes from my grandmother, mom, and aunt. All 3 women have always been go-getters. All 3 migrated here from Jamaica, to start a better life. My mom graduated Magna Cum Laude with her BS in Nursing. My aunt has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, owning multiple businesses, and is now a successful realtor. Read more>>
Jeanne Hardt
My parents set an amazing example of exemplary work ethic. They both worked full-time jobs but also found time for family. We ate dinner together every night and shared what happened during the day. They provided for our family, so we never lacked for anything and made a point to save for special events like family vacations. Read more>>
Linda Weise
I have been told that I have tremendous work ethic and stamina that seems to either inspire or frustrate colleagues and team mates. Not really thinking about it, is probably the part that can befuddle most anyone. I come from a family that was taught to work. A family of self-motivated second generation immigrants from Poland and Lebanon. Read more>>
Hailey O’Dell
At HB Digital Marketing, our work ethic is deeply rooted in our passion for empowering small businesses and our commitment to our community. Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, I’ve always been inspired by the hard-working individuals and businesses around me. Read more>>
Carina Moyano
I get this from my family, especially my parents. As a daughter of immigrants, I have seen my parents work hard and long for everything they have to provide for the family. From a young age, I would go to work with my mom and get bored with whatever toy I would bring to entertain myself. So I would ask to help out, my mom would make those days so fun. Read more>>
Nina Symone
I believe that my work ethic comes from me knowing where I want to be in my career. Realizing that I’m still so far from where I see myself being it keeps me motivated to work until I get there and continue to work just as hard when I am there. Read more>>
Ronnie T
I think I get my work ethic from seeing the strong women in my family. My mother was a hard worker growing up, she always had a job and made sure we had food on the table. Times were tough and she struggled with some things but seeing her overcome her struggles showed me that if I really want something I have to work for it. Read more>>
peter karpick
It wasn’t until I graduated college that I realized I had a strong work ethic. While I think a lot of it came from my parents, and skateboarding, much of it developed through my jobs in the art field. Some of my first jobs in the art world were not that creative. I drew jewelry samples for a company’s catalog, set up graphics for screen printing on glassware, mostly designs for proms, college bookstores, and small businesses. Read more>>
Kevin Garnon Nishimwe
Ever since I was a kid, my mom never let us sit without doing something, and I was stubborn, so it was perfect. Whenever we were not in school, she would divide the chores among all of us. I was always doing something, like tearing apart a brand new computer to see how it works or being out with my dad working on his truck. I would say my work ethic comes from my parents. They work too hard for me to slack off. Read more>>
Elevated Experiences
As a small business (immediate team of two) we both pride ourselves in our strong work ethics, it is what bonds us and makes us better each year. When Meren was younger, she watched her dad hustle as a business owner and independent contractor. Read more>>
Ajale Brown
To be frank, fear of failure. That and truly believing I can overcome anything when I have a goal in sight. I have worked occupations that have tested my limits and taken advantage of my integrity. Occupations that had my loyalty for far too long. I am a creative at heart. I come from a family of self taught musicians, artists, authors, actors and they have passed their creativity onto me. Their abilities and passion are innate. Read more>>
Frank Torres
Honestly, I believe I got my work ethic from shadowing my Uncle Cris and seeing how hard he works. At the beginning of my journey, I can honestly admit that I wasn’t really aware of what it takes to be a successful business owner. So moving in with my Uncle Cris had to be one of the best decisions I made in my life. Read more>>
Shirley Paucar
The drive to build something from the ground up is in my DNA. But the guiding principle behind that drive? My parents, both tireless entrepreneurs themselves, instilled in me the importance of treating everyone you interact with; customers, employees, even competitors; with fairness and respect. It’s this foundation that fuels my relentless pursuit of excellence. Read more>>
Brie Hayden
My strong work ethic stems naturally from my love of learning and the pursuit of growth. This intrinsic motivation drives both the business and artistic aspects of my work. From a young age, I’ve been interested in acquiring new skills and consistently setting goals for myself. Each goal presents an opportunity to challenge myself, and I find it most effective to outline specific steps to achieve them. Read more>>
John Griffin
