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.
Julia Jordan
My parents come to mind first… they both worked outside of the home as well as ALWAYS having a project going on. When I was younger they invested in real estate and flipped houses. My parents exuded the expectations they had for us and I followed in their foot steps. I feel like a good moto for them would be that good work never goes to waste. Read more>>
Kasey Burmood
I think my work ethic stemmed from a combination of not wanting to let people down and wanting to be good at everything I do. Both of which don’t sound that great when you say it out loud, but I want those around me to know that I’m reliable, the work will get done, and it will be done well. Over the years the source has morphed though, it has turned into not wanting to let myself down; I have high standards for myself, so I push myself to succeed. Read more>>
Pauline Galiana
I believe it simply comes from my acute sense of observation; observing my environment and the people around me. Our family had emigrated from Algeria during the war of independence. There was a lot of stress, the adults were busy creating a new safe life and my two older brothers were old enough to start school as soon as we arrived in France. Therefore I spent long hours by myself trying to decipher this new environment. Making sense of the chaos around me initiated a form of self-discipline as a survival tool. Making sense also became making things, digging into my immediate emotional and physical surroundings. Read more>>
Natalia L.
I get my work ethic from my parents, both were hard working people with college degrees in Nursing. They worked hard for the two of us to make it in life. I also had to work hard as a single mom of three children. Read more>>
Mark Blanton
My paternal grandfather owned his own garage, complete with 24 hour wrecker service. I spent a couple of weeks every summer with him and I saw how hard he worked, around the clock. He was very successful at what he did and was also highly respected in his community. When I had an opportunity in my adult life to start my own small business, it occurred to me that I was following in my grandfather’s footsteps. I knew I would have to have a solid plan, work harder than I ever had before, rely on myself, and slowly build my business. 32 years ago, I established Greensboro Jewelers from the ground up…I thank my grandfather’s drive for contributing to my success. Read more>>
Edwige Clark
As a first-generation Haitian American, my work ethic is deeply inspired by the example my parents and siblings set. As the youngest in my family, I witnessed my parents learn English and transition from hourly employees to successful entrepreneurs. I also observed my two older sisters navigate the public school system, attend Florida State University, and achieve remarkable success—one establishing her own law firm and the other pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner. Hard work is a value deeply ingrained in us; it’s what we know and live by. If you want something, you must put in the effort to achieve it—there are no shortcuts, just sacrifices and learning opportunities. Read more>>
Kayla Robinson
My work ethic comes from me growing up and watching my mother pursue her passion in doing hair as well. I watched my mother make things happen regardless of her being a young mom, for example my mother would bring me to the salon that she worked at in Harlem, she worked with two celebrity stylist starting off as just a assistant braider then worked her way up to a stylist herself, and i’d always admire her work and how much of a hard worker she is. My mother is now a loctician, braider and specializes in natural hair As I grew up I always was goal oriented and knew I wanted to be just like my mother doing hair as well. I taught me how to manage myself and my own business. Every day I do hair and accept new clients it motivates me to expand my services and to keep going. Read more>>
Delorean Todorut
I would have to say that my work ethic comes from my parents.
My mother and father were both born in Romania and managed to flee during communism to start a new life here in the United States.
Since they were young, they always worked and had to provide something for the family.
My father, was one of 8 boys born to a poor farming family and managed to start up multiple businesses here in the states including a tailor shop that sparked my interest and added to my now career. Read more>>
John Mccaig
In 2007 I lost everything, including my home and business. After that, I decided to dedicate every moment to uncovering the hidden methods for tax savings and asset protection.
