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.
Katie Bowes
From the time i was relatively young, I have loved to work. I got my first job in a local retail store before I even had my driver’s license. I have always been driven to contribute the most I can in the best way I can. My dad really drove home this idea of character and the importance of having a strong character and I believe it was that message that drives me – do the best you can even when no one is looking. It’s the Shopping Cart mentality (are you the person who returns their shopping cart or leaves it loose in the parking lot? i always return mine). I think about leaving things and people better then when you found them. I think about a rising tide raising all ships. I think about putting something beautiful and meaningful into the world that I can be proud of when i look back at my life. Read More>>
Michel Stone
I played multiple sports in my youth. My parents probably put a million miles on the station wagon hauling me to and from basketball, volleyball, softball, and track practices, games, meets, and matches. I loved competing. Still do. But I’m mostly competitive with myself. My work ethic undoubtedly comes from all those years in hot gyms and on steamy tracks, striving to improve. I’ve always found joy and satisfaction when dedicated effort paid off. Writing, like life, is all about picking yourself up when you fall short and giving it another go. Read More>>
Todd Snyder
My resilience and work ethic were forged from two things: adversity and obsession. From a young age, I learned that nothing worth having comes easy. I had a paper route from 5th grade through 9th grade, where every morning i would get up and deliver papers and collect the monthy payments. I worked hard and I made good money for that age, I appreciated the work that went into making money. I’ve pushed myself in sports, in education, in racing, and in dentistry—and every time, the lesson was the same: when you get knocked down, you get back up stronger. Read More>>
Andrea Dawkins
Hi I get my work ethic from my mother and father. I am a first time generation and one of the pillars of my childhood after our faith is education.
The lesson was always instilled in me is the vaule of being a person of integrity, to make sure that whatever I start I finish and to always put my heart into whatever I was doing. Read More>>
Ann Chisholm
I’d say my work ethic was shaped by my years playing competitive basketball, especially at the university level. I still remember my last home game on Seniors Day, my coach introduced me as “the hardest worker he had ever coached.” That stuck with me. I wasn’t the most naturally gifted athlete, and I certainly wasn’t the smartest student in the room, but I learned early on that you can control how hard you work. You get to choose how you show up every single day, how prepared you are, and the effort you put in when no one’s watching. Read More>>
Alexandro Rivera
From a young age, I understood the strength that comes from community and the value of working together toward a common good. This belief inspired me to build a career in social services where I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing hardship.
My path into social services was born from a strong, personal drive to create meaningful change. Raised in South Los Angeles, my family and I experienced the everyday realities that many in our community face, including poverty, limited access to nutritious food, healthcare disparities and lack of essential resources. These early experiences shaped my commitment to support underserved populations and confront barriers that sustain social inequity. Read More>>
LeSean McCall
I get my work ethic from experience, purpose, and knowing I’m the one I’ve been waiting for. Read More>>
Calvin Rafah
My strong work ethic comes from my experiences. I dedicate myself to working hard every day without pause; that’s a fundamental part of who I am. For seven months, I consistently posted on social media three times a day without missing a beat, and that’s how I define work ethic. Read More>>
Oneil Brown
My strong work ethic comes from my mother. Growing up, I was always impressed by her commitment to her job. She was consistently punctual and dedicated, a fact that was recognized with numerous awards for her hard work. Seeing her passion and dedication firsthand showed me the importance of being reliable and giving my all, and I’ve carried those traits with me throughout my own career. Read More>>
Ashlyn Leon
Whenever I share the story of my career, I often “joke” that the two years I spent working for Kris Jenner were more important than fashion school, but in truth, they were. That experience set a foundation for my work ethic that I doubt I would have developed anywhere else. It taught me the value of being resourceful, responsive, and prepared for anything. Read More>>
Marquibe Smith
My work ethic stemmed from watching the ones who came before me, and watching how they worked hard and reaped the benefits of it Read More>>
Tara Pirayayandeh
My work ethic is deeply intertwined with my passion for music and my personal growth as an artist. Growing up in a family that valued passion, perseverance, and creativity, I was inspired from a young age to pursue my dreams with dedication and integrity.