There’s no doubt I benefitted from great parenting. Both my mom and dad were public school educators, and they managed to raise 3 kids with very little money. Seeing the sacrifices they made taught me a lot. On an individual level, though, I would say tennis was the driving force that instilled in me a fierce work ethic. Read more>>
Pouneh Shahrestani
I believe my work ethic stems from a combination of my upbringing and my deep passion for my work. From a young age, I was taught the importance of dedication and hard work, principles that have guided me throughout my career. As an architect and interior designer, I am driven by a profound love for creating beautiful and functional spaces. Read more>>
Ashlee Brown
I would say my work ethic stems from my parents. Growing up, I always saw them working hard and going after what they wanted. As immigrants from Jamaica and knowing firsthand the struggle of growing up in a third-world country, they did what they could to make ends meet for their family. Read more>>
Addison Teng
My work ethic has been constantly in development. I started playing the violin when I was 7. My parents weren’t musicians and didn’t know how much they should push me to practice. When I was 16, I realized I loved music so much that I wanted to make it my career. But the teachers and professionals I met at the time told me that it was too late for me because I was not well-trained enough and didn’t have enough discipline. Read more>>
Mundo Juillerat
Definitely from my Mother and Father and my big family in general. Plain and simple you “do the work.” Do the work needed to execute the job…. And then you learn to do more work needed to do the job so that you’re ready for anything that gig may throw at you. I was lucky to have guitarist and vocalist Jerry Lopez as a mentor early on in my career and he always said, “the more you train, the less you bleed in battle.” Read more>>
Devin Callen
My parents. Growing up, my mom and dad both worked nonstop to put food on the table. Being the only child, they were the ones I looked up to most and aspired to be like. My father works in the electrical/solar field, traveling all over for work. My mom is a teacher. Both career’s are equally stressful with long hours. Read more>>
LaToya Shambo
My work ethic comes from my mother. Growing up I saw my mother work 3 jobs, while studying to land her career job. I also witnessed her go back to school for her cosmetology license. On top of all that, she would come home and cook dinner for me and my siblings every night. She never let the day defeat her. As a child, you don’t appreciate it or recognize it in real-time, but when you become an adult it’s life-changing. Read more>>
David Brown
My work ethic comes from being raised by a blue collar hard working family who served the public as nurses, policemen, priests, firemen, and in the army. As a child growing up and seeing the men in your family providing, and protecting. It leaves a lasting impression on you. Read more>>
Mathew Tretola
My best guess would be because I had to work for something if I wanted it. I started throwing hay, picking rocks and feeding cows on a farm when I was 13. I’ve never had a problem putting effort into things I care about. Read more>>
Ashley Kramer
Some of the most memorable parts of my childhood were the summers I’d go to grandpa’s house. My grandfather is an immigrant from Holland. He was a painter by trade and brought that skill with him to America. My mother grew up working the business with him. Read more>>
Janette Gibson Davis
I would attribute the development of my work ethic to my upbringing. Growing up, I witnessed both my mother and father cultivate an environment that encouraged creativity and self-sufficiency. They both owned and operated a business unique to their passions. I had a front-row seat to observe the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Veronica Kelly
Hands down, this one is my grandmother. She was an actual teacher for the New York Board of Education but to me she was the best life teacher our family had the privilege to watch and glean from. The older I get the more I see her work ethic in how I pursue goals and get things done in my life. Read more>>
Peter Gandolfo
I credit my work ethic to my parents and my grandparents. My paternal grandfather Pietro (Pete), after whom I am named, was pulled from school following fifth grade so that he could look after the family farm in Sicily. His older brothers and father had already left for America to build a new life. After immigrating to the U.S., he and my grandmother Nina settled in Richmond, Kentucky, a small town outside my hometown of Lexington. Read more>>
Victoria Rickards
I get my work ethic from my life experiences and my family’s legacy. I’ve experienced both abundance and hardship, and these contrasting periods have shaped my perspective on work and perseverance. During tough times, I’ve always been a dreamer, envisioning a better future and what I want to achieve. Once I have a clear picture of my goals, I feel a natural drive to work towards them. Read more>>
Shannon McFate
My mom. I have never met someone so determined to achieve things, especially when people questioned her ability to do so. Read more>>
Sana Yusuf
