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.
Connor Hayes
I get my work ethic from wanting to contribute great things to my field and believing in myself enough to pursue those goals. I stay engaged in my craft by continually practicing my existing skills while pushing myself to learn new ones. Even on my days off, you’ll usually find me sculpting a new mask, painting, or experimenting with new techniques. Read more>>
Katrina Sluder
My work ethic comes from my grandma and my mom, they were and always have been strong women with a strong work ethic. Growing up I watched them work themselves to tears, working for every goal they had and never giving up. Read more>>
Layla Moody
My work ethic was shaped entirely by the way I was raised by my father. He passed away suddenly in November 2024, and his influence continues to guide everything I do—especially my creative and professional work. I was the only daughter he raised on his own, and he instilled in me a deep sense of independence and self-sufficiency from a very young age. Read more>>
Kate Crouse
Honestly, I think I get my work ethic from my mother. She said you never had to be perfect and it’s OK to make mistakes, but always give everything your best. I’ve always tried to live by that so whether it’s my business, personal life, with my children, or just in general, I always try to do my very best and give my very best. Read more>>
Enrique Medina
I got my work ethic from my father. Growing up I saw him get up early everyday and go to work. The only time he didn’t is when there was an event more important and it was always family oriented. He never missed a game or practice, a school pick up. I was very fortunate to have a role model such as him. Read more>>
Jeremiah Throwbridge
My parents. Hands down, I get it from my parents. I watched my dad work for, fight for, and chase his dream until it was realized. He was an entrepreneur and loved the restaurant business. Growing up, I’ve seen him open restaurants and close restaurants, open…close…open…close, it was a cycle. Read more>>
Christopher Akambe
The best decision I have ever made and never regretted is becoming an artist. I taught art and design full-time while simultaneously practicing my craft. At the same time, I led art apprenticeship programs for young people. After 10 years in the classroom, I retired from teaching to fully dedicate myself to my art career. Read more>>
Kinnady Lostra
My work ethic comes from the people who raised me. My parents had me when they were young college students, building a future for themselves and their family. That’s when they began the journey that would grow into the Lostra Empire that it is today. Read more>>
Caroline Phillips
I get my work ethic from my parents. Growing up, I watched them work hard every single day, and it taught me so much about determination and hard work. They always reminded me that nothing good ever comes easy, and that if something is important to me, I have to work for it. That mindset has really shaped who I am. Read more>>
Christopher Carson
Honestly, the two biggest influences on my work ethic comes from my dad and my grandfather. My dad is the hardest-working individual I’ve ever seen in my life. Growing up, he was always on the move, always building something, always doing what it took to provide for our family. I used to go to work with him …. Read more>>
Bretta Thompson
I get my work ethic from my mother. I grew up watching her work two full time jobs and several part time jobs just to provide for us. She never complained. She simply did what needed to be done and taught us that whatever you do, you give your best and you aim for success. That lesson stayed with me my entire life. Read more>>
Anthony Stone
There are two places that I would have to credit for my work ethic; the United States Army and my father Anthony M. Stone Sr. I am a 100 percent disabled Veteran that proudly served for eight and one half years. The military helped me to become the man I am today. My father, Anthony M. Stone Sr. Read more>>
Brett Stuhler
I feel like I got my work ethic from my parents. But I have also gotten some amazing ideas from bands I’ve seen. I saw how bands treated their vips clients, and applied it to the tattoo business. All I had to do was treat clients like they are walking a red carpet and execute a great tattoo, and I would kick ass Read more>>
Myles Tate, III
My father. He was a musician and a custodian. I am from Chicago, so that mean rain, sleet, snow, sun, heat, fog, or whatever; he would be work by 5am. I remember going with him to his Sunday afternoon independent custodian gig after we played music for the church, He played the piano and the organ as well as sang. I played the drums. Read more>>
Lester Swims
I gained work Ethic from my parents! I grew up in a household with 7 brothers and sisters, so nothing came easy for us! My dad worked hard as he could from employment to creatively finding his way to provide and as the oldest I was able to sit in the front seat of what we went through! Read more>>
Isabella Hilditch
For my work ethic, I have to thank my previous career in professional track and field. Almost every day during that period I was training my body to its absolute physical limit. As a designer now, I pride myself on my great endurance to take on demanding projects and keep working until they reach completion. Read more>>
