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.

Michael Ung

The Military,
A Year after I Graduated High School (2002) I joined the Army (2004) as an 11B Infantryman. So other than what i was taught growing up, I learned everything I know as an adult, simply, from the Army. Read More>>

Susan Foxley

When I was widowed at 30 years old with a 2 and a half year old son, I had to hustle to support our little family, Although, my Father was a very wealthy man, once we left college we were on our own. When I was financially struggling and I would call my Dad for help he would say,”WHAT AM I, A GOD DARN BANKER”? Then he would hand up the phone. Read More>>

Justin Waldman

I get my work ethic from my father. From an early age he instilled values and a strong moral compass to navigate this diverse world of endless possibilities. Taught me to always work smarter not harder. If you mess up dont be afraid to start over and learn from your mistakes. God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth so you should always listen more than you speak. Read More>>

Idelisse Sanchez

When people ask me where my work ethic comes from, the truth is — it comes from life. From growing up fast. From wanting better.

I’ve always been motivated by my work. I take pride in waking up early, making sure my space is ready, calm, and welcoming before my first client even steps through the door. I don’t cancel unless it’s a true emergency, because I believe being reliable is a way of showing respect — for myself, for my clients, and for the work I love. Read More>>

JJ Zink

I derive a majority of my work ethic from my parents and peers. In my home, my parents never raised my sibling and I to expect career paths to present themselves haphazardly. My dad when he was very young wanted to be a pilot, he never just left it off like that. Read More>>

Jaydan Moore

I learned a lot from my family. Many of those close to me growing up were self-employed and loved working with their hands. From my family being in the tombstone business for over a hundred years to artist educators, learning and perseverance were important qualities to those around me. What I love about my family is their belief in sharing these qualities to share with the community around you. Read More>>

Julie Ostmeyer

I get my work ethic from my parents. My father farmed and raised cattle. In the 80’s, the interest rates went through the roof making it difficult to make ends meet. At that time, my mother took a job in town to help support our family. Read More>>

Stephanie Rudzki

This is a simple question to answer; my dedication to become the hardest worker I could be came (and still does!), from my amazing dad. He worked long days while my sister and I were growing up, but we cherished the time we got with him over the weekends, when he didn’t have to work. Read More>>

Jaclyn Loughner

I get my work ethic from my mom, who has been the greatest example of resilience, dedication, and perseverance. She became a single mother at just 22, raising me while working full-time as a nurse to ensure I had everything I needed. Despite the challenges she faced, she never let obstacles stand in her way. Read More>>

Craig Samborski

Growing up in a poor family situation, I realized early that whatever I obtained in life…Career, education, wealth, happiness, was only going to come from one thing and that was from hard work and being resilient, never giving up. Read More>>

Gia Paxton

I developed my work ethic at 17, when I had to grow up fast after leaving my parents’ home. I was on my own from that point forward, and life came with a lot of challenges—at one point, I was in a legal battle with an ex, almost faced homelessness, and had to work hard to build a stable life for myself. Read More>>

Ayumi

As a child of two first generation immigrants, I get my work ethic from my mom and dad. Growing up, we owned a Japanese restaurant where my dad was the sushi chef, and my mom was the hostess, and handled the accounting. Read More>>

Kanika

I am a maker at heart. I got into design because I wanted a creative outlet that allowed me to build, invent, and give form to the stories and observations that have shaped my view of the world. Read More>>

Kyla Billingsley

From an early age, I watched my parents hustle humbly.

My dad owned his own business as a machine shop mechanic in Los Angeles. We lived on a ranch outside the city, and his commute was over 80 miles—one way. Mornings started with farm chores, followed by a full workday, and ended with more chores once he got home. Looking back, I don’t think I ever heard him complain. Read More>>

 Ramon Rosius

I think my work ethic naturally comes from my parents and grandparents. My grandmother walked 10 hours to work living in Haiti. She walked from Gros morne to Port de paix which was about 30 miles. My mother and father when they came to America in the late 80s would work 2 two jobs while owning a business to support our growing family. Read More>>

Sharon Jackson

I believe I got my work ethic from my mother. She was a young mother , she had me at 16. As far back as I can remember, she’s always worked hard and I never lacked anything . Read More>>

