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.
Billy Joseph, Jr.
I grew up in rural South Carolina during a time when there was an economical transition from agriculture and textiles to more modern industries. This often made it a challenge as families like ours tried to navigate that transition from essentially farm life to working in factories, retail, or service industries. My parents were very young but I don’t recall a time when they did not work to provide for our family. As difficult as some days were, I look back with admiration at how we started in a single-wide mobile home, then a small single family home, and eventually a beautiful cape cod in the country. Read more>>
Sarah Malcolm
I owe my strong work ethic to my mother. Witnessing her shatter every glass ceiling from the 1980s to the 2000s, ultimately becoming the president and COO of Regency Centers, was a privilege. She worked tirelessly, becoming the primary breadwinner for our family. Having a front-row seat to her achievements profoundly shaped who I am today. Read more>>
Arly Canizales-Matute
I got my work ethic from being the oldest daughter. As a first-generation daughter, I expect to succeed and support my family. I have always strived to do my best in academics, work, and personal life. Not only that but watching my immigrant parents work hard every day to provide everything they do for my siblings and me. I thank them for doing all they can and I hope I can return that favor to them. Read more>>
Jeff Bogensberger
My work ethic comes directly from my parents. As immigrants to Canada that came with very little, they had to work hard. In fact, I have never worked with anyone that would rival my Mom and Dad. Read more>>
Dr. Alyssa Berlin
It was developed alongside my husband. I was super young when I got married and Elliot and I were both in graduate school together. He set up our office with two desks back to back because we would need to have a place to do our work when we had kids. I would work part time while he set up the organization and structure around our practice and created a great model for me to learn from and follow. It was powerful to see how much he cared about his patients and how far he would go to support them. This is something we share. Read more>>
Annabel Nacional
I’ve always been passionate when comes to working, in this case with Social media I’ve learned that the more you put your heart and hard work to it the more you can have the tendency to have a success.. It’s not easy just like what everyone is saying because you do everything.. from filming your videos, editing, engaging to people etc. My works are more about Creative Makeup Looks and sometimes one video can take up to 12 hours to create! You need to really love what you do in order for you to have the best result when comes to work in general. When you’re happy with whatever work you do..things will always go smoothly. Read more>>
Amy Roiland
I absolutely love what I do, and I believe that passion is the foundation of my strong work ethic. When you’re truly passionate and inspired by your work, it naturally motivates you to put in the effort and maintain high standards. This enthusiasm fuels my creativity and dedication, allowing me to consistently produce quality content and meet my goals. Read more>>
Sofia Medina
My parents are immigrants from Mexico. They started off newly married with almost no money in Michigan, but they had a vision for the life they wanted their future children to have. My parents are extremely hard-working and took many risks to get to where they are now. Because of this, I naturally saw my parents life and watched and mirrored their work ethic. My parents never let me quit when things got difficult but instead encouraged me to persevere. Read more>>
Sandra O’Dell
I am a retiree of The Boeing Company where I was employed for 37 years. I held the position of Executive Administrative Assistant (secretary for short). I came into this position at a very young age and spent many, many years, watching the big boys bargain, plan and play. Read more>>
Uncle Joe
My work ethic comes from my parents. Both my parents worked my whole life, but my father definitely instilled hard work into me. As a child I saw my dad get up everyday at 5am, drive 30-40 mins to work, come home and take me to whatever sport I was playing during that season. I never saw him call out or take sick day. He was also the Pastor of our church, so while juggling work and my extracurricular activities, he still ran weekly bible study and Sunday service. My father truly was the definition of no days off. I’ve tried to model myself the same way. Read more>>
Brendan Otani
My mom, for sure! She’s the hardest working person I know with dedication and loyalty to her job and making hard professional decisions that have paid dividends in the last half decade. She instilled in me, at a young age, that hard work is what will get you far. The other things will follow. Read more>>
Albie Mitchell
