Your Work Ethic

[Mobasser]

As a kid, I spent most of the summer on my grandfather's farm.My grandfather worked very hard to make his small farm run well, and, ran a successful farm for thirty eight years. My brother and I helped him with chores every day when we stayed there.             My dad was in the military, then, worked for the civil service for almost forty years. Both had a very strong work ethic.                                        It was a pride thing, that was instilled in us as youngsters.                                       My first actual job was as a dishwasher in a restaurant. It was hot, dirty, greasy work, and paid 2.00 per hr, but I earned the money for my first car that way.                                                    People who grew up in the depression years, or WW2 era, usually always had a strong work ethic. It went without saying. You worked, that's all there was to it.                  I still think a good work ethic is important, and, I'll always feel this way.                       It's not about the job you do, or, how much money you make. It's about taking some pride in being a working man.                                                   If you have or had a strong work ethic, how did you develop it?                                

[DitchPanda]

I believe I have a strong work ethic...in every review I've ever been part of at work its one of the first things that gets mentioned. I got mine from watching my parents growing up. My dad worked a ton when I was a kid...like 60-80hr weeks very common much of my childhood. My mom took care of us kids, worked a full time job and kept the house going. I owe them alot.

[gim]

If I didn't do any work in and around the house growing up, I was shown the door.  Certain chores like taking out the trash, mowing/trimming the lawn, shoveling the driveway, folding laundry, keeping my room clean, and eventually making meals were required.  If I turned my nose up at dinner, I didn't eat.  It was the threat of losing a bed to sleep in or going hungry that kept me working in my youth.  I also played team sports growing up and was taught that hard work will go a long ways towards earning success.  Laziness and poor work ethic were not tolerated, and when it came to that, I got benched.  Riding the pine is not as fun as playing.

 

Now that I'm an adult, I make my own decisions.  I have a young boy and my wife and I disagree on how to teach and discipline.  So now I just cede to her will on what to do with the boy.  She was raised mostly in a family of girls, and I was raised in a family of boys.  Completely different routes to get where we are.  I also have a 10 year old yellow lab and I will say that she listens a lot better than the kid does.  I trained the dog myself.  Don't think that's just a coincidence.

[casts_by_fly]

My dad worked as a union laborer (mostly for masons) for 30 years.  Aside from the various side jobs we did, one summer I worked for the same outfit.  It was back breaking work and I had it easy.  I learned a lot from that.  1- you can use your body to work or your brain to work.  One will last a lot longer than the other (this was what he wanted me to learn to keep me in school).  2- Anyone willing to do manual labor year in and year out deserves all the respect for doing it.  Its a hard life and not for everyone.

[A-Jay]

As a mature man,

I have my own standards that have nothing to do with anyone else.

I expect the best out of me, on my own terms and in accordance to my own ethics.

IMO, all of that begins and ends with respect for myself.

When I say I am going to do it, I do.

When I start something, I finish it.

I rarely impress myself.

YMMV

A-Jay 

 

[volzfan59]

My father was born in 1918, mother was born in 1924. Both raised on east TN farms and both remembered the great depression. My father had to quit school to work and help out. Finished school in time to join the Army Air Corp. Later became an electrician, then an electrical engineer. He was without a doubt the smartest, hardest working man that I have ever known. We worked together clearing land to build our house on, installed our water lines, driveways, etc. His motto, why pay someone when we can do the work ourselves. He demanded hard work from me and he was a profectionist. Don't misunderstand, I wasn't mistreated and he was working just as hard, right beside me. I resented it then, but after school when I was in the Army and later in my career I appreciated it. I'm also a profectionist, maybe not to his degree but if I'm going to do something it will be done right. I loved my mother and father, miss them everyday.

[Bird]

The key phrase " instilled as youngsters ".

 

We didn't realize that we had a strong work ethic growing up because it was the way of life.

Mom would drop us boys off at the local farms and we'd make hay all day and all summer until school started.

 

In the morning before the hay dried, we were in the garden pulling weeds, snapping peas and filling buckets with vegetables for mom to can.

 

My 1st full-time job where I was actually called an employee lol, 

I rode my bike to the big orchard up the road 6 days a week and sprayed for bugs, pruned trees and my favorite....... swinging a long piece of PVC pipe all day thinning out clusters of peaches.