Lelia Leonhardt

I’m both an accountant and a women’s clothing boutique owner. Two very different roles, but both rooted in relationships. I help small business owners navigate their financials, and I also run a boutique where women can find inclusive-sized clothing that makes them feel confident and supported. Read More>>

Koreh Flagler

My work ethic comes from my dad—without a doubt. Growing up, he never let me or my brother slack off, no matter what we were doing. He always said, “If you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability,” whether it was school, sports, work, or even just cleaning the house. And the thing is—he didn’t just say it, he lived it. Read More>>

Arista & Shawnte Hunter & Knox

1. Shawnte: My work ethic stems from my family, upbringing and education. I have seen from my elders and peers that working hard, speaking up for what you want and going after your goals truly pays off. I think the combination of working smart not harder, voicing what your strengths and knowing when to reach out for assistance is a great work ethic style. Read More>>

Bartek Kacperski

My work ethic comes largely from my parents. I grew up in a small village in central Poland. My dad was a bus driver, and my mom stayed at home to take care of me and my older siblings. In 1995, they made a bold decision to start a small business — a plumbing supply store right next to our house. Read More>>

DeAndre Jones

I get my work ethic from my parents and my personal experiences. As i grew up i always observed my parents and i noticed they had strong work ethic. My Parents would take their jobs very serious and believed in being punctual. Read More>>

Colton Snowden

Through a specific formula of attention-deficit hyperactivity, anxiety, and desire to achieve greatness in my passions. Haha, but really, when I pick something up, whether it’s a sport, hobby, or something more abstract and creative like music, I immediately fixate on it until I can reach a level of mastery that I’m satisfied with. Unfortunately, at times I’m very uneasily satisfied. Perhaps that’s better viewed as a blessing. Read More>>

Maria Deibert

My work ethic began in my home growing up. My Mom and Dad worked hard to put food on the table and keep a home in what my Mom considered a safe environment for her four children. I am a retired U.S. Navy veteran who served for 30 years. Read More>>

Elizabeth Komba

Very early in life, I learned how to work to make an honest living. My first job was working in the beauty supply store where my mom was a hairstylist and she taught me how to do hair at the age of 11. I started working and funny my love for Beauty. Read More>>

Allanah Briggs

I think that as someone who grew up as a performer, and an overall busy person, my work ethic comes from having almost no other choice. I started dancing when I was three, and started singing and acting classes when I was five. Having to balance my school work on top of all of these extra-curriculars was certainly a challenge, however I was doing what I loved, and therefore had to find a way to make it all work. Read More>>

Jordan Chaffin

My work ethic is something I hold close to my heart, and it’s a quality I’ve been fortunate to inherit from my mother. She is the epitome of dedication and perseverance, someone who never shies away from hard work, even when the odds seem stacked against her. Read More>>

Greg Pelletier

I got my work ethic from two hard working parents. Dad was a logger and Mother was a nurse (LPN). Spent time in the woods ar a young age. I was taught that in life every thing is worked for. My parents are the reason for work ethic. Read More>>

Daniel Hobbs

I got my work ethic from my mother. Growing up in a Caribbean household, I noticed how dedicated and diligent my family members were from school and to their work careers. But coming from my mother, she made it her duty and business to take me to her job at Newark Liberty International Airport. Read More>>

Tiffany Phillips

Put simply, it comes from my mother. From as early as I can remember, my mother worked outside of the home. She was a teenager when she lost both of her parents about a year a part. She became a mom at the age of 16 so she had to get to work to care for my brother. Read More>>

Emmanuel Milian

Once upon a time, in a bustling city where cultures blended like the vibrant colors of a canvas, there lived a young man named Emmanuel Milian. Emmanuel was the son of immigrants, the first in his family to be born in America. Read More>>

Avalon Chew

My family had a huge role to play in developing my work ethic. My parents raised me to work hard from an early age. My dad, being a researcher and an educator, has the best advice when it comes to dealing with the stresses of professional life. Read More>>

Albert Danielyan

While I was growing up I saw all the hard work my parents did to provide my brother and I with everything we needed and more on top of that. My dad worked physically demanding jobs and my mom had to juggle work, motherhood, and community college since the knowledge they learned in Armenia wasn’t recognized after immigrating. They never let up and kept pushing us to improve ourselves and persevere. Read More>>

Samantha Fury

Hello! It’s great to be here with you and your wonderful readers. Thank you for including me.