My work ethic has been shaped by different experiences. My family and upbringing had a big impact. Both my parents worked hard and modeled that for me. They also set clear expectations about making good grades in school and doing homework each day until all assignments were done. As a child I struggled in school, especially with reading due to a learning disability. I was failing the second grade and was transferred to a new school with a special education class mid-year where I would get more individual support from teachers. Fortunately I had support from my parents and others who wanted to see me succeed. Mrs. Harris was the teacher in my new class who helped me learn to read and write and really changed the direction of my whole life. After working with Mrs. Harris for a year and a half I returned to a larger class and met with special ed teachers on a more limited basis. I noticed that I needed more time to do everything than my classmates. This included reading, writing, processing instructions. But I also knew that if I wanted to grow and learn I had to do the work and the only way to keep up with my friends was too work harder than them. Read more>>
Jennifer Vargas
I come from a family of work oriented and work driven people. My parents entailed this mentality of “keep working hard or find a way to overcome the hard work.” It’s something that’s I’ve stuck with until I’ve exhausted all my resources. Read more>>
HEATHER MARTIN
It’s said necessity is the mother of invention and can fuel my fire. When I took a copywriting job in 2017, it required a 45-minute commute each way, which I would have previously avoided. However, right before getting this role, I had a long transition from sales to copywriting. I needed the money. Commuting every day I said a prayer “Let’s just get from home to work safely, and return safely.” I’d also give myself pep talks such as “We just have to do what we have to do.” The freshness of really lacking financial security helped me stay focused. Yes, at times I was frustrated, angry, and exhausted. After all, a copywriter can do their work from anywhere in the world if they have a PC and an internet connection. Read more>>
Kenzo Han
I grew up playing soccer competitively at a high level which taught me a lot about discipline. With any sport you always need to work on unglamorous, difficult, repetitive tasks and I didn’t gain an appreciation for that until I was forced to do it to train for soccer. I still wish I lived in an alternate universe in which I spent all the time I spent on soccer on my art. However, the lessons I learned from soccer have helped me in every aspect of my life, including my art. Read more>>
Jason Malone
Observing my father work two jobs and my mother engage in side hustle gigs to make ends meet deeply instilled in me the values of discipline, diligence, and hard work. Their dedication and perseverance underscored the importance of relentless effort in achieving desired outcomes, shaping my approach to both personal and professional challenges. Read more>>
Christina Ralko
My work ethic is grounded in several key principles and influences.
First and foremost, my dad has been my biggest influence. Growing up, he was working 2-3 jobs at a time making sure our family had a roof over our head and food in our belly. Despite working many hours, his number one goal was to make sure he provided for his family and we always had what we needed. Growing up, I unfortunately had many medical bills that flooded my parents in debt due to being born 24 weeks prematurely. I had many surgeries at birth and the years to come. My father never gave up and always fought for me and made me the hard worker that I am today. He showed me the importance of commitment to helping others. To this day, he reminds me to “Always get back to people no matter what!.” Observing my fathers dedication and approach to always thrive to do the best job you can do has been highly motivating. Read more>>
Matt Drayton
I get my strong work ethic from my underprivileged background and a strong desire to change the path of my future and be successful. Read more>>
Kevin Lawal
I get my work ethic from a God given gift to want to be great in life as a father of two sons”Michael & Zaid”, man, friend, and big brother to 7 other siblings not matter the up and downs. I’ve always been self driven and a sponge to learning new things. Its always been fascinating to be self sufficient and share my achievements and learnings with others. I’ve witnessed work ethic from various angles early in life: starting with my Mom, a fierce leader and go-getter in the corporate business world, and my Pops, who can always make something out of nothing as Ive learned from building a good relationship with him. Naturally, growing up, you also pick up on things from your surroundings and the culture. My mother and grandmother always kept me around good people growing up. My mom would work long shifts at distribution center and my grandmother would watch us while she work they both did a great job taking care of us no matter what. Read more>>
Nichole Beene
It all started when I was little, growing up with a mother who was a single parent trying to provide all she could for us. She would always tell us that nothing ever came easy and that you would have to work hard for what we wanted. When I decided to start my journey, I would look back at what I was taught and knew that I would have to do my very best to satisfy my clients when it came to doing their cleans. I know that there are many cleaning companies here in San Antonio, so I knew that I would have to work my hardest to make sure that when I did a job that it was above the rest of those companies and implementing the hard work that I was taught as a kid. Read more>>
Austin McKedy
My family has instilled a strong work ethic in me. My parents have always told me to work hard for what I want and to not lay around expecting a hand out. I have therefore always given it my all to work hard in my music as well as in anything else that I do. I want to achieve big things with my music and have always been willing to make sacrifices and work hard toward that goal. Read more>>