We were extremely busy during picking season.

 

My wife has a very strong work ethic but it's not physical, it's simply being dedicated to work.

Laziness is hard to grow out of if you weren't tought to work at a young age......work ethic.

[Darth-Baiter]

i'm not saying i have a great work ethics.  that is for my bosses to determine.

 

having said that, i get my work done and fast.

 

i remember my dad telling me that whatever i do, do it to my best ability.  he felt even the lowest job was practicing for the next more advanced position.  

having said that, there is zero doubt that my siblings heard and follow this.  they both kick butt at work.  it is crazy to watch.  

[NavyToad]

“Work hard, play hard” served me well, even after I quit drinking. I know what I accomplished in 40 years of my working life and that’s good enough for me.

 

[Dwight Hottle]

I got my work ethic from my parents who set the example. Like others have mentioned previous generations set the example based on their very hard lifestyles. The great depression was part of their lives & recent enough that their offspring both heard about it & learned about the tough times. As a kid I always had chores & responsibilities. I helped my dad out by doing janitorial work on Wednesday evenings & Saturdays. My junior & senior year in high school I worked Saturdays & summers in a machine shop for 9 hours days & 54 hr weeks. I got paid $1.25 hour the first year & got a nickel raise for the 2nd year. I learned that machine shops get pretty hot in the summer time even with the windows open. That experience helped convince me that 4 years of college was in my best interest. Six day work weeks were always the norm until I was self employed. Then 7 day work weeks for a lot of years when the work was there. Since retiring I still set my alarm for the same time every day. I guess I just like the structure. 

[Woody B]

If someone it accepting money for doing a job I believe it's a matter of integrity to work hard and do a good job.   I've worked hard for everything I've got, and everything I've ever had.  

 

Once I mentioned taking pride in my work.  A (former) manager said "Pride is an emotion.  You don't need to have emotions while you're working"   

 

I'm an auto tech.  The buck stops here.   Unlike many in my field (and even many who work in the same building I do) I step forward for the tough jobs.   I don't think about money, how long something will take, or how hard it will be.  I simply try to do the best job possible for my customers.   I've always made a good living with this philosophy.   

 

I have low tolerance for laziness.   

[N Florida Mike]

 I owe most of my work ethic to my dad. He was born in 1918, the oldest of 3 siblings in the SW Virginia mountains. At some point , his dad and mom separated, and he had to work to provide for his mom and siblings.

He didnt want to be a coal miner like grandpa, so he eventually moved down into NC to find work and got with the railroad, met my mom, and was transferred to Florida.

He had me doing outdoor chores as far back as I remember. We had a big garden in back that took a lot of work. 

I didn’t like working at home  as I got older, because it interfered with outdoor pursuits and sports, but I obeyed . 

There was never any question in my mind I would work, because my dad modeled it for me . The longest I’ve gone without working my whole adult life was a three  week period when I was between jobs.

That being said , I have a lazy side I have to stay on top of, even though I still work app . 56 hours a week, and do most of my  property upkeep. IMO My generation generally had it easier than my dad’s because they worked so hard to make our lives better than what they had to go through…

[Catt]

My grandfather was a carpenter, my dad & his 4 brothers were carpenters. They built entire houses with a folding ruler, a framing square, a hand saw, & a wooden handled hammer.

 

At 12 years old I was framing houses, doing trim, & building cabinets. At 14 years  old I was running crews. At 21 years old I was the youngest general foreman working for Brown & Root.

 

I'm also an ASE certified automotive mechanic, licensed A&P (Airframe & Power Plant) mechanic, Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE).

 

I raised 6 kids & 2 grandkids, if I taught them anything it's a strong work ethic!

[jitterbug127]

I like to work. I always have, so that makes having a strong work ethic come pretty easy I suppose. I had a VERY strict stepfather growing up, so being lazy wasn’t even an option. I am a nurse,  and it can be a pretty demanding job. I always feel like I owe it to my patients to do my best. I think having a positive attitude and being reliable should be the standard and norm. I do also think that working your life away is stupid. I’m going to give it my all when I’m at work, but I’m not going to live at my job. Life is too short. Wise man told me years ago “there is no pride in being the richest man in the graveyard.” That has always stuck with me. 