I am a Christian author writing under the names of Samantha Fury and Samantha Lovern. I have eleven published novels in various genres. Read More>>

Yellow Sleeves

I’ve been fortunate enough to be brought up by loving, supportive and hard-working parents who set a great example for me from an early age. I’ve also developed a strong work ethic through my studies. Read More>>

David Albert

My work ethic has always come from my parents. My mother immigrated from Costa Rica and taught me from a young age the value and reward of hard work and where it can lead you in life. Read More>>

Jennifer Sucher

I surround myself around powerful women. It is not something that I sought out to do, but I see that I’m drawn to people who are doing amazing things. These women who I am lucky call friends have successful businesses, they are amazing moms, they embrace community, and they are so creative. Seeing what people around me are doing inspires me and pushes me to be better and keep reaching. Read More>>

Stephen Gifford

Quality is the product. I built my career at a small but powerful commercial / VFX house in NYC, where I learned adaptability and creative leadership from some of the industry’s best—mentors I still collaborate with today.  Read More>>

Dr. Michelle Martin-Dowe

My work ethic definitely comes from a lineage of hardworking family members. It starts with my paternal grandfather, who migrated to the British Virgin Islands and ran one of the first successful butcher shops for decades. His ability to establish and sustain a business for so long speaks volumes about his determination, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit. Read More>>

Paola Cano

My grandparents, the hardest working people I know, moved from Mexico to San Antonio, Texas, leaving their home, and starting over with little money and a growing family uncertain about their future. All they wanted was a better life for their children. Read More>>

Angela Park

During my final internship before graduating from university, my creative director shared feedback that deeply resonated with me: “I was impressed by your attitude.” This praise wasn’t just about my design skills. It highlighted my overall approach to work. As an intern, I didn’t limit myself to completing assigned tasks. Instead, I consistently considered how my efforts impacted my colleagues and the broader goals of the company. Read More>>

Edward Aganits

I have previously worked in industry, sales, and management, gaining experience in each of these stages. Based on this experience, I have developed my own vision of business, client relations, and company management. Read More>>

Tam Torre

My work ethic comes from my Mom. I was 6 years old when my parents divorced. My mom worked sometimes 3 jobs to take care of my sister and I. I started working with her at 12 years old throwing newspapers in Queens NY. Read More>>

Candie Perkins

My work ethic was instilled in me from a young age, both from my incredibly-hard working father, and my commitment to athletics as a four-sport athlete in high school.

My dad was a farmer that was up at the crack of dawn everyday, never taking a day off and working until the sun set. He also ran a small business – a gas station / convenience store / car wash at the gateway to Bryce Canyon in Panguitch, Utah. Read More>>

Tiara Scarlett

My work ethic came from needing to be better than before my divorce. Not to show off to anyone, but to make all that had happened a purposeful part of my journey. To be married to someone in the military, you have to be prepared to quit your life in your area and move where ever your spouse is stationed. Two weeks into the move my character was attacked. Read More>>

Dominique Samarco

Growing up in a working-class family, I watched my father labor 6 to 7 days a week, often doing physically demanding jobs. To support us, he would wake up at 1 a.m. and wouldn’t return home until 1 p.m. the following day. Read More>>

Brittany Hines

The main thing I do is get it done! I maintain an awareness of opportunities and evaluate thier potential alignment with the BHAG. I’ve learned to not jump at every shiny new opportunity before verifying that it’s congruent with my Why. I ring the bell everyday and pay for all of my lessons because entrepreneurship is a school and I am forever a pupil. Choosing this route requires the development of an extra layer of skin which I moisturize with resilience right before I spray on a fragrance called Courage. Read More>>

Orner Décor

Growing up as the oldest of four kids, I witnessed how my parents went above and beyond to ensure my siblings and I had the essentials. We didn’t have much; my parents worked odd jobs to keep the house running. Read More>>