While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that everyone is just ghosting their lives away, we’ve seen countless examples of how strong the work ethic is on every street and in every neighborhood in America. Hard work is alive and well and we asked some of the hardest working folks we know how they developed their work ethic.
Kristin Allen-Farmer
I recall when I was in kindergarten, I couldn’t wait to get home from school so I could finish my homework. I wanted to get it done before I played or rode my bike around the neighborhood. I loved that feeling of accomplishment. So, I suppose, my work ethic was instrinsic from a young age, however, there was a LOT of fostering of it that came along the way. Read More>>
Vernessa Spratley
My work ethic came from my Mother and Grandmother Lillie Pearl. My mother has always worked hard to take care of my siblings and myself. I was always in the kitchen with my mother watching and learning everything she did, My Grandmother has always been working as long as I can remember. She was always in the kitchen cooking something and caring for everyone. She always did for others even before doing for herself. These two helped build me up to the amazing Chef I am today. Read More>>
Gerald Flournoy II
To make it straight to the point I get it from my late mentor, role model, and grandfather Elmore Randle who was one of the hardest working men I’ve ever known. Well to start off. I am a landscaper entrepreneur who runs a small lawn maintenance business in Houston and I also am a content creator on multiple social media platforms. The greatest joy I get is transforming people’s properties and giving them lawn maintenance tips to enhance the true potential of their lawn and gardens. Read More>>
Adam Jabari
I believe I got my work ethic from multiple sources. As a child, my mom would make me clean up over and over until I got it right the first time. I still carry that with me to this day. I like to try my best the first time so that I don’t have to redo anything. I also believe I got my work ethic from just wanting more for myself and my family. When I was coming up I didn’t have as much as most of my classmates so I would always tell myself if I just work twice as hard I can have what others have and even more. Read More>>
Nguyen Tran
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the influence of my late mother. She was an incredibly hardworking individual, and her unwavering dedication to her responsibilities left a lasting impression on me. Throughout my upbringing, I witnessed her commitment to work tirelessly day in and day out, never taking a moment for herself. Her challenging upbringing, losing her mother at a young age and assuming the caretaker role for her younger brother, instilled a strong sense of responsibility in her. Read More>>
Crystell Harris
I developed my work ethic when I became a mother a young age and realized I did not want my son to grow up with little to nothing like I had to. I grew up in Orange Mound with a single mother who did the best that she could but i wanted more. That’s where it came from simply wanting to do better than the day before and wanting my children to know I did everything in my power to leave them with a legacy. Read More>>
Matt Roth
I believe that hard work is what defines all great things in this world. My father worked full time as a firefighter in Philadelphia and he also had a side hustle of painting houses when we were growing up. He always instilled in me a “work for your family and the people you love in this world” type of attitude. He never was lazy or even gave a slight notion of giving up when faced with challenges such as raising 3 boys. My mother went back to school after having the 3 of us and obtained her nursing degree to further pursue her interests. Both of my parents influenced me in a way that encourages me to always work hard, but also work smart. Read More>>
Alanna Dennis
Being the only child of entrepreneurs, my work ethic & resiliency come from my parents. My mother started a sewing & alterations business in my early childhood. My father started a lawn service in my early teenage years. Entrepreneurship is what I know and love. I grew up watching and working with both of my parents. Both my maternal & paternal grandparents re-enforced those same values. They all had labor intensive day jobs, like factory workers, domestic workers, nursing assistants, & custodial staff members, but they also were farmers, pastors, & cooks. Read More>>
PIERRE DUBOIS
It’s such a vast question … work ethic covering many aspects : responsibility, diligence, professional demeanor, self-discipline, integrity … I would focus on the most important aspect of all for me : responsibility, meaning taking ownership of what you do or what your team does.