After uncovering these unapparent methods of private financial wealth management, I founded this school with a group of talented and successful past students, now experts who are currently using these methods in our curriculum. Read more>>
C.j. Harris
My work ethic was deeply influenced by my parents. Watching them demonstrate resilience in overcoming various challenges, such as launching and managing their own restaurant and trucking company, taught me what it takes to run a business. This inspired me to pursue an entrepreneurial path. Additionally, my lifelong experience as an athlete—from being overlooked to earning recognition—sharpened my skills and fueled my drive to prove doubters wrong. This mindset has made me unafraid of rejection, focusing instead on maintaining a strong work ethic and relentlessly pursuing the goals I set for myself, concentrating on what I can control. Read more>>
Kat Wade
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing, thanks to my parents, who instilled in me the importance of hard work and paving my own way from an early age. They taught me that nothing in life comes for free—if you want something, you have to earn it. Growing up, I wasn’t handed things on a silver platter. Instead, I learned early on that effort and determination were the keys to achieving my goals. Read more>>
Drew Samuelsen
My grandparents on both sides of the family were Norwegian immigrants. Their determination and grit was passed to my parents and instilled in my brothers and me. From an early age we were taught that life was hard and so we would be required to respond with both toughness and integrity. Yet, there was a dignified element to this work ethic in that we were to work hard, but not let that work consume us. Read more>>
Deanna Brooks
I believe I get my work ethic from my mother. Growing up, I saw her work countless hours to provide for me and give me the best she could. She was always making sure I was satisfied and happy with everything. In addition to that, she would give up a lot of her free time to get me to dance and attend all of my events. She has gone to every dance competition, every picture day, every recital. If there was a dance class or intensive I wanted to go to, she would find a way for me to attend it. She truly pushed me to be the best human and dancer I can be. Seeing her drive and determination made me want to be the best I can. For myself and for her. Read more>>
Raina Gandhi
My strong work ethic stems from two things. First, my immigrant parents led by example and taught me about the importance of discipline, determination, and resilience. They navigated life in the US with courage and optimism, taking risks, and gracefully managing setbacks. They also provided me with emotional security which helped to build my confidence in both myself and my work. The many relatives living with us at different stages of my childhood taught me about the importance of showing up for my family, how to share my space, and how to communicate with others not only in different languages but also with very different mindsets. Read more>>
Tyree Traylor
Coming from Hawthorne and Compton CA a lot of individuals like myself weren’t well informed of the many opportunities around us, as I started to travel and wanted more for myself I developed a drive that led me to uncovering the immense opportunities as long as I put the work in, doing the same thing bad thing over and over expecting different results is insanity but developing good habits doing the same thing everyday is consistency in my eyes. Once I sat down by myself learning more about myself through different books, traveling from San Pedro to Santa Monica via bus for acting classes at 9am, taking every opportunity I seen, the positive work ethic developed on its own due to the drive of wanting more for myself due to my prior lifestyle in the inner city. Read more>>
Lindsay Richard
I have to imagine work ethic is something that’s inspired by your parents and your upbringing. There was always an expectation that I contribute around the house, work hard and that I do my best. My parents are very hardworking people and so that was modeled for me. I played sports competitively growing up and the never giving up attitude might also come from there. I’m definitely very results driven, and have a hard time being satisfied by anything that comes too easily. Read more>>
Steven Morse
My parents and journey through athletics.
I grew up in a household where both parents went to work every day, still do and I’m very proud of that. I learned early on from my parents and coaches that the ability to be intrinsically motivated is a worthy trait. This motivation has always been a driving force in my personal, athletic and professional career, and I feel is a critical component in developing a strong work ethic. Read more>>
Kristina Hartman
I’ve cultivated my work ethic through personal experiences and professional growth. I believe in always striving to exceed expectations, being dependable, and maintaining a positive attitude even in challenging situations. I find fulfillment in contributing to a team’s success and seeing a project through to completion.
Ultimately, my work ethic is driven by my desire to continuously improve, uphold integrity, and create meaningful outcomes in whatever I do. Read more>>
Mekhi Smith
I get my work ethic from both my parents and grandparents. They’ve sacrificed so much for me to be better off in my life and and I’m so grateful for them. Read more>>
Fabienne Shadbolt
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my upbringing and personal experiences. Growing up, I was always surrounded by hardworking individuals who demonstrated the importance of dedication and perseverance. My parents, in particular, were my primary role models. They showed me that success doesn’t come overnight; it requires consistent effort, integrity, and a genuine passion for what you do. Read more>>
Arica Netterville
My passion is to provide Commercial Solution’s in my 25 year career i developed a strong work ethic. Arica Netterville is a dedicated commercial business development representative at Heart Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electric, where she leverages her expertise to foster relationships and drive growth. As an ambassador for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Arica is passionate about supporting local businesses and community initiatives. She also advocates for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and actively engages with the City of Denver as attaché to the city. Additionally, Arica is the host of the The Denver Business Beat Podcast, where she discusses industry insights and shares valuable resources for her audience. With a commitment to service and community, Arica continues to make a positive impact in the Denver area. Read more>>
Veronica Pope Ricketts
My work ethic stems from a combination of my upbringing and personal experiences. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of dedication and perseverance. They demonstrated that hard work pays off, and that has always motivated me to strive for excellence in everything I do. Read more>>
Kwacha Blake
My high school film instructor, Mr. Pino, instilled in me a strong work ethic by constantly challenging me to improve my editing and photography skills He would always make me go back over my work more than once to make sure I didn’t miss any small details he also taught me always to have a positive attitude because people in this industry can be rude and sometimes distressful and to keep a positive attitude thought all of it. Read more>>