My work ethic directly relates to how hard I saw my parents working as a child. My family is a typical first generation immigrant family. My dad worked crazy hours and my mom stayed home with the kids and made sure homework was done, laundry was folded, dinner was made and kids were good. Read more>>
Shanequa Lewis
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the hard work and dedication I observed in my parents as they provided for our family. Starting work at a young age of 14, first at the church summer camp and then at local pharmacy as a cashier, I learned the value of self-reliance and determination. Read more>>
Ryan Jones
My work ethic really came from my mother and father. They instilled in me a sense of purpose in life. I could whatever I wanted as long as I set my mind to it. Now-deep down, we all know that you can’t really accomplish everything in life. Sometimes there are hurdles that are placed in front of you that you can never really overcome. Read more>>
Janet Perales
My parents are my biggest inspirations. They immigrated to America with nothing, and built a wonderful life for themselves and our family of 6. They’ve taught me to dream big, and because of them, I know I can achieve anything I put my mind to. Read more>>
Tamela Trussell
I was born and raised with tremendous parental love and zest for life but was very impoverished in the areas of basic needs, health, and stability. Often, I did not have enough food, warmth, water, or a stable home. I experienced scoliosis that led to me wearing a body brace for twenty-two hours a day during my junior and senior years of high school. Read more>>
Mrs. Corrinn Chishimba
I come from a long lineage of women who made Lemonade from lemons. My grandmother, Mildred H. Archie, was born in the South post The Great Depression and she knew the necessity of arduous work, making something from nothing and the reward of resilience. Post high-school, she became a domestic to ensure that her college tuition at Winston Salem State University was paid in full. Read more>>
Ibrahim Mgaza
My work ethic comes from growing up in the city of Buffalo as an African immigrant. Things weren’t always the easiest growing up because of the big change. But growing up I realized that I have a big opportunity here in the us to change the lives of me and my family. Compared to how my parents grew up in Africa where they didn’t have the same opportunities. Read more>>
Anthony Riley
I get my work ethic from my mother and father who have always been hard workers who take very little time off. I started working when I was only 14. Read more>>
Teshia Bradford-Smith
My work ethic comes from a couple of things; growing up somewhat poor, and being blessed with resources in high school from adults and programs that wanted to see me win. I grew up in Flint, MI with a single mother, so I always appreciated the value of a dollar. As a child, I use to save all of my money. Read more>>
Henri Pearson
My work ethic comes from both my parents, my dad is a Prof in Business, Insurance and Economics having even won awards from Harvard and my mum is also an award winner, Chief Exec of a Destination Management Organisation in local government. Read more>>
Audrey Yacou
I attribute my strong work ethic to a combination of factors, starting with my upbringing. My parents instilled in me the values of diligence, responsibility, and perseverance from a young age. They always emphasized the importance of giving my best effort in everything I do, no matter how big or small the task. Read more>>
Logan Woods
I am a naturally ambitious person. There are so many goals I have and in order to get there, I have to work hard. Faith without works is dead. I’d rather take sacrifices now knowing the return will be ten times larger than anything I’ve lost. I’m also surrounded by people everyday in my life who work hard which has influenced me in the best ways. Read more>>
James Gross
My whole entire family comes from a military background so growing up I had a lot of structure and discipline instilled in me through my father. He is by far, the hardest working man I know. Growing up he was going to school to earn his Masters Degree, while working full time to provide for my mother and I. He would run off 3 hours of sleep, go to work during the day and then would do night classes. Read more>>
Rita Kapoor Wojcik
My parents. Their families both came to the United States from India in the ’70s, under very different circumstances, but both had to start their lives over from scratch. My father’s father was in the Indian military, and when he passed, my grandmother – in an effort to support her nine children – divided my father and his siblings amongst her siblings’ homes so she could work multiple jobs to provide for them. Read more>>
Tyler Polani
My work ethic comes from my time in art school. I was enrolled in an accelerated bachelors program where terms were only 8 weeks long. The term would end on a Thursday or Friday, and my new term began the following Monday. My longest break was 7 days off, so there was essentially no time off. At first, I thought that schedule would burn me out, but I quickly enjoyed that flow, and continued to keep that work ethic after graduating. Read more>>