To me it came at a young age with my parents and other teaching figures that helped me building the confidence you need to acknowledge and face your mistakes and the sense of duty that needs to come with that, especially the duty you have towards people around you, teammates, colleagues, relatives Read More>>
Lou Bopp
Without a doubt I get my work ethic from my parents and grandparents. From an early age they stressed, in their own way, and supported a strong work ethic. Early on in my career, between my work ethic and a fear of failure complex, I really never stopped. To this day, I work my heart out to continue to be successful….and it helps that I love what I do. Read More>>
Cait Ruiz
While those around you can influence you, and help develop good habits, I believe work ethic is something that has to come intrinsically. I was always an involved child growing, but my parents always were clear that academics were my “job” and they came first. It was in my early developmental years of working that “job” that I believe my work ethic got it’s roots. I always maintained good grades, while being super involved, and I am thankful for everyone that helped develop my young work ethic by holding me accountable. It is something I see not enough of these days – accountability. Read More>>
Matt U Johnson
I get my work ethic from being raised in a driven and motivational environment back in NYC. My parents were also driven individuals and that passed down to me . I am an international recording artist , actor & entrepreneur. I have traveled and performed world wide and been in some films , television shows , and commercials. I currently now own a media company called “Inner Visions Media” , its main goal is to help Artist , businesses and others to reach their branding goals & see their inner visions come to life . I am also now currently working on branding deals with other company’s to expand my brand . Also in other words I just released my new EP names “The Outset “ which is three songs available on all platforms . Read More>>
Tiffany Hicks
My work ethic stems from the profound influence of my immigrant parents, who emigrated from Barbados to the United States in 1983. Despite being born in 1991, I witnessed firsthand the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts my parents invested in creating a stable and nurturing environment for my siblings and me. The indomitable spirit they displayed, simultaneously juggling work and education, left an indelible impression on me. Inspired by their relentless work ethic, I have strived to emulate their perseverance, resulting in numerous accomplishments throughout my life. Read More>>
DJ NAS
I get my entire work ethic from both of my parents. Seeing them always hustle and rise to the occasion even when I thought it wasn’t possible, they would make it happen for me. Learning to be a leader at a young age. I had to cook and take responsibility while my parents were working. Learning those basic skills at a young age made me into who I am today. I’m forever grateful to be raised by such beautiful people who taught me not only how to be a hustler but also a leader. Read More>>
Yazi Davis
This was a behavior that was modeled for me growing up. Both of my parents worked very hard and we grew up with very little. I learned at an early age that if I wanted to something better or different for myself I was going to have to work really hard. I truly believe there are no shortcuts and you get out of something what you put into it. I have seen this positively play out in my life. Read More>>
Tell Beall
My work ethic comes from my curiosity and my passion to impact others. So many people struggle day-to-day with being consistent and that’s normal. It’s human. So with me displaying my creativity and me being efficient in my craft, it breathes air into their motivation. I value showing love to the community. Working through this journey, I’m always curious because I want to know. I want to strengthen those who need light in their journey of life. I want to achieve ample creative paths in my life through a camera and my mind. So my curiosity is another kick of motivation. Read More>>
Tanya Bondarenko
I get my work ethic from my father. He came to the US in 1989 with 3 kids and at the age of 23. He didn’t know the language, he culture, nothing. He read the dictionary daily for 3 months to establish his way of communicating with others. 30 years later, he is a very successful business man who is self-made with lots of hard work. He always told me, we came to the land of opportunity, and if we wake up early, strive and work really hard, we can achieve anything. So, doing just that, having 3 kids of my own, I strive and work hard daily and consistently (i believe thats the biggest thing) and have accomplished what I have accomplished. Read More>>
Stephen & Giselle Jiroch
We get our work ethic from our parents inspiring us at a young age! Giselle’s mom was a travel agent, so she constantly would travel to meet with clients, worked multiple jobs to put her 3 kids through school, and was a single mom that really showed her kids what hard work was about. Giselle’s mom, Jill, inspired Giselle to work hard from a young age and instilled a love for travel inside her. Stephen was taught that the hardest worker in the room is the most successful one from his dad. Stephen’s dad was in the Marine Corps, and Stephen’s mom was a small business owner, so they both showed was discipline and consistency can accomplish in the world. Read More>>
