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.
Courtney Wysinger
I got my work ethic from my mother, Deborah Wysinger. She was a single mother of two girls. My father gave little to no support. So she worked and worked. Did I mention that she worked lol?! She always worked at least two jobs.
When we were in high school, mama worked two jobs plus woke up at 4am to help me and my sister run our paper route. Mama firmly believes that everyone HAS to have a job. She always supported our goals and dreams but made sure she threw in there, “you may have to do that AND wait tables like Felicity.” Read More>>
Darrin Miller
It’s interesting to think about… you know I grew up and was not really great at doing anything. I wasn’t overly interested in sports and dropped out of athletics in high school. I was an ok student that made A’s and B’s but didn’t apply myself or take it seriously, and I was never really invested in any skill or trade, I just hopped around from job to job. It was difficult to understand what direction I was going in, and what I was really going to do with my life, especially after so many things took place and I was facing several criminal charges as a young adult. Read More>>
Darren Paltrowitz
A mix of people and experiences. Some of it was instilled in me by my parents and siblings. Some of it comes from watching people who inspire me, whether it be artists I look up, people I have worked alongside or anecdotes I’ve heard. Some of it comes from knowing exactly what I do not want to do or how I want to come across — sort of taking the approach of doing the exact opposite of what I have observed or experienced. But ultimately, my work ethic is rooted in wanting to improve steadily, be proud of what I accomplish every day, and do my best to make things better for those around me. Read More>>
Abel Zhang
Growing up in China, I was instilled with a strong sense of responsibility from an early age. Chinese culture places great emphasis on values such as diligence, discipline, and hard work. These cultural influences have played a pivotal role in shaping my work ethic, driving me to be dedicated, reliable, and persistent in my professional pursuits. Read More>>
Carlehr Swanson
My mother is responsible for my work ethic. Growing up, I was amazed by my mother’s ability to work a full-time law enforcement job and always ensure my needs and wants were met. Early on, I sensed her job was stressful, but she showed me that anything worth having was worth working hard for. She also taught me that most problems have a solution; if they don’t, there’s another option. Whenever things have been difficult, she’s encouraged me to keep trying or helped me find another way to accomplish my goals. Lastly, she taught me that if I wanted to see something in the world, I could create it, i.e., “Music is Unity.” Read More>>
Connie Zhang
I come from a family of immigrants and entrepreneurs, and that means – we get the job done. No matter the difficulties.
Growing up in a family full of entrepreneurs is definitely interesting, and different. While other kids were learning folktales, I was more familiar with proverbs such as “early bird gets the worm” or “work hard, play hard”. Attending business dinners with my parents at the age of 6 was one of the common activities we would do as a family (which later on I found out this wasn’t a normal activity for other families). My parents wanted to teach me social etiquette and business talks, and most importantly, they wanted to spend time with me despite their crazy entrepreneurial hours. Quite frankly, I had fun learning outside the classroom setting. Read More>>
Khadijah Pickett
Honestly, I get my work ethic from my parents. You know growing up around my parents showed me that nothing in this world comes easy. I seen from a very young age, that in order to received the things you need and want comes to you having to work hard and not expect for things to fall in your lap. Ever since I was sixteen years old in high school, I have been working for myself. I appreciate my parents showing me at an early age that its alright to work and earn my own. It has taught me how to be more responsible, and to learn how to manage my own finances. Growing up there was no sleeping in on the weekends, more than likely if I was not in school, or practicing tennis, I was at work. Just seeing the hustle of my parents getting up every morning to provide for our family and to give me everything I need, makes me want to make sure that I follow their footsteps and do the same for my family some day. Read More>>
Kylee McGee
Growing up, I have always had great role models in my life. My dad was super involved in the sports that we played and he taught me most everything I know. Most of all, he taught me that with a lot of hard work and practice I can accomplish anything I put my heart into. Read More>>
Robin Bramlett
My work ethic is genetic. My parents, may God rest their souls, were very hard-working people. My father worked as a construction worker until he retired and my mother sold Avon and worked at McDonald’s as a cook. Both of them took their positions very seriously and that trait passed on to me. Because of this I expect a lot out of myself and I’m always working to get better and better at anything I’m working on whether it’s music production, writing, instrument practice, or barbecuing. Read More>>
