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.

Ashley Cosselman

I think growing up I was always shown that working hard would help you get you where you wanted to go. I lived a very comfortable life in a loving family and I knew that was something I wanted for my future and someday to raise my own children in that same type of atmosphere.
I was always driven to work hard, and get the task at hand done. I can remember from a young age self play cultivating some of the tendencies & traits I still use to this day. That eventually grew into a desire to lead or be successful at what I was doing. I realized pretty early on that sports weren’t my thing & gave me a sense of failure, which was difficult for me to digest. So I had to structure those feelings and focus on something that was productive, which at the time happened to be my jobs or my affiliations with volunteer work. Being a leader, or some would say a Boss, was exciting and rewarding for me. It gave me motivation to do more, be better & succeed! Read more>>

Emily Cho

My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing as the daughter of two Korean immigrants, where I learned the importance of perseverance from a young age. Growing up—and even today—I hold the belief that if you truly want to achieve something, you will always find a way to make it happen. Whether it’s tackling complex problems or helping others, I firmly believe that combining effort with resourcefulness will lead to meaningful and positive outcomes. Read more>>

Kylee Kronenwetter

In my line of work, my work ethic is motivated by the animals and my customers. In order for my customers to view us as reliable, educated, and professional, the health of my animals really says it all. There are days where I feel lazy, I’m human. But I keep in mind that many lives are in my hands, and it is up to me to ensure their living space is clean and their bellies are full. If my animals are healthy and happy, I have happy customers coming back again and again.
In essence, my work ethic stems from the love I have for each and every one of these magnificent creatures paired with the amazing customer base I have built and continue to build day by day. Read more>>

Portia Williams

To accomplish your goals, you have to be persistent and consistent. My mom would always tell me, “If you want something, just do it!” Every day I strive to consistently work towards my goals and be persistent. Even if I get a no or fail, I keep trying! Every failure is one step closure to success! Read more>>

Jeff Davidson

I’d say I learned about work ethic from watching my father and grandfather in daily life. They both tried to instill the value of hard work and taking pride in everything you do. This mindset became real working on a ranch after high school. There were no “days off” on the ranch.
My Dad was always a good example of working hard to take care of his family and putting others first.
My grandfather was a jack of all trades and was always fixing something, building something and teaching me about what the project was. Read more>>

David Hulett

As a child, my father owned his own landscaping business. We would often spend summers working with him as he beautified the houses of his clients. He would always say, “People don’t pay you to do a job. They pay you to do a job well.” When we weren’t working on the yards of others, we were up early every Saturday tending to our own house’s front and back yard. Though I didn’t particularly enjoy those hot Texas days being taken away from in front of my Saturday morning cartoons to instead swat away mosquitoes outside in the sweltering sun, I have now come to appreciate the value of a hard day of labor. It feels good knowing that your own toil can lead to a tremendously rewarding result. After each project, we would step back and marvel at our work with pride. I still carry that sense of pride in my work to this day. Read more>>

Jorge Trevino

Our work ethic comes from a combination of influences and shared experiences that have shaped my business partner and myself over the years. Both of our families played a significant role, instilling values like honesty, responsibility, and persistence early on. These foundational principles have been a guiding force in how we approach work and relationships. Read more>>

Juan C. Lopez Cortijo

My work ethic is rooted in a combination of influences and experiences. Growing up, my father set an incredible example—he was dedicated, hardworking, and taught me the value of giving my best in everything I do. My time in the military further reinforced these principles, instilling discipline, accountability, and a ‘never quit’ attitude. Beyond that, I’ve had the opportunity to work in multiple industries over the years, each of which taught me something unique about persistence, adaptability, and delivering quality service. These experiences together shaped the work ethic I bring to my business every day. Read more>>

Anethe Okutubo Nadine Malomar

As sisters, we’ve had the same examples of work ethic our whole lives. Our Dad is someone who, despite his highly demanding job, will ensure that every single project he is involved in receives the same dedication and attention to detail.

One example was in 2022 when he managed to conclude his doctorate, write a book, and still work.