Edwin Montero
My work ethic comes from a God given fire that continuously burns from deep within. Combined with excellent role models throughout my life from parents, family, colleagues, and teachers. I always give my absolute best effort, I strive to be the hardest worker in the room no matter the environment. I learned from a young age that I could endure the pain of discipline, soreness, and hunger for longer than most people. Training, a lot of repetition, and getting good results from my efforts cemented my work ethic. Read more>>
Caitlyn Ryherd
Since Alex and I (Caitlyn) were 8 years old we have shown and raised beef cattle. Starting this at such a young age caused us to take on a lot of responsibilities and step up with all of our barn chores. This has helped us to have such a good work ethic. Growing up in the barn has show us how much the animals rely on us and if we don’t get our jobs done then the animals will suffer. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to grow up in a barn and gain such a good work ethic. It has come with a lot of great lessons and helped us to start our own business and strive to do as much as possible with the business and share our love for animals with others! Read more>>
Raquel Beltran-Cruz
Resilience is something I developed through facing challenges and setbacks in my life. My journey with resilience began as early as elementary school. Growing up in a low-income household, I quickly learned that my circumstances didn’t define me. Instead of succumbing to the limitations of my environment, I embraced the mindset that I could rise above any adversity. This early lesson in resilience laid the foundation for my ability to keep pushing forward. As I grew older, life continued to test my resilience. One significant challenge came when I was laid off from my job. Rather than falling into despair or relying on external assistance, I took the situation into my own hands, took a bold step, and started my own business. This decision was fueled by the same determination and adaptability that had carried me through my childhood. Each obstacle I’ve encountered has reinforced the importance of perseverance and adaptability. These experiences have not only strengthened my ability to bounce back but have also instilled in me a sense of self-worth. No matter the situation, I remain committed to moving forward and finding solutions, knowing that my resilience will always guide me through. Read more>>
Lauren Hogan
I grew up in a house hold that taught me hard work is everything. You can’t sit around and expect things to be handed to you…that’s simply not how life works. My Dad instilled in me at a young age that I can do whatever I want in this life if I put forth the effort…and to take my passions and mold them into a career. He owned his own computer business, while squeezing in music and house projects into whatever little free time there was. He always had a “if you want something done right, do it yourself” attitude…I feel like I’ve carried that in many ways-which has come in handy starting my own business. My parents both saw my creative and artistic talents from a young age, so they made sure I utilized my time well exploring my talents, whether it be entering art competitions, taking piano lessons, or dance classes. They set the stage for me to dial in to what I wanted to explore as a career in my adult years. The art industry is a bit of a challenge, so there’s no room for the weary when it comes to networking and advertising. Read more>>
lizz pedersen
I inherited my work ethic from my father. He always put everything he had into whatever job he had. He worked at the same company for almost 40 years and after that, he has done anything and everything to keep food on the table and the bills paid. I’ve had a job (or multiple at a time) since I was 14 so it was a no brainer to turn my hobby into a small business. Read more>>
Pytron Parker
I believe I get my work ethic from my mother. Michelle Lousie Parker, passed away when I was eleven years old. I have memories of her always working, hustling, and experimenting with different career paths. She was a hairstylist and had a gift to make people feel beautiful and better about themselves. When they left her, she stayed with them. I saw that at a very young age. I remember always being in a salon and getting my hair done. She had drive, was determined, and survived until breast cancer took her. My mother was also a single mother with four children. She had to provide. I work hard because it’s in my genetics, to anoint a room when I enter it. Share my gifts and serve. Always making sure others feel seen, heard, and valued. Read more>>
Lauren Garcia
I’ve always looked up to them. They have instilled in me the belief that every dream is worth chasing and have supported me in making my visions a reality. My father is my hero. Despite being diagnosed with ALS three years ago, he continually tells me how proud he is of my achievements. His strength and encouragement, even while coping with his diagnosis, inspire me every day. Balancing Bloom, my two other businesses, my role as a pediatric nurse practitioner, and being a wife and mother to two children is no small feat. But my parents’ unwavering belief in me fuels my determination and drive. They are the backbone of my success and the reason I strive to create and grow. Read more>>
Bovvie weiner
From my Parents. I was 15 1/2 years old and told my parents I will need a car. My Dad said, “You will need a Job!”
