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.
Bella Horrocks
I grew up with two incredibly entrepreneurial minded parents. From starting nonprofits to coffee shop skate parks to business consulting to flipping houses, I had an inside look of what it means to be an entrepreneur and the work ethic that comes with that from a very young age. Read More>>
Ismael Garcia
My work ethic was instilled in me at a very young age by my mother. She taught me the importance of responsibility and always giving 100% in everything I do. Read More>>
Cheyenne Chanel
That’s easy, a mix of genetics and tradition. If I could only go back to have dinner with my grandparents again; one a dreamer and a builder, the other a teacher and a keeper. Dinner was always at five after a days work in the summer sun; simple but necessary for unfolding basic life lessons. Read More>>
Jeremy Eveland
My work ethic came from family. Lessons from my grandfather, mother, and father. My grandfather, an architect and builder, showed me the value of being detail oriented. He lived by the principle that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right, teaching me to shun shortcuts and pour my all into every detail—a mindset that drives me as an attorney to scrutinize everything. Read More>>
Ja’Quan Riggins
My work ethic comes from two places: my upbringing and my pain. Growing up in Anniston, Alabama and later Atlanta, I watched the people around me survive on resilience. My family taught me early that nothing is given you have to earn it, and you have to keep pushing even when life knocks you down. Read More>>
Oleg Rudyy
I get my work ethic from my family—especially my father. Growing up, I watched him work with his hands, build things from the ground up, and never take shortcuts. He always said, “If you’re going to do something, do it right or don’t do it at all.” That mindset stuck with me. Read More>>
Sarah-Anne Wildgoose
My work ethic comes from my mother. It began at a very young age. Growing up, the entire family had household chores that she delegated. We didn’t sign up, we didn’t get asked weekly, and there was no negotiation. We just executed. As the youngest of six, I was given easy chores. Read More>>
Nathan Johnson
I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs and creatives: all in my family. My grandfather started a family business that my dad still runs to this day, and both of them taught me the value of hard work and innovation. My grandfather used to say, “It’s easier to win,” meaning that when you commit yourself fully, it’s easier to work hard and stand out. Read More>>
Kowa Mattern
Like many people my age and of the Millennial generation, I used to really align my personality with my career. Starting out at my first jobs, I would often be the last person of my team to leave, I would do extra work on the weekends, and I felt a sense of purpose by always being busy. Read More>>
Dr. Stephanie Kinney
I attribute my strong work ethic to the powerful examples set within my family. My grandmother Carmen, who devoted her entire life to caring for the household, taught me the value of responsibility, perseverance, and selflessness. Alongside her, my two uncles, Dom and Jim, demonstrated what it meant to work hard every single day, dedicating themselves fully to providing and succeeding through determination. Read More>>
Jose Perez
My mom passed away when I was 9, my father abandoned me when I was in the 6th grade. I was living with him & his gf. One day I woke up and him & all his stuff was gone. Read More>>
Danielle Clardy
I get my work ethic from my dad. From an early age, I watched him work his butt off, even today. He has held various roles within companies and has always risen to the occasion. He is constantly learning and diving headfirst into a role, working to better himself and the teams he is working with and for. Read More>>
Natalie McCarty
My work ethic comes from a mix of environment and mindset. Consistency was just something I grew up with, as it was bred into me early on. Especially coming from a ballet background, I learned pretty quickly that it’s not about working hard only when you feel motivated; it’s about showing up fully even when you don’t. Read More>>
Jenna Marotta
My father for sure. He was such a hard worker even if he was only just volunteering he had so much energy and stamina. It pays off! Read More>>
Jillian Clark
I often credit my work ethic and discipline to my classical ballet training. I started ballet at age four and trained and performed into my mid-20s. My teacher, Edra Toth, a former principal dancer with the Boston Ballet, used to tell us, “Ballet is the opposite of instant gratification.” And she was right. Read More>>
Heidi Zin
Mostly I received my work ethic from my father, he was a task master. But more importantly I developed it through having a dream from a very young age and never loosing site of that dream. My dream to be an artist was defining me in what I choose to do in life. Read More>>
L F
My work ethic comes from knowing that if I don’t take action, I won’t reach my goals. I remind myself often that giving up or getting lazy won’t get me far. If I can stay up late doing unproductive things, then I can stay up just as late working on ways to improve myself. Read More>>
Nkosi Nsumbu
I get my work ethic from my family. I grew up in a household of entrepreneurs, and all my life I watched my parents working before I even woke up and still going long after I went to sleep. That taught me early on that nothing changes unless you take action. Read More>>
Tonia Arey
I get my work ethic from mum! Not only is she one of the hardest workers that I know, she always puts clients first regardless where she is. She taught me that when someone calls, emails, text whatever the case may be to always promptly respond regardless if I’m on a ski hill, a hiking trail wherever I might be. Read More>>
Anna Rocker
My work ethic most definitely comes from my desire to create. When I become inspired by something, or I’m struck with an idea in anything I’m working on, it causes me to think deeper and find ways to pursue it. Read More>>
Tamara J Hassell
In my youth, my parents were a constant example of resilience and hard work. It was an unspoken quality, ingrained in me from watching them. At this stage in life, I see my adult children exhibit similar values that continue to influence and remind me of the importance of a productive life. Read More>>
Takeo Faison
My mother. For as long as i can remember she’s worked multiple jobs to support us up until she started her own business. Even at that point she was the first person in and last person out the shop. Read More>>
Jennifer Wu
When I was in grade 3, our school started an annual tradition of giving all the kids an agenda. Everyday, we would have dedicated agenda time, where the teacher wrote our agenda list on the blackboard, and we would copy it into our own little agendas. Of course, as an eight-year-old, I didn’t care. I wasn’t even fully conscious. Read More>>
Daman Singh
My work ethic comes from my parents. As immigrants of India who immigrated to the United States in the late 80s, they came to the land of opportunity to provide a better life for my sibling and I. My dad was a musician of North Indian music. Read More>>
Brett Burcham
I had the privilege of working for some small business owners during college and after I graduated that I attribute a lot of my work ethic to. They threw me to the wolves and helped me realize that I can mess up, solve problems, not be perfect, and come out on the other side a better, wiser worker. Read More>>