Michael Derry
Two factors have impacted my work ethic throughout my life. The being my Dad. He instilled hard-working principles and ethics early in life. He did his best to show us what kind of life we could have if we would work hard. Much of my ethical principles come from the history of manual work, which gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment when I’m able to produce something. Read More>>
Hajji Blackstone
One thing about hard work is you either got it or you don’t and it usually comes from inside . The first source I draw my inspiration from when it comes to work ethic would probably be my parents I would say . I have witnessed my mother and father work their entire life and this motivates me in my day to day. Read More>>
Augusto Coen
I definitely get my work ethic from my parents. They instilled in me a sense of obligation and responsibility. I was never allowed to start something make a commitment, either personal or to someone else, and not complete it. Read More>>
Fernanda Martinez
Since I moved to Texas at 15 years old, I’ve found multiple job opportunities in various fields such as Baby sitting, Serving, Hosting, Cooking, Real Estate, Marketing, Embroidery machine operator, Screen printing, Retail, Receptionist, Construction, Substitute Teaching, Hair salons, Interior design, and Cleaning. Read More>>
Jacky Cheng
I got my work ethic from my dad. He came to the United States with no money and didn’t speak the language. From that starting point, he was able to save up enough to bring his wife and kids from overseas to the States. My dad started working as a dishwasher in the basement of a New York restaurant. About 15 years later, He owned his own restaurant. Sometimes when I feel like I have it rough I just think back to what my dad had to go through and that makes me realize I can work harder. Read More>>
Alicia Sacayon
As a kid my parents teach and showed me that if you want something in life, you have to work hard and that everything is possible as long as you keep working hard for it. “Trustworthy and committed are two words I’d use to describe my work ethic. Read More>>
Denaron Babineaux
I think my work ethnic comes from being vey intrigued how people gravitate to music, and how music is created. It’s always been very interesting to me how music can be created in so many ways from different people, because different artists can approach a record totally different from the next artist. But not only that, it’s all about how the fans relate to the music. Its such a thrill to me. Read More>>
Chester W. Sharp
My work ethic comes from my parents. My father was an entrepreneur, and my mom has worked in the banking industry for over 30 years. My dad spent countless hours running his business and creating opportunities for the community. He had a vision of economic growth for his community. My mom exemplifies steadiness, commitment, and excellence in her position at the bank. Read More>>
Allie Wojcik
I like to think that I get my work ethic from my mom and I am very proud of it. My work ethic is something I have carried job to job since I was 16. I’ve worked multiple jobs in different areas and one thing remained consistent – the value I put into my job. The same energy I put into my job at 16 is the same energy I put into my career. Read More>>
Ashley Aniekwu
My work ethic is something I manifested and discovered as I grew older. I’m not one of those kids that grew up with strict parents so my discipline wasn’t the best, but I grew up and realized that we control who we are and are able to re-program ourselves if needed. I grew up in Nigeria so I’m naturally hardworking and tenacious. My motto in life is “Have fun while getting the job done”, so I tend to always do my work in some way that suits my personality. For example, I listen to podcasts while taking a walk or working out. I block out time and reward myself with my inner-child’s favorite thing (anime and food). The main summary is, I don’t take life too seriously but ironically, that’s why I tend to get a lot of work done. I don’t see work as daunting as some may see it. Read More>>
Thomas Gillman
This is something that’s been ingrained in me for a very long time. When I was young I went through some pretty traumatic things. There was a 10 year period of my life as a child where my family was homeless numerous times. I saw what not working, alcoholism, and depression can do to people. When I was very young I made a conscious decision that I was never going to be like that and my wife and children would never experience that. It was literal hell. So I work hard. I try to make sure every client has a great experience with us. I try to go above and beyond. Do I fall short sometimes? Absolutely but I will never stop trying my hardest. Every client gets 125% Read More>>
Kia Thomas
Work by definition means a few different things: 1.) activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.
