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.
Terra Elan Mcvoy
My work ethic comes largely from my gratitude. Every day I’m astounded in one way or another by this complex, interesting, beautiful, difficult world we live in, and my gratitude for being a part of it drives me to show up for it with my best efforts. I think also my mentors and influences have shown me that the things we want in life (abundance, joy, connection, a sense of purpose) only appear when we consistently do the work it takes to get there. Read more>>
Darren Southern Plug Brown
As a child as early as 6 my grandfather taught me that the only way to have something was to work for it. As the owner of a plantation in rural SC and a trucking company he always put me to work. This is where my work ethic comes from. My gandapa was my super hero and he accomplished and acquired alot in life and I wanted to be just like him when I grew up! Read more>>
Rxcch
My Work Ethic comes from my watching my parents work hard to provide for all 5 of their children.
My Parents managed to raise all 5 children while working more than one job. As an adult , i now understand the hardships of managing family life and work responsibilities as well as your true aspirations fostered by your work ethic.
I learned to stay organized and prepared when you do not have things come easy, but being aware of possibilities always allowed me to stay on-top of my goals. Read more>>
Droovyy
Commenting on DROOVYY’s work ethic would sound quite corny, but she would want people to know what shaped her professional life and routine. DROOVYY has a pretty organized work-life balance to start with. She prioritizes her work, physical and mental health and quality time with her loved ones above anything. Most importantly sitting in silence for an hour everyday helps her clear my mind and release all those lingering and hanging thoughts that sometimes could manifest in bad ways. She believes in cleansing and releasing her energy everyday. Sounds quite spiritual; but that’s what she is about. Well, a part of her. Read more>>
Mara Keen
My dad is a mortgage broker and I grew up listening to him brokering deals. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was learning the importance of persistency and resilience. Many times something unexpected would happen delaying the deal or people would back out/not be willing to come up with a solution. Similar situations such as the need for problem solving happen in the majority of careers, and this is especially true for composing. I believe in order to have a successful career you have to be easy to work with, kind, and able to quickly problem solve. Most importantly, watching my dad work so hard to get deals done left a huge impression on me. Read more>>
Katherine Vandergriff
I’ve always had a love for the arts, which naturally led me to dance from a young age. From ages 4 to 16, I dedicated nearly 10 hours a week to classes and training, which instilled in me resilience and commitment. Throughout every season, I participated in competitions and conventions, constantly learning new skills. Each dance season emphasized teamwork and a strong work ethic—skills that became foundational for me. When I transitioned to photography at 16, those lessons easily translated into my work. I developed a strong workflow, learned to handle pressure, and cultivated the discipline necessary to thrive in a creative field. This background continues to shape my approach to photography, where I aim to capture not just images but also the emotions and stories behind them! Read more>>
Khristian A Osuna
I believe my persistence and drive come from many places, but at the core, my work ethic is fueled by a deep desire to make a difference in the world, however I can. Despite growing up in a low-income home, without a father figure, and having my creative side suppressed at times, I’ve always held onto the feeling of wanting to leave my mark on history. That drive has never wavered. I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned, and despite the losses and obstacles I’ve faced, I’ve come out stronger because of them. Read more>>
Samantha Smith Neal Mynatt
I am the oldest of 8 children in a blended family My father was deployed frequently for the Navy. From a young age, I was given responsibility for my younger siblings in the household. This seems to have instilled in me a sense of responsibility and duty. Money was tight at home and at 14 I began working at Winn Dixie grocery. Due to family conflict, I left the family home and began living independently after my junior year of high school. I still managed to graduate in the top 10% of my class. After high school, I worked various jobs in the hospitality industry where I learned that hard work and attention to detail were a necessity for advancement and financial success. Read more>>
Jordan Cutler
Growing up in a family that deeply valued hard work, I learned its importance early on. As a pastor’s kid, I was involved in organizing church events and developing presentations while still in elementary school. In middle school, my sister and I would rake leaves in our neighbor’s yard. By high school, I was juggling two jobs. Reflecting on those years, I understand why it took me a while to find balance, but I always believed (and still do) in the power of hard work to achieve great things. Read more>>