Kevin B Ploth
Well I can say right off the bat my drive, tenacity and passion comes from my parents. Both Liz, and Bruce M Ploth accomplished artists in their own right showed me how to deal with rejection, to be transparent and self reliant. Then my experience at University of the Arts in Philadelphia (same school Jared Leto, Allelon Ruggiero to name a few attendees of fame and note) from my mentors and professors came honing in my gifts from voice with Paul Wagar, Susan Sulby, dance and movement with Nancy Contra, Manfred Fischbeck, MASK and acting from Walter Dallas, Johnny Hobbs, Drucie McDaniel, James Cunningham, Tap from legendary Levon Anderson. They are all within me in everything I do and what helps me get up in the morning. Read more>>
Author Lcb
I get my work ethic from my mom. She started her adult life in a really challenging situation, but she refused to let that define her. Growing up, I watched her work tirelessly to create the life she wanted for herself and for me. No matter how difficult things got, or whether she had support from others, she never gave up. She had a clear vision for what she wanted to achieve, and she put in the hard work to make it happen. Seeing her determination and resilience firsthand taught me the value of persistence, self-reliance, and never settling for less than you deserve. My work ethic is rooted in her example, and I carry those lessons with me every day. Read more>>
Jc Mason
I grew up feeling like what I was doing wasn’t enough, and most of the people around me only reinforced that. A lot of my drive started out as a negative, honestly. I was overworking myself and pushing myself way past my limits to be seen as worthy, or good enough. It’s only been recently that I’ve started working for me. I work hard because I want to see how well I can do, how good I can be. I know that if I do my absolute best on every project, I’ll only continue to see growth, and eventually, the right people will see that too. Read more>>
Jakaylee Minor
My work ethic is deeply rooted in the life experiences that have shaped me into the determined and ambitious young woman I am today. I have always embraced the values of hard work, perseverance, resilience, and independence. These principles have guided me through every step of my academic and professional journey. These experiences, along with the opportunities I have seized, continue to inspire my commitment to excellence and growth. Read more>>
Kari Rehnlund
Both Lauren and Kari come from humble, hardworking backgrounds, shaped by the values instilled in them by their families. Their work ethic is deeply rooted in the examples set by their parents and family history. While both are immensely grateful for the opportunities and lessons they’ve been given, they were also taught from a young age that achieving goals requires determination and perseverance. Read more>>
Staci Rogers
I would like to say ‘it’s just in my blood’, but truthfully- I was born and raised in a family of hard workers! I can’t name a single person in my immediate family that doesn’t have a good work ethic. My grandparents, my aunts, my uncles, my sisters, my parents, myself- we’re all very hard workers, and I hope my husband and I will instil a good work ethic in our own daughter! Read more>>
Tanner Godown
Growing up in a small town with a population of less than 900 people and only two stop lights, it was mostly all farm land. My mom, a nurse, and my dad, a CDL driver, forklift operator, and ambulance driver, I saw nothing but hard work from both of them. When my parents and 6 of us kids moved to Florida, my mom continued her nursing, and my father was a manager for an auction company. My twin brother and I wanted to always work with our dad. Auctions excited us. My uncle Jack (a resident in florida with his wife) was also teaching us things like math, the bible, and how to work on cars, electrical, run equipment like tractors, mowers, air compressors… etc. There, the spark began. Read more>>
Regina McMenomy, Ph.D.
My work ethic comes largely from watching my dad work. He was a union carpet installer for most of his life. He didn’t finish high school, he’d enlisted in the army when he was young, and he worked in several trades before he got into the carpet layers union. At the time, moving to that union was a hardship for my parents. He had to take a pay cut to join, having already been working for a few years as a teamster (truck driver). This was when my parents were young, probably in their 20s, and already had all three of my brothers. Read more>>
Velonda Anderson PhD
My work ethic is deeply rooted in my family’s legacy of hard work and perseverance. I come from a long line of individuals who began working in their teens, including my mother, grandmother, siblings, uncle, and cousins. Their dedication instilled in me the importance of responsibility and resilience from an early age. Read more>>
Josh Wamboldt
My work ethic comes from my parents, Growing up my parents both had full time jobs, raising 3 kids that got into expensive sports. At first we were into boating which isnt cheap pretty soon we got back into the horse industry. Putting 3 kids through Rodeo every weekend through the summer and once to twice a month in the winter gets expensive. My parents had to work hard to afford our hobby and dreams, they instilled that on us. I knew i needed to work hard as well, my parents instilling that on me has helped me be successful, helps me get through the daily grinds and keep a positive attitude. Read more>>
Julia Pimsleur
I credit my work ethic to growing up with a single mother in New York City in the eighties. It was a dangerous time with high crime rates and mass murderers like Son of Sam in the news every day. I was going to a private school on scholarship and my mother was working long hours as a teacher, so I started babysitting at 13. At 15 I was working after school at a local food court and started spending summers living wealthy families in the Hamptons taking care of their children. I shared lessons learned from those work experiences – which I called “diapering for dollars” – in my book <i>Million Dollar Women</i>. Those early experiences taught me some of the most essentials skills you need for success as an entrepreneur and leader: hard work, delayed gratification, basic psychology and refusal to quit. Read more>>
Vicki Tasiopoulos
My strong work ethic is deeply rooted in the example set by my mother, a single mother who has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation throughout my life. She epitomized the values of hard work, resilience, and determination, often juggling two to three jobs at a time and working seven days a week to provide for my sister and me while pursuing her own aspirations. Watching her navigate life with such unwavering commitment instilled in me a profound understanding of what it takes to achieve one’s goals. She taught me that success doesn’t come without effort, perseverance, and a relentless drive to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. These lessons from my mother have shaped the way I approach my work and my business today. Her dedication has become the cornerstone of my own journey, fueling my passion to not only work hard but to continuously strive for excellence in everything I do. Read more>>