He always tells us the importance of continually learning and developing skills regardless of where we are in our careers. With our brand, he has been our biggest supporter allowing us to run our ideas by him in order to improve the brand. Read more>>

Catena Bergevin

My family includes many independent business owners. My grandmother immigrated from Sicily and owned a dress shop specializing in custom-made wedding dresses. My brother owned a theatrical wig and makeup design company. My father had a small one-man-show electrical repair business. My mother sold her oil paintings on Sunday afternoons in the park. In high school, I sold handmade flower headpieces (very 1970s) during lunch and recess. Read more>>

Michelle Hartman

I’ve always been a hard worker. I’m the first born child, and also a Virgo, so I think its just a part of my DNA. But I also feel so passionately about what I do. And I’m always finding inspiration to learn and grow and be better. So that gives me energy to continue. Aside from that, I do believe in the golden rule of treating others the way you would like to be treated. And so from a service provider standpoint, I put myself in the customer’s shoes and think about what I could do to make them feel reassured and well served. Oftentimes, this entails going above and beyond to make people happy- but that is fulfilling in itself. Read more>>

Rachael Smith- Meadors

My parents as well as being raised in the Midwest. I’ve been working since really I was in middle school hustling world’s finest chocolate. From there my mom had me selling jewelry with her every weekend. I LOVE working. I think it was just always a positive outlook in my mind that work made me happy. Read more>>

Joshuah Taylor

My work ethic comes from a combination of my experiences in sports, being self-taught in woodworking, and the support of my family. Sports have taught me the value of discipline and perseverance. As a runner on the Men’s Cross Country Team at the University of Toledo, I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from talent alone—it’s the hours and hours of training, pushing through discomfort, and showing up every single day, even when it’s tough, that make the difference. Read more>>

Freddie Villa

I gained my work ethic through observing my parents early on. Both my mother and my father were hard workers waking up at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. every single day. To have work, was a blessing and that mindset was instilled to me as far back as I can remember. Over time I developed my own drive. Now, as I’ve become an adult it’s just second nature to work and create. I’m happiest when I am doing something to help me progress in life. Read more>>

Angela Christoforo

I have always been a very motivated person and determined to excel at any task I have to complete. My parents were a great influence on my work ethic. I remember my mother had bought me this kid’s typewriter when I was in elementary school and I loved to use it to do my school work. My third grade teacher once told my mom I was the only student who would type up my homework. I wanted my homework to be the best work and in the years that followed that was pretty much the same for everything I set out to do. I have always worked hard inside and outside of the classroom. Read more>>

Sham Blak

I got my work ethic from my dad. When I was a child I got in trouble a lot for half a$$ doing things. My dad would say things like good thing it’s not yours or you’d lose it. When I joined the military I’d hear a lot of my Non-Commissioned Officers say the same thing and the truth was they were correct. I didn’t try hard and when I did I not only succeeded but I exceeded with flying colors. It took a lot of growing up and many hard meals to digest, but in the end it gave me a work ethic out of this world. Read more>>

Wen Xie

My work ethic is deeply rooted in my belief that design is more than just creating functional or visually appealing products—it’s a responsibility. As designers, we hold the power to influence behavior and shape how people interact with the world. This realization has been the foundation of my design ethics, guiding me to approach every project with care and accountability. Read more>>

Cheran Leapheart

My work ethic was instilled in me by my parents. My father was a Sales Manager at IBM and my mother was the Contracting Officer for the US Army Corps of Engineers. They worked very hard for everything they had. They grew up in times where segregation was real, women’s rights were limited and a college degree was not necessary to be successful. While they may not have obtained formal degrees, they learned a lot by trial and error. They always challenged me and my brother to be the best, learn more, set goals and that rewards will come from hard work. Read more>>

Klaudia Kwiatkowska

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve hated being told what to do. Whether it was cleaning the house or running to the grocery store, it always made me want to do it less. I know it sounds kind of silly, but being given orders just didn’t sit right with me. When it comes to work or chasing my goals, I’ve learned that I have to want it, and it has to feel fun. If it feels too much like work, it’s hard for me to stay excited about it. Read more>>

Kate Shanahan

1. Realizing that I was responsible for myself.

I didn’t used to have much of a work ethic. I always preferred to read a book, and I’d read for hours a day in middle and high school. I only played two sports (field hockey and tennis) for one semester each because sports took time away from reading. I also didn’t spend much time on homework, skating by with as little effort as possible because homework, like sports, took time away from reading. Read more>>