Over time, I’ve come to understand that being an artist isn’t just about hard work—it’s about fully immersing yourself in the craft, finding new ways to innovate, and using art as a form of storytelling. For me, music is so much more than sound; it’s an expression of emotion, a connection to others, and a way to leave something meaningful behind. Read More>>
VEDANT DAVE
My work ethic is something I attribute to both my family background and my early experiences in film. Growing up in an Indian household, I was raised with a strong emphasis on discipline, education, and perseverance. My parents instilled in me the belief that success comes from consistency, respect for one’s craft, and a willingness to put in the effort, no matter how challenging the circumstances may be. These values have been the foundation of how I approach both my personal life and my professional career. Read More>>
The Pierce Twins
Ever since we were young, we have always been extremely busy. Whether that was playing every sport we could, involving ourselves in all the clubs and honor societies at our school, participating in the arts, keeping good grades, or helping out in our community. Many people ask, “How do you manage it all?”, “How do you not get burnt out?”, “How do you stay interested?” The answer is we keep each other motivated and afloat. We assess our goals for each activity we do and let them motivate us. Even when it gets hard, we keep those goals in mind. It might be hard now, but the end result will be worth it. We work hard so we don’t have regrets and see everything all the way through. Our parent’s have instilled strong values in us from a young age and we give credit to them for our positive mindset and unwavering work ethic. Read More>>
Meg Blackwood
My work ethic was shaped early on, growing up as one of five children in rural middle Tennessee. From a young age, I took on responsibilities like babysitting and keeping things organized at home, all while balancing school and a robust extracurricular schedule. That taught me independence and time management early in life. I charted my own path, choosing to attend college at a different university than everyone else in my family attended, several hundreds of miles away from home. I then put myself through law school, managed both a legal career and raising a family, and learned to build strong relationships along the way. I’ve always believed in applying myself fully and not waiting for someone else to do the hard work for me. That sense of discipline, self-reliance, and commitment to helping others has carried through every stage of my career. Read More>>
Yung Aqua
My work ethic comes from consistency from my craft that I’ve been working on since I was young it really is just something that I do on my free time that has become a hobby and a money grab and just to influence the culture I feel like repetition brings progress Read More>>
Heidi Tarrillion
My father, who worked around the clock building a business out of our home with just a few employees that grew into something much larger than expected. Read More>>
Rob Phillips
I’m from New Jersey, and let me tell you — I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone from Jersey who didn’t have a work ethic. It’s practically a birthright. You take the job in front of you, you grind it out, and you don’t half-ass it. That’s just how it is. Read More>>
Omolayo Olabkde
I get my work ethic from my parents and amazing aunties & uncles I was privy to grow up around. Read More>>
Ronnie Lamb
My work ethic, I firmly believe, stems initially from my parents.
My mother and father were both deaf and grew up at a time when society didn’t know how to treat deaf people, unlike today where deaf people integrate into society much like anyone else.
I watched my parents having to struggle with people who could not communicate with them and of course the job market was not prepared for the likes of them and as a consequence they had to settle for relatively menial jobs.
My father was a shoemaker and my mother a seamstress. Read More>>
Micah Baxter
Growing up in this business and watching my dad and grandfather work twice as hard as I ever had to. Read More>>
Mandel (ManDeleon) Newton
I get my work ethic from my Dad who retired from the steel mills in Ohio after 30 years Read More>>
Juan Nunez
Mostly From my Dad Read More>>
Madeleine Lewis
I get my work ethics from my parents. My parents work very hard and they work multiple jobs while balancing home. Read More>>
Rob Wolf
My father, the topic of my discussion. Read More>>
Natalie Stamper
My work ethic comes from gratitude. I’m thankful to play music for wonderful venues, and Cleveland has a great music scene! It truly is a labor of love. Read More>>
Tray Cooper
I credit my strong work ethic to my family. They instilled in me the importance of working hard, even when no one is watching, and taking pride in doing things the right way. They also encouraged me to develop my creativity by placing me in programs and activities that challenged me to think critically and solve problems. This combination of discipline and creativity has shaped how I approach my work today—I’m committed, self-motivated, and always looking for ways to improve and contribute effectively to any team I’m part of. Read More>>
Monique Coghlan
I definitely get my work ethic from my parents. They’ve always try to push me to have that can-do attitude. I also have a lot of self motivation because nothing is just gonna come to you. You have to work for it. Read More>>
Fanni Fragner
I’ve always been a hard worker—I genuinely love being busy. I feel most useful when I have a purpose and something to work toward. It’s not something I inherited from my family; I think I developed it on my own over the years. No one around me had big ambitions like I did, but I always knew I wanted more. Right after finishing school, I jumped straight into working, and I loved it from the start. I remember people telling me, “You’ll miss school once you start working,” but that never happened. I think the key is finding what you love to do—because when you love it, it doesn’t feel like work at all. Read More>>
Mitchell Moss
I developed my work ethic in middle school. My dad was in the army and during this time he was stationed in Germany. That allowed the opportunity to start working at the commissary (base grocery store) when I was 12. I would start off getting paid to collect carts. Once I turned 13, I bagged groceries for tips. My parents didn’t buy my school clothes or pay for my entertainment again. It probably helped that I joined the military out of high school as well Read More>>