Vitalina Chizh
I give all credit for my work ethic to my father! We came to America as refugees, and at that time, there was 8 kids in our family. My parents had to start from scratch and find ways to make a brand new living in a very foreign country to us at that time. My dad did everything that he could to make sure our family was provided for. We came to America with no money and no means of transportation, and for a long while, my dad would ride a bicycle to work. He rode to work in the heat and in the blizzards. In a country that was very new to him, he strived to rise above and go beyond his struggles and his hard earned work helped our family get through the hard times. Read More>>
Matt Jones
My work ethic certainly has been derived from my formative years. It was instilled in me as a child that you will go as far as you are willing to push yourself to go. Nobody was going to be holding my hand or doing things for me so it instilled a strong sense of self reliance and self discipline- if you don’t show up to do that work, it simply does not get done! It provides a strong sense of ownership in my ideas, work, and general autonomy. Read More>>
Olga Loera
I am proud to say that my work ethic came from my wonderful mother, I grew up watching her work so hard on a daily basis non-stop in order to bring food to the table. seeing her inspired me at such early age on how to survive in life and knew that was the only way to become successful. Read More>>
Brette Peeples
I attribute my strong work ethic to the invaluable influence of my parents. Throughout my upbringing, I witnessed their unwavering dedication, relentless pursuit of excellence, and commitment to their responsibilities. Their actions and behaviors served as a constant reminder of the importance of hard work, perseverance, and personal responsibility. Read More>>
Sarah Springer
I was raised by a single mother, my sister who was 13 years older than me, and my grandmother. Most days my sister picked me up from school and I would be in bed before my mom got home from work. The morning, mom would already be at work when I woke up. Strong women have always been a force in my life and are where I get my work ethic from. I think because we struggled growing up – my mom to pay bills, my school supplies, or to replace the clothes I kept growing out of, I work extra hard because I never want to go back to that life where I might have to choose between paying to replace the bald tires on my car or keeping the lights/paying rent. Read More>>
Cassie Lopez Mallory Kincaid
We met as middle school teachers and owe so much of our success to our careers as educators. Teachers work so incredibly hard for their kids. Our careers in the classroom taught us to be organized, pivot, problem solve, reflect, and so much more. All of these skills tie into wedding planning, entrepreneurship in general, and our overall work ethic. We built our business while being full time teachers for three years. That hustle around the clock set us up for success once we were ready to be full time business owners. The motivation to not return to the classroom keeps us moving forward and encourages us to keep working hard every single day! Read More>>
Melissa Stynski
I great up on a farm in the midwest. I was raised to get up early and start my day. I was raised to work hard, have good communication and most of all, treat others how I would want to be treated. I am a Colorado based, Maternity, newborn, children and family photographer. I have been in business since 2011 and I love capturing memories for families to remember for a lifetime. Read More>>
Flor Ana
My work ethic has really been inspired by my father and seeing the effort he has put into creating his own company and raising it from the ground up. Honestly, I feel I’ve always been the kind of person to give what I do my all, and all the writers and authors I work with know that I really give them my all when it comes to their books because I genuinely believe in them and want to see them succeed. As a writer and author myself, I want to give my writers and authors the same love and effort that I would like to have. Read More>>
Stephanie Agudelo
I get my work ethics from my father. I always admired how determined he is to accomplish his work goals. He would wake up from 5am to work and will not leave until he feels like the job is done for the day. My father works as a machine technician. On the contrary I’m a freelance artist while I juggle a part time job. I try to hold those tactics dear to me like waking up early to work on tasks and finding a good stopping point to a long days work. Read More>>
Eighty Spadez
I got my work ethic from my pops. He wouldn’t take a day off, unless he was truly sick, or truly injured. He used to say, ‘if you don’t do it, someone else will, and likely before you.’ I always took that to mean, ‘don’t be mad if somebody is doing what you want to do, all because you didn’t work hard enough.’ I try to incorporate that philosophy into all facets of my daily life. Read More>>
Crystan Johnson
Upbringing and Family Values: My work ethic begun at home, where my parents and other family members served as examples. I learned the value of commitment, discipline, and tenacity by watching how my parents approached their work. Read More>>