2.) a task or tasks to be undertaken; something a person or thing has to do.
So first for me it’s understanding what work actually is. I consider myself an “in the trenches” type of worker. That means there is no job with my business that I feel like I’m too good to do. It’s easy to delegate but in order to be successful (in my mind) I must be willing to exercise humility and that’s done by rolling up my sleeves and diligently putting my hand to the plough. The Bible teaches this kind of work ethic and that’s what I try to follow. Read More>>
Airyen Vay
My work ethic comes from a combination of personal drive and deep passion for music. I find immense joy and fulfillment in expressing myself through writing, singing and connecting with audiences through my performances. This deep love for music motivates me to invest the time, energy, and dedication needed to excel in my craft. I never look at it as work, it is something that I love doing and it became a lifestyle. Read More>>
Jacob Waltz
I believe that my life long commitment to excellence drives my work ethic, as I constantly strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in my field. It’s crucial to be able to think outside the box.
As with most things in life, success requires immense dedication and lots of hard work. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, it indicates a lack of true desire for the goal at hand. Read More>>
Amira Soleil
I grew up with both parents in the military. It was a very strict and traditional enviroment. My parents taught me that nothing is handed to you, if I want something, I have to work for it. My parents were very hard to please and I did everything in my power to appease them and not ask for help. Read More>>
ZAR
I’ve always had the desire to be great at anything I decided to do. So I would work and work and work hard until I got good at whatever is was that I wanted to be great at. My name is ZAR & I’m a singer/ songwriter in Atlanta. Songwriting is like a release. An escape. A form of storytelling and journalism for me. I’ve been taking music seriously for 8 years now. Most people would have quit after year one but I don’t know… I feel like I have a calling to create the music I’m creating. So I believe I HAVE to see it ALL the way through. Read More>>
Jamal Marrush
Growing up I often took having a good work ethic for granted. Fortunately for me, I have grown out of that phase and able to apply all my focus and effort in to bettering myself, my business and my clients. I would not say I developed my work ethic from anyone in particular; however, my wife Brittanie is my main motivator and provides me with that push and drive that I needed to develop my strong work ethic that I have today. Read More>>
Chelsea Guevara
I really thank both of my parents for the work ethic that I have in life. My mother homeschooled me and my 2 brothers until high school, and my father was an immigrant from Ecuador who served in the marine corps for 22 years. My entire life I can remember my parents making the most out of anything we had, we weren’t so poor we went without, but we definitely didn’t have extra money. I have vivid memories of my parents wanting to do something to our yard, fix something wrong with our car, or renovate our home… whether it be flooring, building a dining room table, staining and grouting tile. They were both very handy and I always thought they could do ANYTHING. Read More>>
Suhay Gonzalez
I get my work ethics from a combination of factors, my upbringing in New York, personal values, internal drive and life experiences. Growing up in New York prepared me to deal with a variety of individuals regardless of ethnicity. It’s provided me the capability to expand my mindset. New York prepared me to work hard, to be proud of what I do, overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of adversity. It also set me up to collaborate with others, which is an essential perspective as an entrepreneur. My personal values and upbringing made me resourceful, flexible and geared me to continuously seek ways to improve while remaining true to self. My parents early on instilled in me the power of education and working hard. I feel integrity and discipline greatly influenced my work ethics. Read More>>
Henry McGannon
I believe my work ethic comes from fear. I am terrified of not achieving my goals. I am not sure what success looks like to me, I know it’s not about the money. But I won’t be happy until I have made something that people love and respect. Read More>>
William Tobler
My work ethic has evolved over time, but I do contribute development of my work ethic and discipline from my time as a swimmer in high school. We had practice two times a day throughout the year, both before and after school. We had additional practices on the weekends and throughout the holidays. Read More>>
Dj 4Play