Mollie Fox

I get my work ethic from my mom. She was a single mother in the 1980s, at a time when there was so much sexism in the world. When she wanted to start her own business, it was never just about her knowledge, talent, or intelligence, she needed her father to come to the bank with her to guarantee her loan and sign her lease. I saw how much she had to sacrifice and how many hours she had to put in each day to make her business a success. When I was a kid, I resented that time it took away from me until I was old enough to understand that when it’s your name on the letterhead, it’s your responsibility to keep the lights on. She supported two kids, put us through college, and was a role model to her grandchildren. Her work ethic was unparalleled. At moments when I feel truly successful, it feels like I’m honoring her legacy.  Read more>>

Dr. Michelle Gill

As far as I can remember being a little girl and seeing my mom in the military fixing helicopters as an electrician and a woman at that, I was inspired to become her, I don’t think I’ve ever said this to her but when she reads this she will see it and know that she’s been my inspiration my entire life. She is an honest person filled with genuineness and courage so I would say that my work ethic comes from her. She recently retired and I don’t remember a time of her not being at work, unless she was traveling the world and or extremely sick. This is what I’ve learned over the years and I am grateful to her for her leadership throughout my life. Read more>>

Andy Kelemen

My work ethic has always come from a place of doing what you say and saying what you’ll do. I strongly believe in following through on that phrase, and it will take you far, no matter what industry you’re in. I also think for people who work in the freelance industry, strong work ethic is a habit developed out of necessity. In film production, if you don’t get yourself out there, form great connections and relationships, and sell your skills to the world, you won’t generate any work, You really are your best champion, so being in a field where you seek out work forms healthy work habits. Read more>>

Ashlyn Zwemmer

When it comes to work ethic, I truly believe that I learned this from multiple areas of my life. Growing up I was raised in a house that you had to work for what you wanted. My parents both worked good jobs and taught us from a young age that things are not just handed to you. If we wanted a spot in the starting lineup for whatever sport we played they would never complain to the coach. Instead, they would tell us to practice improving our skills to make the cut. If we wanted the newest trendy thing on the market they would not just go out and buy it for us, they expected us to work and pay for those extra luxuries that were not at all a need. Then you grow up, leave home and either carry out what they taught you or start your own path. I definitely carried what they instilled in me but also met a man that took work ethic to another level.  Read more>>

Vinnie Langdon Iii

I get my work ethic from my family! When I was younger, I witnessed my older Sister working 2-3 jobs while juggling high school. Back then I thought that’s what every fourteen year-old kid did. My Dad was always a hard-worker taking any extra hours if offered. My Mom always had the ‘cool’ jobs from running an ice skating rink to managing a local country singer. When I was fourteen, ready to enter the workforce as well, I wanted to combine all those skills my family showed me, especially having the ‘cool’ job part! Read more>>

Alessandra Cortina

My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing and the values instilled in me as I grew up in an Italian immigrant home filled with entrepreneurial spirit. Watching my parents pour their hearts into our family business taught me that nothing worthwhile comes without dedication and perseverance. Resilience wasn’t just something we talked about—it was a way of life. As a wife, mom, and attorney, those lessons fuel me daily. Balancing these roles requires focus, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to my goals. I believe in working hard, not just for myself, but to inspire those around me and honor the sacrifices that brought me here. My work ethic is my way of carrying forward my family’s legacy while paving the way for my daughters. Read more>>

Samantha Leslie

My work ethic is deeply influenced by the example set by my mom and stepdad. I was raised by my mom as a single parent for much of my early childhood, and later, when she remarried, we became a two-parent household with both of them working full-time. Watching them manage their careers while maintaining a balanced home life taught me the importance of dedication, responsibility, and perseverance. They demonstrated the value of hard work and commitment, which shaped my approach to my own professional life. I learned to take pride in what I do, stay focused on my goals, and put in the effort to achieve them, even when faced with challenges. I believe these values have played a key role in how I approach tasks and contribute to the success of the teams I’m part of. Read more>>

Zafer Sevimcok

As a first-generation immigrant, I came to New York with a dream: to build a better life in a country where justice prevails. After earning my Journalism degree in Istanbul, I moved here, excited to experience the city I had only seen in movies.

