Working hard in 2024: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

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.

Osceola Dubois

My WORK ETHIC is derived directly from MY ETHICS. I was brought up to give it my all and taught that losses are opportunities in disguise. Where you are today, at this very moment, is not a reflection of your inner aspiration…… it is only a reminder of it. I was raised to listen to what drives my soul and activates my spirit before ever giving up. Read more>>

Toni Williams

I get my work ethic from my mother. I watched her become a single mother of 2 children and in my eyesight she didn’t miss a beat. She enrolled into school, graduated college and landed a great job that she held for over 20 years. My life choices were a lot different from my mothers but my determination to achieve the goals I put in place for myself is definitely modeled from her. Read more>>

Lanie Vox

I think how passionate and emotional I am about music is where I get my work ethic. It honestly used to be better but I’ve learned to pace myself so that the end-product of my songs are exactly what I envision. I experience burnout pretty easily but once I want to express myself with a new song, it is so hard to break my focus. Besides being passionate, I’m kind of a perfectionist too. So I’ll revise a song until it’s finished within a span of a few days. Read more>>

Haley Knaub

Growing up, my Mom and Dad were incredibly hardworking, and they always expected my brother and I to chip in with their projects. It wasn’t just about helping out but about learning the value of hard work and commitment. I also started playing sports at a young age, which taught me about discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. These qualities have been my secret weapons in business, pushing me to aim for excellence in everything I do. Read more>>

Samira Grady

I grew up in a single parent household, and that single parent was my mother. Growing up, my mother was always sick, whether it was battling cancer or another illness. There were many times where my mother couldn’t work due to chemotherapy, so I had to grow up quickly. I have been working since I was 14 years. My very first job was being a hostess at an Italian restaurant in my hometown Cleveland, Ohio. Read more>>

Antony Forcellini

I get my work ethic from the way I was raise. I was really fortunate to grow up in a house where I was able to see my parents work hard and push throw thought times. I am really great full that my mom and dad always push me to give my best in any given situation, I learn to never be satisfied. I am always looking forward to learning new things that will make me better in every single aspect. Read more>>

Reka Juhasz

My parents. Two doctors raising three children in the post-communist era was not a walk in the park in Eastern Europe. Though we lived a comfortable life, we were firmly positioned in the lower-middle class, as the medical profession in Hungary at that time was not financially rewarding. Lots of things my parents couldn’t afford were just made by them. What they could not afford to buy, they crafted themselves—whether it was a meticulously designed Barbie dollhouse or the interior wood paneling for our second-floor roof.  Read more>>

X Man

My work ethic comes from my father. He’s the person I would watch work 2-3 jobs all while running several religious, organizations and still finding time to be a husband and father. He taught me at an early age that everything you want in life you have to work to get and the only safe job that exists working for yourself. You’ll never fire you. Read more>>

Matthew Cooper

Both my mother and father. My mother was a registered nurse for over 40 years, transitioning from the hospital to home healthcare. When I was younger, I would sometimes go with her to see some of her patients. Seeing several patients per day, week after week, I watched her treat every single one with the same amount of care and respect without ever complaining. Read more>>

Quinn Pokora

Quinn Pokora- I think my work ethic stems from my mother. My early childhood she was a single mom that always provided for me and helped me pursue my interest. She wanted the best life for me, while also fostering my passions. She never let me see when she struggled and excelled at everything she did, while maintaining a healthy social and family life. It was extremely admirable and I look to her for inspiration to this day. I saw the work she put in into her life and the satisfaction that came out of it. Read more>>

Jesse Haynes

I’ve never been the smartest or most talented person in the room, but I’m really good at putting in the effort and getting things done. I’ve always believed that hard work can bridge the gap where natural ability might fall short. My superpower, perhaps, is running through walls with a smile on my face. I don’t shy away from challenges; instead, I embrace them, knowing that persistence and a positive attitude can make all the difference in achieving success. If you want to do something special, you can’t be afraid to push up the sleeves and put in work, whether that’s executing or learning. Read more>>

Gloria Bazán

Definitely, my work ethic comes from my parents. Both were school teachers, and I remember that the mission of their work was always to benefit the well-being of their students. Later, when I graduated and started my private practice as a pediatric dentist, I always applied that same ethic to my work. Fifteen years later, I carried those principles into our wine business. Always treat others and do the job as you would like others to do it for you. Read more>>

Sydney Hummell

My mom has always been my biggest inspiration and best example of work ethic. Growing up in a two-parent household that was often chaotic, my mom was the one who carried the team. I vividly remember her juggling so many responsibilities—for a period of time it was selling molded chocolates on eBay while holding down a full-time office job. As a kid, I would go to bed with her still up, working late into the night to complete orders.  Read more>>

Dianna King

From a young age, I have always been a hard worker at anything I do. I was 2 years old when my mom put me in my first dance class. I competed at such a young age and missed a lot of school activities and opportunities to bond with friends growing up. I learned very early on that if I wanted to do this, I had to sacrifice a lot of things. Competitive dancing is all work ethic intertwined with discipline and I do believe that I have carried that mindset throughout my life. My work ethic today is very unconventional. Read more>> 

Devin Cobleigh-morrison

My work ethic stems both from with and from folks I’ve had the privilege to call friends and colleagues. First and foremost, seeing my parents excel to the top of their career paths and ultimately pivot to open their own business was inspiring. In middle school, I saw folks who were well on their way to a great life make a total shift to work for themselves, put in hours and dedication that I thought were unmatched, and ultimately realize their vision. Read more>>