Jordan Diggs
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the inspiring journey of my parents, who have navigated their professional pursuits with unwavering ambition and passion. Growing up in Memphis, TN, I watched my father, a brilliant math wizard and LeMoyne Owen graduate, dedicate himself to a fulfilling career with the government. His playful yet mysterious mantra—“If I told ya, I would have to kill ya”—exemplified not just a sense of humor but also a profound commitment to his work. Even in retirement, he maintains that air of dedication, reminding me that success is often shrouded in hard work and a little mystery. Read more>>
Jed The Sloth
I was single mother raised in a working class town. From a very young age she put me in year round sports. Athletics were my life growing up, I really knew nothing else. This yielded an opportunity to go play football for the Tulane university. Which was the perfect environment for me to flourish. All I’ve ever known is how to work hard. I truly just believe it’s a mentality. You wake up and be the person you are the entire day, no matter what you are doing. It’s just a way I carry myself. Read more>>
Katelin Burton
Both of my parents were self employed, therefore there were financial ups and downs. I watched my father work long hours and do whatever it took to close a deal. I remember thinking that if I worked hard, I too could have the same success. My parents set the best example and always encouraged me to aim high. Read more>>
Gina Burg
My work ethic stems from a blend of independence and creativity that’s been a part of me since childhood. I was always entrepreneurial, whether it was running lemonade stands or finding new ways to create. But becoming independent at sixteen really shaped my resilience and determination. I’ve had to carve my own path, and that’s where my drive comes from. From managing an art gallery to building a photography business, and now opening my own swimwear boutique with bathing suits that fit EVERY woman (especially active, water-loving women like myself), I’ve always embraced challenges head-on. Read more>>
Josh Scott
As a kid I remember the early morning sounds of my dad’s boots tapping across the kitchen floor, the creek of the door, and the gravel crunching under the weight of the car as he headed down the driveway to work. Over the years I’ve realized that he has a work ethic unmatched by most. Always working on something most people would hire out or just not do at all. I believe the work ethic, tenacity, and resilience I posses was instilled through the actions of my dad. Read more>>
Zoe Johnson
I get my work ethic from watching my mom and dad. They have always taught me to work really hard from a very young age and so I focus and put my best foot forward. Whether it is for dance, school, singing, song-writing, and performing. I am going to give my very best no matter what I set out to do. Read more>>
Yaoyang Liu
My work ethic comes from being really curious and disciplined. I’ve always loved how music can tell a story, especially in movies. That keeps me excited and wanting to learn more. But it’s also about showing up every day and working hard, even when things get tough. I learned the value of hard work from my family, and that’s stuck with me in everything I do. Read more>>
Windy Lashell Butler
I get my work ethic from having a passion for what I do which drives my desires to do the best I can. I’m constantly challenging myself to do better which allows me to work harder to be worthy of reward. I learn from my mistakes and pick up the pieces and make it better. You must have failure to gain success. Read more>>
Tiffany Ford
My strong work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing. Growing up with a father who served in the Army for over 35 years instilled in me a profound respect for discipline, dedication, and service. I witnessed firsthand his unwavering commitment to his duties and his tireless efforts to ensure the well-being of his family. Watching my father rise each morning between 4 and 5 AM to start his day set a powerful example for me. Read more>>
Sandra Skinner
I get my work ethic from my mother. I remember being in grade school and going to work with my mom, who was a single parent. She worked in hotels as long as I can remember, and I used to find it fun to go to work with her on days that I didn’t have school. Seeing how hard she worked made me feel as though that was the norm, so I just incorporated that into my everyday life. As an adult, I see now that she worked a little too hard, and I have started to think about my overall wellness, but I absolutely still consider myself a hard worker, and that comes from my mother. Read more>>
Brandon Wong
Definitely from growing up in our household, and from playing many different competitive sports. Our family worked hard and us kids learned from that. My dad went to work everyday at BC Tel and my mom took care the 3 of us. If mom was not busied she would be coordinating one of our teams. We also had our 2nd set of parents, my grandparents lived in the suite downstairs. My grandpa owned 2 different businesses and showed us how hard you have to work. My grandma was another excellent care giver and support for all of us. We received a lot of support from our extended family and my uncle Cary was a big help to our growth and who we are today. Read more>>