At a early age, I made the decision that I wanted more out of life and wanting to changed where I reside, also being a better version of myself. Where I grew up there wasn’t a lot of motivation, but Im thankful for family and friends that has played different roles in my life this far to keep me motivated. My influence coming up was sports, the excitement and work Ive seen other athletes and witnessing there hard work paying off, I wanted those same results. All the work I’ve done and continue to do creates a positive outcomes for me, taking the same motivation and confidence since a child and taking on the world. Read More>>
Dori Gronich
I come from a Jewish background so working hard to provide for my family comes first. Growing up, my Baba (Grandmother) and Papa (Grandfather) were a huge influence in my life. Papa taught me that trying new things is so important. I remember not wanting to try a new food and he told me: “Eat it! How will you know if you like it? You’ll never know unless you try it.” This mentality stuck with me and I applied it to other areas of my life. Such as taking risks. I wouldn’t have gotten certain jobs if I hadn’t reached out and ‘tried that new food!’ Read More>>
Vanessa Barnes
I undoubtedly inherited my strong work ethic from my family. My grandfather instilled in me the value of resilience and the importance of persisting until I achieve a positive outcome. Meanwhile, my mother continuously pushed me to never settle for mere accomplishments and to constantly strive for more, even after receiving recognition for my achievements. Read More>>
Krista Jones
That’s a great question! I will say this, I did not grow up poor, but we definitely were not rich lol….With that said, if I wanted the fly clothes and shoes all of the time, then I needed to work for it. I got my first job at the age of 12 at the Crenshaw Plaza in LA gift-wrapping. After that, I always kept weekend jobs as a teen at different retail stores, so I am just used to working and making my own money. Read More>>
Tina Obeid
Hairstyling dates back starting from my gray uncle who was a Barber and it trickled down to me and has been my passion ever since!
Hardwork is literally in my DNA. I come from a longline of self-made Entrepreneurs. I was taught very early on by my gray grandfather how to work and have my own income in my own way. Coming from a family of six siblings was a great motivation to want to be the best and do my best! We all had talent and creativity in many different ways. Becoming a Hairstylist became my talent! Read More>>
Diaundrea Sherill
I personally believe that your character and integrity shape your work ethic, along with experience.
When I was younger, my grandmother had a candy store at her home in South Miami (Florida). I was the cashier. It was my job to count all of the items we had to sell (Inventory), budget for what was needed and review all end of day sales. This was definitely humble beginnings for me. I found joy in doing the task my grandmother assigned me, and every weekend I was happy to head to my grandma’s house, because I was ready to sell and collect money! Read More>>
Billy D Nelson
I draw my work ethic from my Father, who served as a strong influence and role model throughout my upbringing. Growing up in a two-parent household, my Mother also played a significant role in our home. However, having a Father figure present had an impact on me, as it instilled a sense of accountability in everything I did. Watching his actions and behaviors, I witnessed his commitment to all of his responsibilities. He would wake up early each day for work, contribute his share to our home, fulfill his duties as a basketball coach, attend all of my school events, and ensure I stayed on track. One memory that sets my father apart from other parents was his habit of acquiring my grades before report cards were issued. This definitely made him stand out when it came to parenting. My father is my ultimate role model, the sole individual I have looked up to. Read More>>
Shaedy Cardenas
In all honesty, it’s hard for me to pinpoint where exactly I get my work ethic from, I’ve always resonated with J. Cole’s lyrics, “No role models, but I’m here right now.” I grew up with a lot of people around me setting examples of what I didn’t want to end up like, and I saw a lot of patterns I didn’t want to repeat. I guess I got my work ethic from all the struggle I had to endure growing up, and I’m not ashamed of it because it shaped me, but it also fueled a fire in me to be better for myself, and my family. Tupac once said, “Just because you’re in the ghetto doesn’t mean you can’t grow.” I resonate with that. Personally, I developed the work ethic I have today because I simply had no other choice. I did not want to become a victim of my circumstances, I chose to work hard and rise above them instead. Read More>>
Kayla Melendez
My work ethic is something that I’ve learned from my mom. She had me when she was only 16 years old and raised me as a single mother. Seeing her work so hard to provide for me has been a huge inspiration for me. It’s motivated me to push myself to be better, work harder, and never make excuses for not doing more. I’m forever grateful for her example and the values she’s instilled in me. Read More>>
Marquita Gipson
