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.
Pamela Rosario Pérez
My grandmothers. I would like to personally highlight my paternal grandmother, Maria Decena, lovingly known as Mami Nonosa. In my community, it is common for parents to move to cities to find work and financially support their families. In the meantime, their children are raised by grandparents, extended family, and village elders back home. Such was the case for me. Read more>>
Jessica Moreau
I’m first generation American, my parents are European, and their work ethic and grit was very influential. My mom has so much energy and endurance, she could multitask and manage so much at once and I never saw her sit down. I am ambitious in nature as well and my list is always longer than the hours in the day. Luckily, I’m addicted to the rewarding sense of accomplishment and the process of creation and completion keeps me going. Read more>>
Alyssa Brussee
My work ethic is undoubtedly a product of being raised in a farming family, where my parents wove hard work and responsibility into the fabric of my upbringing. Even though they truthfully could have financially afforded to give my 4 brothers and me anything we asked for, they chose what would be the most beneficial for us in the long-run by emphasizing the value of working for things and instilling a deep sense of responsibility in us. Read more>>
Lisa Chess
When I was six years old, my mother enrolled me in a ballet class. Apparently, the teacher (Miss Joanne, I still remember her name) thought I showed some promise and communicated that to my mom. I also really liked this class and wanted to take more than one class a week but at that time my mother was a single mom and we couldn’t afford more. So, my mother, also being pretty strict, said that I needed to practice at home, after school, a certain number of days a week. This would make up for only being in class once a week. Read more>>
Sherry King
Coming from a single parent home and the second child of five children, my mother always portrayed a good work ethic. Even though we were on Government Assistance my Mother always had a job. Growing up I didn’t catch on to having a good work ethic. I worked a few jobs where I started off being that good employee who had a promising career but because of my circle of friends we were always getting into different situations that caused me to lose focus and I would quit the job for no apparent reason. I hung out with the older crowd and going to clubs. Because I picked up drinking and smoking cigarettes that’s when I would work the different jobs and when pay day came, the job ended. Read more>>
Valerie Wei-haas
I’d say my work ethic comes from a mix of necessity and realization. Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of resources, so I quickly learned that if I wanted to get ahead, I had to put in the work — hard work wasn’t optional, it was the only option. I had to show up, push through challenges, and keep going even when things weren’t easy. Read more>>
Caryssa Sornia
My work ethic was shaped at a very young age, primarily by watching my mom. She ran two small businesses to support our large family, often making the tough choice to work instead of spending days at home with all of us kids. Though it was hard for her, it left a lasting impression on me and shaped who I am today. I believe I inherited her drive to succeed and accomplish tasks. What drives me every day is my list of to-dos, but more importantly, it’s the ability to see the bigger picture and the ability to break it down into small steppingstones on the way to completing the larger task—the sacrifices that come with choosing work over personal time. Read more>>
Kenny Wright
I think it’s a combination of traits inherited from my parents, who were both very hard workers, and also learning early on that nobody is going to “do it for you.” When I graduated from high school, I didn’t want to go to college. I tried to devote all my time to becoming a musician and developing my craft, so I worked all kinds of jobs that I hated just to keep the lights on, so to speak. When I started touring as a full-time job, a whole different type of work ethic was required to maintain that lifestyle. I’ve just always believed in getting your hands dirty and not waiting on the guy next to you to do the work so you don’t have to. Read more>>
Shouta Ogihara
For me, work ethic is not just about completing assigned tasks, but actively learning and achieving results, even in unfamiliar areas. Having worked in the tough car trade industry, I initially saw entering the cosmetics industry—a field completely foreign to me—as a big challenge. However, driven by the desire to change the current situation where Japan’s excellent products and companies are not fully recognized in the U.S. and globally, I’ve dedicated myself to playing my part. Read more>>
Bryan Blandine
My work ethic definitely comes from my dad. I used to watch him work seventy to a hundred hours a week and barely have enough to get by. He taught me how to sweat pipe at eight years old. I helped with cleanouts or demo work at twelve or thirteen. I grew up with a strong understanding that making it in life takes every ounce of yourself, and even with the highest caliber of effort you can still fall short of where you would like to be. I started working as soon as possible, saving every cent I could. When I was nineteen I was working sixty-five hours a week at a pharmacy, hitting the gym and then going home so exhausted, but there was my dad still finishing up work. Read more>>
Xuezhu Jenny Wang
My parents are incredibly hardworking people. When I was in elementary school, they quit their jobs to start a business together. The first few years were really challenging, and I’d see them get up at 5 am, start working early in the morning, and come home around 9 pm or even later. They’d brainstorm business plans and talk about what happened at work. They have always been really hands-on: I remember seeing my mom mopping the office floor and my dad scrubbing toilets at their office. Witnessing the whole process, I quickly learned not to take anything for granted and to be diligent and proactive. Read more>>
Doug Zeif
I would love to tell you that I got my work ethic from my Father, my Mother, or my brothers and sisters, but I cannot. My Father was a high school language teacher who hated his job every day for 35 years and my Mother was a bookkeeper for the City of New York. They went to work each day and were home at dinner time. Don’t feel bad for me- this is all what made me who I am. My parents, in essence, were the poster children for what I didn’t want to become during my lifetime. Read more>>