Mari Castro Sydney Steer
At Stranded Studios, a strong work ethic is at the core of everything we do. It’s what drives us to consistently deliver top-quality results, go above and beyond for our clients, and maintain the high standards we’ve set for ourselves. Our commitment to hard work shows in every little detail inside our business. This dedication is what sets us apart, and it’s the foundation of the trust and loyalty we build with every single one of our guests. Read more>>
Mateo Nikolav
My work ethic is a mix of necessity, purpose, and optimism. Coming from a background where I had to carve out my own opportunities, I learned early on that if I didn’t put in the effort and discipline, pursuing my dreams would be impossible. Read more>>
Shantelle Mills
Growing up, I watched as my mom who was a single mother, worked two jobs endlessly to provide for myself and my siblings. I remember waking up before the sun and going to bed around midnight being that my mom pulled doubles often. We always had what we needed and although she was mostly at work, she ensured to make time for her children on her days off no matter how tired she was from working a shift the previous day before. I have watched my mother show up for work through life’s troubles such as sickness, family/personal issues, doctor appointments etc. Read more>>
Jody Maberry
Work ethic often comes from role models. I was fortunate to have good, strong, blue-collar role models as I was growing up. Also, work ethic can come from realizing that time and pressure can help you accomplish nearly anything. It sticks with you once you get a big win through a strong work ethic. Read more>>
Javier Servin
My dad was one of the biggest influences in my life. He always instilled in me that no matter what job you have, you have to strive to be the best at that job. My dad came to the US with an 8th grade education and worked various jobs before getting a good paying job as a machinist. He would leave to go to work before the sun came up and and returned home after it was dark. He would always tell that I had to work hard at school so that I could earn a living with my mind instead of with back-breaking labor like him. Read more>>
Tara Temprano
I was raised by two amazing individuals who instilled a strong work ethic in my siblings and me. Throughout my career as a public school teacher in New Jersey, I aimed to hone and further the craft of education through research and practice. When I realized I wanted to reach out further to become an entrepreneur, I doused myself in researching education and becoming a businesswoman. My brother and I attended Meet and Greets for Networking Groups where we pitched our ideas to other business people. I joined networks for women and threw myself into the craft of consulting. Read more>>
Sebastian Taylor
Observation of important individuals in my life is a key part of where that comes from. My parents especially. Both came from broken homes and no generational wealth to speak of. It all came down to what they were willing to work for. When my siblings and I came along it made it that much harder for them to do the things they wanted to do. I knew that early on and I was aware of the difficulty being a parent was for them. It’s the hardest job in the world and they persisted each and everyday so that we would have food on our plates. I took that as a reminder that if my parents are working this hard everyday to make sure that I am fed and housed and can do all the things I want to do then what is that I am willing to do for them to make sure they don’t have to worry about me. Read more>>
Alicia Aihara
I learned my work ethic at the knee of my grandparents and mother. My grandparents were immigrants from Mexico and Japan, and part of the Greatest Generation. They struggled to bring their family to a better life in America, always believing that the next generation should be better than the last. When WWII came about, my Japanese grandfather had to endure life in three of the Internment Camps. He volunteered with the Army to drive trucks in the interior United States, so he could serve his country and earn money that the rest of his family couldn’t while incarcerated. All of my grandparents worked so hard to make sure future generations would have a solid foundation to work from. I will always be grateful for their tenacity and courage. Read more>>
James Tyler Shaw
A key concept that I learned from both punk rock and the cult cinema world is that freedom takes work. If you really want to make something that is uniquely you. If you want to do it without comprise. If you want to do it in a way that is one hundred percent true to your ethics, then you have to be ready to role up your sleeves and put in the hours and wear a lot of hats, because every element you farm out to a company or corporation will take a little bit of your authority with it. Beyond that, there is a beauty to the DIY approach and I find this applies just as much to cinema as to music. Read more>>
Khaotickayy