The journey wasn’t easy. While studying English full-time, I also worked full-time to support myself. For the first time, I felt the pride of standing on my own in a new country. That mix of excitement, determination, and hard work shaped the strong work ethic I carry with me today. Read more>>

Tanya Breland

I have obtained a good work ethic since as long as I can remember. Working my first job at 14 at Wendy’s, I have always wanted to perform anything that I do with excellence. When I was in high school, the first two years I was hanging with not so motivated crowd. It wasn’t until my forever best friend, Catherine, introduced me to a program call the Cooperative work program. It was a program where you were enrolled into an intensive educational program that allowed you to receive regular high school classes every other week and work the alternative weeks. I landed a job working at the NYU mail room and was the highest paying student in the program. The catch is that you had to maintain an 85% average in order to stay in the program and continue working. Read more>>

Ashlee Trcka

From a very early age I’ve learned to work hard and be resilient. I started figure skating at the young age of 4 years old. By the time I was 8 I was training on the ice for several hours a day, before and after school, and attending training camps thousands of miles for many months at a time away from home. My work ethic was attained at this extreme young age and I learned to work hard to achieve my goals. The downside of working so hard so young means I didn’t get to have a lot of fun and had to survive situations. My perseverance to overcome has left me stronger than ever and as an adult, painting has been enormously fun! Read more>>

Diamond Jones

When it comes to work ethic I want to say seeing it from my parents and the values they instilled when it came to being proud of the work that’s yours. That mentality helped forge a lot of the way my work ethic is. Read more>>

Jack Kent

Probably from my sports backgrounds. I spent years in basketball and martial arts. At a young age I could see that the work I put in would have its rewards. There were no shortcuts. I had to show up and make it happen.
I had a lot of: family, coaches, and teachers that instilled a good work ethic in me. It’s translated well to my adult life and the art I create. Read more>>

Barry Walton

I grew up in a working-class family. My father spent his life working in factories, with the majority of his career in a steel foundry. In college, I used to visit the dark, open, and vast space where hot orange steel poured from a crane and vat suspended from the rafters above. I was amazed by his resilience, remaining in that environment for 25 years of his career. Read more>>

Meredith Coleman Mcgee

My grandmothers displayed work ethics by their example. Half stepping was never a part of the agenda. My maternal grandmother Roxie was born in 1903 in rural Attala County, Mississippi. My paternal grandmother Beulah was born in 1921 in Gadsden, Alabama. They both demanded that we (grandchildren) do our best whether it was spring cleaning, cooking, ironing, or gardening. My first work experience was in the seventh grade at Piney Woods School, 21 miles south of Jackson, Mississippi. Piney Woods is currently the largest boarding school for Black people in America. Back then, students were trained to work in the school’s enterprises which included an automotive shop, a car body shop, a farm, etc. I ran a steaming press in the school’s cleaners. Our female supervisor was proficient and extremely detailed. Superior service was demanded. We had to do our jobs well. Residents were satisfied with the school’s cleaning service because business was booming. Our student jobs taught us skills and helped pay our tuition. Read more>>

Mohamad Elbanna

My work ethic comes from my upbringing and the values instilled in me by my family. I’m the eldest of eight brothers, so responsibility and leadership were things I had to embrace early on. My parents separated when I was very young, but they both remained an incredible influence on my life. Each of them came to this country at the ages of 12 and 14, leaving behind third-world conditions to build a better future. Read more>>

Dawn Schuster

My work ethic definitely comes from my grandmother. She and my grandpa ran a lighting shop, and she worked so hard to keep it going. Even after she retired, she couldn’t sit still—she threw herself into charity work and always stayed busy. Growing up, I saw how much pride she took in her work and how much joy she got from staying active and making a difference. Read more>>

