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.
Alexandra Dobigies
I get my ethics from the beliefs that integrity is everything. Being here in service to people is my gift; it is only the right thing to do. It’s living through passion and devotion to share amazing miracles through working together. Read more>>
Richard Weiss
My Mom & Dad used to work as a cab drivers and my dad doing truck driving, they would work so hard everyday when i was a kid, just seeing them do that to support my family is what motivates my own career prospects, so i just continuously churn out music and basically make a new song everyday. Read more>>
Michael Wilder
My parents. Both are very hard workers. Both explained to me the importance of finishing college, since they did not do so. Once beyond that, they continued to instill the fact that education and hard work are extremely important, so I went to law school, joined a large law firm afterwards, and have been there over 17 years. Read more>>
Mandy Maxwell
Mandy – I grew up in a family that did not have endless funds. To make sure we could have as rich of a life as everyone else my parents and grandparents did everything themselves. My grandfather was a legitimate Cowboy would work Mon-Friday fixing air conditioners and then come home to tend to a large cattle ranch. Read more>>
Shea O’Connor
My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me because they led by example. No matter the project—be it yardwork, house maintenance, a thoughtful gift, supporting loved ones, their own jobs—they’ve always done everything 100%. I was never told to “do a good job” or “do better,” I just naturally wanted. Maybe through observation or genetics? No idea! But I’ve always been a good worker bee. Read more>>
Estefania Iglesias
My parents, My dad died when I was 9 years old he was a Doctor and he would take me with him to underserved areas to check on patients never charged them anything, one time a very old lady gave me money for his fees and told me don’t tell him yet hide it until you get home sometimes up to 2 hours he would drive to visit them, when I told him half way he got so mad and drove back to give her money back. Read more>>
Christina Gavin
As an only child in a large Irish Catholic family, my work ethic was instilled very early on. Not only did my parents wake up every morning and commute from the California suburbia into the bustling city, but I also watched and admired all of my older cousins’ jobs throughout malls, ice cream shops, and makeup counters. Read more>>
Estevan Vega
Having a father who worked hard my whole life helped me become a hard worker. He instilled in me the desire to reach for things that are beyond my grasp, to never let money be the reason why I didn’t try to get something, and to never quit. He faced a ton of adversity and survived a lot of difficult things, and watching him get through it all and stand strong showed me that I could do it too. Read more>>
Erick Martinez
My family. I come from a family of Immigrants from a Caribbean island called the Dominican Republic. I’m a first generation American in my family so I had to watch my parent/parents struggle and work hard to be able to provide. I’ve watched my mother go learn and do different things while working to be able to create opportunities for me and my siblings. Read more>>
Doris Garcia
My work ethic? Well, it’s a blend of familia, hustle, and amor. Growing up, I had to take care of my siblings while my parents worked hard to make ends meet. That responsibility taught me the value of hard work and determination from a young age. As I got older, I jumped into the workforce early to pitch in and support my family. Read more>>
Chad Land
I have to say my childhood wasn’t like any of my other friends when I was growing up. My father was a well known scrap iron dealer, welder, mechanic, and race car driver at a little dirt track “Santa Maria Speedway” in California. When I was only ten years old the old track champ became a single dad, and things around our house got kinda sideways for a few years. I don’t think he was ready to learn how to cook among many other things. Read more>>
Andrea de Lancellotti
I will say, I come from a long line of workaholics. It seems like the relentless drive to succeed runs in my family, starting from my grandmother and passing down to my mother and me. Growing up independent from a young age only added to my ability to keep going until I’m ready to collapse! Read more>>
Hyde
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my commitment to achieving my life goals. I approach each day with a profound understanding that time is finite, and every day brings me one step closer to realizing my aspirations. This awareness fuels my drive to maximize each moment and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the tasks at hand. Read more>>
Princess Paula
I was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and I think the air is different up there and Canadians are a different kind of people. On a serious note, both my parents were business owners: my mother was a very successful real estate agent and my dad owned his own contracting company. I saw how hard they worked to create, a beautiful life for our family. Read more>>
Teal Flanigan
Probably from my parents. My parents divorced when I was young. Thankfully, both maintained good relationships with each other, which I’m grateful for to this day. The arrangement they decided on for how to raise me ended up with both of them being single parents, more or less, at various points throughout my childhood, as I lived with one or the other. Read more>>
Joseph Haggerty
Some people say the greatest teachers in life are our children. This was the case for me. When I was 21, my son was born. I knew immediately that I needed to kick things into gear right away so I could be a good provider. This was just the start. For a short period, I worked multiple jobs but then went with one where I would excel and move up the ladder. After about 5 years of working in the title insurance industry, I came to a point where I had an opportunity to try going after my dream, which was to be a chef. Read more>>
James Reyman
Both my parents were hard working professionals. My Dad was a “MadMan” in the 50s and 60s, an ad agency guy. He was the bullpen manager. Art directors would come to him with marker sketches of ad ideas they had. He would have members of his team make final comps for the clients. He had hand lettering artists in the bullpen, photo retouchers, type specifiers, illustrators; he was also capable of doing most of this work as well. Read more>>
Liang Ge