My work ethic honestly came from the pain that I have been through in my life. Music and writing is my therapy. It became a way for me to release everything that I have bottled up inside and it is a way for me to deal with a lot of the trauma that I have been through in life. I grew up in a trap house. I was shot 8 times and flatlined 7 times. That is just a small snippet of what I have been through. I am grateful to still be here to tell my story. I have well over 600 songs written so far and counting. I can’t help but to write and work on my music. It makes me feel alive, so it really doesn’t feel like work. Read more>>
Michael Cook
Both my parents were extremely hardworking. My dad worked, and retired from, three full-time jobs at the same time. He was a police officer, he worked for the post office, and he did late night security at a Chicago Public school. My mom would take us up to the school a few nights a week when she got off work and we would hang out with my dad. Some times he would shoot baskets with us in the gym or make up a fun games while we wondered the hallways of the empty school. It seemed normal at the time that parents, especially fathers worked really hard for their families. Read more>>
Stephanie Coalson
I have watched both of my parents have incredible work ethic from my childhood forward. I see what it takes to do a job and do it well. Being in the travel industry- I am working with my clients hard earned money. I know what it’s like to scrape and save to be able to afford a vacation and I do not take that lightly. I want my clients to know they can trust me, not only with their dollars, but also with their memories. I treat every trip I book as if it were my own vacation. I put the same amount of care I put into my own trips(and sometimes more) into my clients! I think my clients can feel that, so they keep coming back as the years go on, and that fuels my passion to work even hard to help them have great experiences! Read more>>
Brynn Gibbs
Since a young age, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I loved coming up with creative ways to make money while enjoying the process, whether it was running a small business in my neighborhood or finding unique opportunities to solve problems. This mindset stayed with me throughout college and into my early adulthood, where I thrived on taking initiative and pursuing challenges. Read more>>
Michael Washienko
My mentor in college once told me “work should always beget more work.” Whenever I make something I review the project to find the most interesting part, then I plan the next project around that. I never get creative block because I’m always building off of what I find most interesting. Read more>>
Ellis (el) Maryland
I get my work ethic from my father. He worked tirelessly to provide for our family, and his dedication to his job taught me the value of hard work and responsibility. Growing up, I watched him put in long hours and make sacrifices, and it instilled in me the belief that success comes from consistent effort and determination. Read more>>
Lonnie Busch
Probably from my parents, as they were both hard workers and still found time for play. But along with that, I believe it comes from doing what I love. The majority of my life has been spent working as an artist, doing commercial illustration for over forty-five years. And now writing, for over twenty. I’ve managed to do things I love, and sometimes even make money at them. Read more>>
Adan Ruiz
I got my work ethic from my parents, who were always busy with projects. Growing up, we tackled various tasks every weekend around the house, from building to cleaning. These experiences shaped me, instilling a sense of structure that helps me prioritize my daily responsibilities for our business. Read more>>
Amanda Calderon
I believe work ethic is largely inherited, may be born internally throughout life’s experiences, or sometimes can be learned by those not gifted it. I am grateful to have inherited that hunger, as well as be taught it. I had a father that worked harder than anyone I’ve met in my life and he expected the same from me. I learned as a kid that no matter how hard anyone around you works, you should always be working harder. Today, I am incredibly grateful for the high expectations set by my Dad early in life. Call it a blessing or a curse, I have the same restless soul he did. Read more>>
Zach Farnsworth
When i was 14, my dad pushed me into a summer job working for a local farmer picking sweet corn. I barely enjoyed a single minute of it, but I learned a lot about hard work from the mostly Latin-x workers that I worked alongside. the next summer, the Farmer hired me back on to help with his newest venture, sod farming. Stacking rolls of sod onto pallets all day was even harder work than picking corn the previous season. After that, I moved into food, and the work ethic that i developed on those farms transferred well and lead me to promotions and leadership opportunities very quickly in almost every restaurant i have worked in. Read more>>
Masha Sheinina
I taught middle school biology for a decade, and it really taught me to trust and enjoy the learning process. When students told me they were frustrated and confused when learning, I would tell them that it means that they are doing it right, because challenging yourself is frustrating and confusing. As it turns out I was right, and I learned to be comfortable in feeling frustrated, and even lean into it. This applied to pushing myself artistically and in terms of my career goals. I don’t think I have work ethic, as much as I have learned to enjoy work and challenging myself. Read more>>