Michael “GQtheDJ Perry II
My work ethic comes from my Late Mother and my Father as well as my village that I’m around everyday. I’ve learned from them to pray and work for everything that you want which is part of the definition of faith to me. A man that doesn’t work, doesn’t eat and I’m hungry for success. Read More>>
Jessica Dory
For starters, I am the oldest child (of three) and I always wanted to do well in school and to do everything the ‘right way.’ I babysat a lot when I was younger, and helped with my two younger brothers. My dad and mom are both hard workers and my dad also had his own business the last 15 years of his career, so that model of running a small business was something he showed me was possible. Read More>>
Santiago Restrepo
My mother was a very strong and resilient person. She was left to raise both my brother and me and had to do it all while holding a full time job. Even though she had to do so much for us, she was always in good spirits and made sure to provide a happy and healthy household for us. She never complained or let us know just how much she had to do to provide for us. It was a big learning experience for me when I started working. Before finally ending up in a situation where I was able to establish my own business and have my dream job, I had to work in all types of industries that where not necessarily the best jobs. Read More>>
Ashante Dennard
I get my work ethic from quite a few things. The goals that I’ve set for myself keep me going for sure. My goal of becoming a millionaire before the age of 35 really drives me to go harder than most people. Watching my mom grind how she did influenced me to strive for more because no matter what she always made a way for me and my siblings. I also played football most of my life and when I was younger I had asthma and bronchitis. I didn’t let that stop me from starting my first year when I was in the 4th grade. I worked really hard and ended up not needing my inhaler anymore and outgrew both asthma and bronchitis. Read More>>
David Habib
Growing up, I was fortunate to have parents who instilled in me a strong work ethic that has shaped my approach to life. From an early age, I witnessed their unwavering commitment to their jobs and their dedication to providing for our family. Whether it was long hours at the office or going the extra mile to meet deadlines, they consistently demonstrated the importance of hard work and perseverance. They taught me the value of setting goals, staying focused, and putting in the necessary effort to achieve success. Their work ethic served as a constant source of inspiration, motivating me to strive for excellence in all aspects of my life. Read More>>
Davonté Burse
Probably from watching my mom work hard all my life and even still today. She’s always had such a strong work ethic, largely because she had my younger sister and I to raise. That’s one of many things I admire about her. Aside from that, I’ve always had an ambitious spirit and drive. I care so much about my future, my goals and the success I want in my life. I want to see my passions and dreams manifest beyond what I ever could imagine. That takes a certain work ethic. Read More>>
Bonnet Charles
After being laid off during covid, I knew that I had to be discipline with my time and therefore I set parameters with how I set my work schedule. This mindset has set the tone for me to be as successful as I am in the wedding industry. Read More>>
Dennis Ashley III
In our society today, I feel instant gratification has taken over and the idea of a work ethic or working towards a goal has become an invaluable trait. I am blessed to be able to look around and be inspired by so many of my peers, friends, and family who are the hardest working and driven people. Truth to be told, I think these are my direct influences. Read More>>
Israel Isaac
My surroundings as well as my family. Growing up in New York it seemed like everything in life was “bigger than you” it was such an inspiring place that gave you hope that you could be “BIG” one day. My parents were also big dreamers especially for their children. Whatever art form or sport we found ourselves in, my parents wanted us to be great. Read More>>
Viviane Hagopian
From a very young age, I learned very quickly that hard work is necessary for success. I am an immigrant from Lebanon and things over there were very different than America. School was very strict. I attended a private school where we took 7 classes a day from 8:00am until 4:00pm. After school, we had to study very hard. There were very strict standards and passing was no easy feat. It was expected that we learned 3 languages before 5th grade and a 4th language was added after. Read More>>
Shadow C. LaValley
I built my work ethic from my time being raised in central New York. When most people hear New York, they instantly think of New York City, but there is a large part of New York that is open air, farm country, woods, and open fields. As a child growing up in practically the middle of nowhere central New York, I didn’t have the opportunities to spend time with kids my own age. Just my family. We were a 15 minute drive from the closest store and post office, so I definitely grew up in isolation. Long story short, I grew up in a house that was on a 4 acre lot. Read More>>