Jay Fisher

I was deeply influenced by my parents in my work ethic. Growing up, I watched my mom tirelessly working seven days a week to make sure there was food on the table for me and my siblings. Her dedication and hard work instilled in me the value of perseverance and the importance of working hard to achieve my goals in life. Read more>>

Marcia Butler

I have always been a “worker” and attentive to the smallest of details. This is to say, I am a perfectionist and quite content to be one, because the careers I have worked in require nothing less. This began with my thirty year career as an oboist in New York City, a highly competitive environment. Performing in top shape every single day was a given. But I held myself to an imperative that is greater than that. Read more>>

Fatima Elreda

Growing up in a low-income community really gave me the ultimate motivation. I believed in the American dream that states if you work hard, if you go to school, you’ll succeed. Of course it’s not that easy, and it’s definitely doesn’t always go as planned. Though my circumstances growing up really kept me on track. I knew I wanted to be better, and have a beautiful and fulfilled life. That alone has allowed me to keep my head down and focus on my goals and work incredibly hard to accomplish them all. Read more>>

Kierra Saddler

I get my work ethic from being under estimated, not having the proper support like most, have to push myself hard as possible because the storms I have endured cause me to push a million times harder for success. I was 17 working three jobs, being a young mother of two by that age, living on my own in a city with no relatives. I had to over achieve to put myself through school and not fail being I was all I had at that time. Its giving me so much discipline and drive as I elevate. Read more>>

Dawn Kelly

I inherited my work ethic from my grandfather Joseph F Ackerman, a medaled WWII veteran and my mother Joan Margaret McKissack. Both of them demonstrated, daily, what an extraordinary work ethic looked like and how it was rewarded. Ever since I was 13 years old, I have always exhibited my best at whatever assignment, task or work assignment I was given to fulfill. My work ethic fueled my ascent up the corporate ladder and now as an entrepreneur, my work ethics propels my consistency and my stick-it-to-it-ness. Read more>>

Sam Dever

My work ethic came earlier in my youth with basketball. I never was the most talented or skilled player but I was always one of the most hard working players. I also was extremely dedicated to improving. Outside of the basketball season I would go to camps, play in other leagues and spend countless hours in the gym performing drills and improving my game. I became obsessed, even carrying my basketball everyday to school so I was always prepared to practice. Read more>> 

Trina Severson

Growing up, I was surrounded by strong, inspiring adults who shaped my understanding of work and success. My father was one of the biggest influences in my life. He started his own business, determined to succeed on his own terms. Watching him build his business taught me invaluable lessons about independence, perseverance, and the satisfaction that comes from creating something of your own. Read more>>

Chanel Janae

My work ethic derives from a few different sources. The largest portion of it comes from seeing the women in my family achieve excellence in their careers while also balancing life, family, children, community and everything else that come with being a woman. I am one of two siblings, raised by a woman who I watched work a full-time job, a part-time time job, be a present mom, devoted wife, a committed servant at our home church, and so much more all while earning both a bachelors and masters degree SIMULTANEOUSLY! My mom is such a rockstar. Read more>>

Ebony Burns

I inherited my strong work ethic from my grandmother, Patricia Means, and my father, Kym Corneulis. My grandmother raised me during a challenging time in her life after my grandfather decided to leave the home. She provided me with the comfort and love I needed, despite her own struggles. I witnessed her resilience firsthand and learned the importance of never giving up, regardless of your circumstances. Read more>>

Destiny Webb

Mywork ethic stems from a combination of my upbringing and personal experiences. Growing up, my parents always emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance. They led by example, showing me that dedication and effort are key to achieving any goal. Read more>>

Allison Laguardia

As I reflect on the values that shaped my character, one person stands out more than any other – my mother. Growing up, she instilled in me the importance of a strong work ethic, and it’s a lesson that has stuck with me to this day. Read more>>

Dre Brown

I developed my strong work ethic from my mother, who was a single parent raising three kids while also taking care of my grandmother. Watching her juggle multiple responsibilities with determination and grace taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and dedication. Her example has been a constant source of inspiration in my professional life. Read more>>

Jessica Walker

Work ethic is mostly about staying motivated for me. When there doesn’t feel like a reason to keep pushing, it can be hard to do so. That’s where accountability comes in to play. For personal goals I find it really helpful to voice them to other people, so they know what I’m aiming for. A “how is x coming?” is often enough to bust me out of a slump. As a small business owner, my commitments to our staff, customers, vendors, and to my partner keep me moving. Read more>>

Matt Meddock

My work ethic has come from years of trial and error. I’ve learned that when you work hard and do hard things, you see results. I’ve also learned that when there’s no more gas in the tank, you need to take a break so that you can come back at 100%. Giving 40-50% just to get the job done is not the best use of time for your body or your mind. Read more>>

Sean Mcginity

My dad. He always downplayed his natural abilities at everything he did. He pushed that anyone can get better at anything if they worked at it. It was always about putting in the time. My brother also instilled another philosophy into me: if you enjoy what you do, the “work” is actually the fun part. My brother is the best guitar player on the planet. But for him it was never having figured out some complex part, it was the learning how to play that complex part. The fun was playing the guitar. Read more>>

Renee Ash

Definitely my mom. Growing up she was always doing something, even when she was falling asleep knitting in front of the TV after dealing with my brother and I all day long. She just turned 85 this year and until about 5 years ago she would still come over and pull weeds in my yard with me, or mow my lawn while i did something else! Seeing her go non stop my entire life I think has had a major impact on how I am today. Read more>>