Work ethic comes from passion and inspiration. I’ve always believed that if you are passionate about something, the work ethic would come from that. When I first dived into photography, whether as a hobbyist or getting paid work, I knew I was passionate about it, and that was what drove me. I would obsessively study light and editing all the time and I was always looking for inspiration from movies, magazines, other photographers’ work, etc.. That’s what kept me going as an artist! Read more>>
Traylesia Kirkland
I can proudly say I get my work ethic from my family. I witnessed my mom as a single parent raise my brother and I and my 2 cousins all while working and going to school. I watch my dad turn $5 dollars into thousands as a hard working business man while taking no for an answer when dealing with this customers. Read more>>
Natalie Hernandez
I would have to say that my work ethic comes from both of my parents. My parents showed me and instilled in myself and my sister the work ethic we have today. As Cuban immigrants, they came here to pursue the American Dream. Without their hard work and dedication to their kids, I don’t know where we would be today. Read more>>
Steven Wong Jr
My core work ethic comes from my parents. They did not come from much, working for everything they had, solely focusing on raising me and my brother, to give us the opportunity they never had. They did a great job in showing me that you can achieve a great deal with a great work ethic. I try to work as hard as I can to show that their sacrifice was truly worth it. Next to that, is me being a fairly pessimistic person. Read more>>
John Ozuna
1. In short, my parents. They always encouraged me to follow my dreams and aspirations, but not without the education and hard work that accompanies it. Throughout my childhood my parents worked around the clock, not only to provide for the their family but lay the foundation of achievement through hard work and an unwavering determination for success. Read more>>
Tonya McKenzie
I get my work ethic from my grandfather, J.C. Watts. My grandfather was one of 17 brothers and sisters from Sumrall, Mississippi. They were a part of The Great Migration to California from down south. Each one of them would head out west, get established, then send for the other one. They made a point of helping each other. Growing up, I watched my grandfather work diligently to provide for his family, his community, and his legacy. Read more>>
Shy’Ora Tolbert
My strong work ethic derives from my family upbringing, characterized by a legacy of entrepreneurship. Observing my late grandfather, Edward C Woods, a serial entrepreneur, I gained early exposure to various ventures, from tree cutting to owning and operating coach buses. My mother, similarly entrepreneurial, managed diverse businesses including body sculpting, drug testing, CPR training, and even an online jewelry store. Read more>>
Simone Amaduzzi
I grew up in a family that taught me to respect other people no matter the age, skin color and religion. My dad was a sport photographer and he always brought friends at home for lunch or dinner from around the world giving me the chance to socialize and learn to speak different languages and relate with different cultures. Read more>>
Aubrey Davis
Hard work is so 1995… Let me explain; I grew up immersed in American culture as much as anyone, and I bought into the American ideals around hard work more than most. I’ve been an “achiever” type since I was a kid (I’m an enneagram 3). Hard work was close to religion in my world. Growing up, I thought, NO, I KNEW that hard work makes you a good person. Read more>>
Lilly Anderson
I believe my work ethic comes from many things. Ever since I was young, I wanted to work; to be able to provide for myself. I’m the oldest of three girls, so I felt like I learned a lot about being a provider and keeping a stable and functional environment alive around me. I remember thinking of the ways I could make money as a kid. Read more>>
LaToya Jane
My work ethics came from my Grandparents , and my parents. My family worked from back home Jamaica and worked while they were here. They got a career in their field and stayed dedicated towards their careers. Bought everything they needed and paved the way for the next generations to follow their lead in order to be successful. I implemented that generational strategy and now have taught my children. Read more>>
Lauren Miele
I derive my work ethic from the apprehension of falling behind. Creating a unique product has instilled a daily sense of alertness and determination, driving me to achieve more while maintaining focus. My work ethic is deeply rooted in the values that have shaped both myself and my brand, making it a genuine reflection of my identity. Read more>>
Krissy Miller
My work ethic was instilled in me as youth. Integrity and morals represents your character. Core values plays an extensive role when it comes to ethics. I’ve learned this from grandparents and most recently my mentor and life coach Dana Fikes. Read more>>
Sevahna Anderson
Growing up in a one bedroom house with five people, my dad worked his tail off to provide for his family. He took a chance and quit his job, working at a local roofing company and started his own. He went to night school to get his General Contractor License & establish his business. He wanted to be his own boss and that is the life he created for himself. Sure, he struggled but he never gave up! Read more>>
Zainab Golden
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the sacrifices my family made when we moved from Nigeria to start a new life when I was 12. Watching my parents work tirelessly to build a better future for us has been my greatest inspiration. Their dedication and resilience in the face of challenges have instilled in me a drive to work harder every day. Read more>>
Teresa López
I owe 100% of my work ethic to my amazing parents. They’ve struggled and sacrificed so much leaving their homeland and entering a brand new world without even speaking the language so that their future kids can have a better life. Their hard work, in and out of their 9-5, was truly admirable. They thought me to work hard for what I want and ro give it my all at all times. Read more>>
JuLian Blake
My work ethic comes from the responsibility I have to continue the legacy of my family name. I feel blessed to have had the childhood I did where I got to spend time with the many relatives I have on both sides of my family. Growing up primarily in California I’ve been away from family for some time but early on I understood my duty to be a successful and productive citizen like the vast majority of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Read more>>
EatzWith Sweetz
I believe I got my work ethic from my parents. They always worked so hard. I remember there were times where both of my parents had 2 jobs. They were so focused on their goal of providing for my brother and I. I watched them work hard for what they wanted. Best role models ever. Read more>>