My work ethic came from my mom. In so many ways, she showed me what it means to work hard. From admiring my mother’s work ethic, I developed the skill to give everything I do my all or give nothing. This is how I operate in everything that I do. A person’s work ethic says a lot about who they are and their character. Read More>>
Philipp Schaedler
My work ethic I learned early on in Austria from my first boss. Mr. Decker was very much into being organized, having a daily routine and schedule and with creating a To Do list for the following day. Beyond that he always told me do the very best you can each day, and if you can do a little extra and you will feel great by the end of each day. Also, this way your clients will remember you for the extra effort you put in to the project or job. Read More>>
April Westbrook
I would have to say my work ethic comes from my dad.nDay after day, I would see my dad get up and go to work to provide for his family. From a very early age I was taught to work for every thing that I wanted. The mindset that was instilled in me was done so that I would appreciate things more if I earned and paid for things myself. Coming from a very large family there was not always a lot of money to do a lot of things outside of the basic necessities but we always had enough. I was also taught to do the job set before me correctly by asking questions, getting guideance and to take pride in everything that I did. Read More>>
Natalie Herrera
I developed my work ethic by getting real with myself. I’m a single parent and doing anything halfway is not going to cut it because I have my children who depend on my successes. I want to provide a service to my clients that goes far beyond money though and I believe establishing connections that are real, keep people coming back to work with me. Part of it is also seeing the hard work my parents have always done. My dad has always told me that you should put your heart into doing the things that you love. Photography is one of my greatest loves and I want to keep growing with it. Read More>>
De’Shera Milan
My work ethic comes from my parents, grandparents, and influential family members. My great-grandmother only had a grade-school education and worked in the South cleaning homes for the wealthy. My grandparents moved from the South to New York City for more opportunities and job. They worked numerous jobs to provide for their household. My mother taught me from childhood to always stay committed to whatever it is that I set my heart on. My father taught me how to persevere no matter what obstacles come my way. This type of work ethic was embedded in me to always give my all in everything I do! Read More>>
Latasha Autrey
“My work ethic has been shaped by a combination of factors in my life. Firstly, I attribute a significant portion of my work ethic to my upbringing. Growing up I raised in a single parent household ,my mother instilled in me the values of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance. She led by example, consistently demonstrating her own strong work ethic, and encouraged me to give my best effort in all my endeavors. My mother struggled raising 2 daughters on her own,yet my sister and I never felt the struggle. We never went hungry we always had a roof over our head and cloths on our back. Her guidance and support have been instrumental in shaping my approach to work. Read More>>
Tierra Castile
I would have to say from watching my foster mom growing up. She would always be doing something to help others in some way, whether it was catering food or running an in home daycare or helping out in the church. She would always tell me me “ you have to work hard to get the things you want in life and it’s not always going to be easy.” Watching her do all those things while being a foster parent to six children is what gave me the drive to work hard towards my dreams and goals. Read More>>
Karly Matzen
Growing up, I was fortunate to witness firsthand the remarkable work ethic instilled in me by my parents. They served as shining examples of dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to their responsibilities. I am the youngest of 5 girls within a 10 year age gap. My parents always juggled their professions and raising a family. We grew up helping our parents with their side hustles that they had in order to make extra money and feed their creativity. My mother worked full time as a chef and in her down time made stain glass pieces and painted murals for clients. My father was a truck driver and did woodworking job on the weekend and took apart car engines. This was her way of feeding her passions at the same time and staying within her own creativity. And in turn this started my sisters and my paths in finding ways to keep within our creativity and earn our living. Previously I was a massage therapist, spa director, curator for a non-profit in Lake Tahoe, owner of the Tides Project (a jewelry and textile company, a photographer and an amateur writer. My parents taught me that I did not have to be only one thing, I can do anything. Now that I own Sweet Paper, I plan to one day have my own stationery line from my families artwork. Read More>>