Micky Kurz

“My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing in Germany, where cultural values emphasize discipline, resilience, and efficiency from an early age. Growing up, I was taught the importance of facing challenges head-on, finding solutions, and continuously working to improve. In school, we were encouraged not just to identify problems but to actively engage with them, breaking them down and tackling them systematically. This mindset has shaped how I approach my work today, whether it’s leading a creative project or collaborating with a team. I believe in being thorough, staying focused, and seeing tasks through with precision—all qualities that are part of the foundation I was raised on.” Read more>>

Juanita Landrau

Growing up, as much as my mom and I didn’t bond the way we were supposed to, she didn’t show me not one bit of laziness. That woman was always up to something. She found every way to put food on the table, have a great roof over us, and rent payments were never late. She was getting all the help from my dad, but her motto was that two incomes are better than one. I live up to that code myself till this day. I don’t like to stay still. I love to be busy and make a living and name for myself. Read more>>

Sherryann Bourne

I credit my work ethic to the incredible women and men in my family who taught me the value of resilience, responsibility, and relentless dedication. Growing up, I saw my parents work tirelessly to provide for our family, but they never forgot to instill in us the importance of dreaming big and striving for excellence. My mother, in particular, was a powerhouse—a woman who gracefully balanced her career as a Hairdresser, family, and personal growth. Watching her taught me that success doesn’t come overnight; it’s built through consistent effort, learning from setbacks, and never losing sight of your goals. Read more>>

Olivia Marino

I owe my strong work ethic to my incredible parents, who are both small business owners and hairdressers. Throughout my life, they’ve shown me that hard work and dedication can take you far, a lesson I strive to live by every day. Fun fact: they actually met in beauty school! After graduating, they worked in salons for a few years before my dad opened their first salon on April 6, 1989, at exactly 10:00 AM (a detail my dad proudly shared with me). Over the years, they built a thriving business, employing nearly 20 people at one point. They ran the salon successfully for around 30 years and still have a passion for hairdressing to this day. Today, my parents own a small, intimate salon where it’s just the two of them. They no longer take new clients and have created a space where they can do what they love on their own terms. It’s the perfect reflection of their hard work and passion for their craft. Read more>>

Lauren Simon

hours of my day and night into it. My dad started his own business when I was one year old, and that business is still up and running. He always had a pride and passion for what he built, and even started a second business in book-keeping later in life. My younger brother also has his own business, and looking back, I realized I’ve always had this entrepreneurial/creative streak. Read more>>

Catie Eovaldi

I definitely learned my work ethic from watching my mom while growing up. My mom was an entrepreneur and I watched her build businesses and how she managed it all. When I was really young, she owned her own daycare company and was successful at it. She closed that business because she ended up finding a passion for computers and writing training materials. She worked for a large company, and then branched off on her own again when I was a teenager to build interactive training programs for all sorts of companies. I think the biggest take away I saw from her was how hard she worked to scale her businesses and she never let a failure set her back. Read more>>

Landon Bergenthal

Growing up between two single-parent households, I witnessed my parents’ relentless work ethic. From dawn until late into the night, they worked tirelessly, pausing only to prepare meals and tend their garden. When my father passed away, I was eighteen, and there was no inheritance—only the confirmation of a truth I had long understood: if I wanted to get ahead, it was up to me. My parents had nothing handed to them, and I embraced that same reality early on. Read more>>

Gabriel Beeler

My Uncle Ed played a pivotal role in shaping my path as a photographer and photo boother. Growing up, I watched my Uncle Ed achieve tremendous success as a sports photographer, capturing the World Cup and other large sporting events with his Lens. His commitment to excellence left a lasting impression on me growing up, demonstrating that success comes from consistency and effort, not taking shortcuts. Read more>>

Rebecca Adelman, Esq.

From the age of 4, my entrepreneurial journey began with not one, but two businesses—a shoeshine service and a rock painting stand, creatively launched with the encouragement of my business-savvy father. He instilled in me the importance of independence and the value of hard work and a dollar, which became the foundation of my work ethic. Each rock I painted and every shoe I shined were early lessons in how passion meets discipline to achieve goals and positively impact others and add money to my bank account. Read more>>

Sauce Samurai

I get my work ethic from my parents them being from Mexico and all. I’m first generation Hispanic so that means a lot to me. The simple fact my parents faced all the trouble to move countries to give me an opportunity to better and make something of myself is motivation enough. Read more>>