Roberto Martinez
My work ethic isn’t just a habit; it’s a heritage. I was raised in a community where I watched people move mountains with very few resources, turning scarcity into survival through sheer grit. My parents taught me a fundamental truth: when opportunity doesn’t come to you, you build the door yourself. Read more>>
DJ iSizzle
Honestly, my work ethic comes from gratitude. I’m grateful every time I get the chance to bring people together through music. I grew up believing that if you’re going to show up, you show up all the way—early, prepared, and ready to give people an unforgettable experience. Seeing the smiles, the energy, and the memories being made… that’s what fuels me. Read more>>
Talal Shaikh
My work ethic comes from my dad. He immigrated from Pakistan, became a doctor, and built an incredible life for our family through pure discipline and sacrifice. Growing up, I watched him work eighty hour weeks, show up for his patients, show up for us, and never once complain. Read more>>
Maddalena Bearzi
At first, I was definitely influenced by my parents, both of whom have a strong work ethic. Over time, my sense of work principles developed from what I observed and experienced growing up, including interactions with others, cultural influences, and school or work experiences. Of course, some of my individual personal traits likely played a part, too! Read more>>
Pranit Das
My work ethic comes from growing up in a family where hard work wasn’t something people spoke about, it was just lived every single day. My great-grandfather started from humble beginnings but had an incredible vision. He was actually the first person in India to import copper wire drawing machinery. That mix of courage and purpose set the foundation for everything that came after. Read more>>
Chad Reineke
I grew up in a family where nothing came easy. My parents were young—just kids themselves—and we didn’t have much. There was no safety net, no inherited roadmap, no quiet guarantee that things would work out. What we did have was this unspoken understanding that if you wanted something, you showed up, you stayed with it, and you worked until the job was done. Read more>>
Brian & Brittnay Kohls
Brian and I were raised to value hard work. We learned it from our parents—their upbringing, their values, and the deeply rooted work ethic they lived by every day. Their example shaped who we are, and we genuinely believe that success grows from a foundation of hard work. Read more>>
Valentina Montevecchi
Owning a business and working with clients every day keeps me driven. I take a lot of pride in building something meaningful, and that pushes me to work hard, stay organized, and always learn. Read more>>
Jennie Murphy
Work ethic has always been incredibly important to me. It’s something that runs deep in my family, and it’s a big part of why I founded my wine brand, Oxlee Graham, and named it after my grandmothers. Read more>>
Mustafa Bin Javed
I think my work ethic comes from growing up in an environment where storytelling wasn’t just entertainment, it was a way of making sense of the world. In my family, people didn’t always articulate emotions directly, but they expressed them through anecdotes, memory, and humor. Watching that taught me early that stories require care, responsibility, and intention. Read more>>
Christine DeSmet
I’m a farm girl, raised on a farm in southwest Wisconsin where I had chores helping with cows, calves, chickens, hogs, ponies, and cats and dogs, a huge garden my mom planted every year, and more. Chores are never-ending on a farm, but they are also delightful and fulfilling in many ways because you get a great sense of helping the animals and the family. Read more>>
Dr. Mimi Amaral
I’m honored to say I got my work ethic from my father, Richard J. Amaral Sr., who dedicated his life to taking care of his family. My father in many ways was a great man who worked six days a week so my mother, Roberta E. Amaral, could stay home and raise their four children. Read more>>
Jayla Lewis
I grew up around people who worked hard for everything they had, so that became my standard. As a tattoo artist, I bring that same mindset to every appointment, every sketch, every detail. Every client who trusts me with their skin motivates me to show up early, stay late, and make sure my work always reflects my best Read more>>
Roderick Jackson
My work ethic definitely comes from my parents. From an early age, they instilled hard work, discipline, dedication, and perseverance through their parenting. Everything they taught me, I also saw them live out in their own endeavors. I watched my mom start a business from scratch, and I watched my dad stay with the same company for decades—both powerful examples of persistence. Read more>>
Phelyx Hopkins
My Dad inherited the Depression-era American grit that defined his generation. While I never even got to meet the man who raised my father, the stories I was told still have me believing that my grandfather ate gravel while he did the work of a 1930s tractor with his free hand. Read more>>