I said to them, “What do you mean? A Job?” I started crying and became hysterical. My Dad said to me, “You bring me $200.00 and we will buy a car for $400.00. I will match you.” I thought about this proposition and my mother got on the phone and called her best friend and said we need to find Bobbie a job after school. She wants a car. They found me job and it was working for a Second Hand store right near my High School. All the money went to a charity that my Aunt belonged to and the store closed everyday at 3 PM. I went right there everyday after school and ran the store with the president of the organization’s housekeeper. She would pick me up after school let out and we drove to the store and she drove me home every day at 5:30.pm. On Saturdays we worked together also. Read more>>
Sue Averell
I developed my work ethic from observing my parents. They both were dedicated to their profession. My father was a teacher and cared deeply about educating young people. My mother was in social work and worked hard to protect neglected children and later in her career worked as a director in a Southern California senior center. Both my parents encouraged me to set goals and to accomplish them. Read more>>
Elke Reva Sudin
My father has always been a self-made man, coming from modest working class roots. His relentless dedication to working for himself shaped my early perceptions of what it means to be truly self-reliant and industrious. Seeing his unwavering commitment inspired me to break free from the conventional 9-to-5 grind long before remote work was a thing. I was driven by both his example and my own desire to share my creative gifts with the world. For me, this path is more than just a job; it’s a deeply meaningful endeavor that surpasses any worldly pleasure or material gain. Read more>>
Rajneet K Singh
My work ethic resides from my upbringing and faith. My mother has always taught me to Trust God in all that you do. The word God automatically resonates honesty, integrity and compassion. I enjoy representing my clients because I have been given the opportunity to bring a change in my clients life by taking care of the debt portion. I am successful most of the times but the times that I am not, I know that I have done the best that I possibly could have. The goal is always to explain to the client what we are doing, why we are doing it and explaining the final result so they have peace of mind knowing the final resolution to their tax debt situation. Read more>>
Daniel Altenburg
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the values instilled in me by my mother, who immigrated to the USA from Peru. Her journey and determination have been a constant source of inspiration for me. When I was in middle school, my dad left, and my mom took on the responsibility of raising my sister and me on her own. She worked incredibly hard, often holding two jobs simultaneously to ensure we had the resources we needed to make it through high school and eventually to college. She taught me the importance of perseverance, dedication, and hard work. Read more>>
Francisco Gonzalez
Work ethic is one of the things that is part of the formation of every entrepreneur. It’s not easy to say where exactly I got mine because there are a lot of things that contributed over my lifetime. I think parents are usually the people we model the best and my parents have always been extremely hard working. They worked any kind of job they could at any time in their life. In fact, they met each other while working at a Winn-Dixie grocery store in Miami when they were just teenagers. My father is also an immigrant from Cuba, leaving there when he was just 7 years old, along with his parents (my grandparents) and uncle. My dad always had his parents as role models and as guides for hard work. For a decade, they lived in New York City, where my grandparents went from a nice upper middle class lifestyle in Cuba to trying to find any job they could — including that of a dishwasher. Read more>>