[Columbia Craw]

This is a great conversation.  My Dad was my hero. He was born in Saskatchewan in 1928. His father died when he was eleven and had seven  siblings. He cut wood and did farm work as a child, had to quit school at fourteen to help with bills.  He worked  for the railroad at fifteen and was a telegraph lineman at sixteen. Dad wanted to be a builder and was self taught in every aspect of construction and was an architect. I worked with him as far back as I can remember. He worked me like a man and his demands were high.  Working hurt or sick was the norm.  This was my model.  My employers or co employees never had to question my values.   I always taught my kids about my Dad and how hard he worked. When he was battling cancer he worked as much as he could tolerate. We rebuilt his fence and deck before he died. He didn’t want to leave it undone. 

[Bankbeater]

I was always taught that if you need to do something, then do it right the first time. This was the standard, no matter what the job.

[LrgmouthShad]

My parents are most responsible for instilling a good work ethic in me. I didn’t really “buy in” until later along in my schooling years, but I was expected to make straight A’s and they were masters of getting me to do it without ever being harsh. It was just an expectation that I had to meet. 
 

I am right where I want to be in life and two short periods of hard work helped make that happen. Junior and senior years of high school I worked my tail off for college applications. And leaving college I worked hard for an interview/application process that helped get me on the path I’m

on now. 

 

That being said, I often count my blessings and there are an almost innumerable amount of people and external factors that helped

me along. I’m truly blessed. 
 

Nowadays, I find it hard to measure up. Falling back on a strong work ethic has been a good remedy

[TnRiver46]

I like to work but mice and squirrels wouldn’t consider it ethical 

[Koz]

As a kid in the 70's, shoveling snow and mowing the lawn was expected. We had 5 acres and half of that was lawn and trees so I became very familiar with the lawn tractor and push mower.

 

My father owned an industrial robotic centrifuge (and other things) company and at 12 I was sweeping floors. By 13 I was driving a forklift and did some welding and grinding. I took drafting in HS and by 15 I was a draftsman for his company, and at 16 I went to the sister company in Germany and worked there for a summer.

 

But there was always a balance of work and play. As an adult, I forgot that for many, many years. I try to do that now, but it can be hard since the hotel industry is 24/7/365. I have three weeks of vacation coming and I do intend to use them.

[clayton86]

I like to think I have a strong work ethic. Growing up my mom always said you go to work or school unless on your deathbed didn’t matter if sick or hurt you went to work and school.

 

I’ve held a job since I was 12 so the last 24 years I’ve always had a job. Never late or missed days and always do my best on said jobs it took me getting hit by a truck while on the job to get me to miss work haha.

 

Granted I’ve changed professions a few times in my adult life since college I always jump right into what ever path I’m going down. My boss just said the other day I need to make mistakes that’s how you learn and I’m not making any mistakes. Not that I’m a wiz at doing this new job I just ask a ton of questions and 2nd and 3rd guess/confirm before I execute task so it’s done right the 1st time. 

My fiancé always tells me to call in when I’m not feeling well or my hips bothering me(see hit by truck haha) but I always go and then hear it from her later when I get home and I’m limping worse. 

 

 

[TOXIC]

I don’t know if my work ethic was born in or developed as a means of survival.  I struck out on my own at a very young age and I developed a healthy respect for the harsh lesson that if I didn’t work, I didn’t eat.  Likewise if I wanted to make more I had to work harder or be smarter than the next guy.  All this runs counter intuitive to the working class of today with their “Quietly Quitting”, remote work and a dozen other ways to not work and to vilify the boss and the corporate culture.  I just don’t get it.  

[Darth-Baiter]

1 minute ago, TOXIC said:

I don’t know if my work ethic was born in or developed as a means of survival.  I struck out on my own at a very young age and I developed a healthy respect for the harsh lesson that if I didn’t work, I didn’t eat.  Likewise if I wanted to make more I had to work harder or be smarter than the next guy.  All this runs counter intuitive to the working class of today with their “Quietly Quitting”, remote work and a dozen other ways to not work and to vilify the boss and the corporate culture.  I just don’t get it.  

I am looking for engineers.  I am SHOCKED how at the end of so many interviews (that I thought were going swimmingly well) the candidate will ask, "so how much of my work can I do from home"?

 

I specialize as a field engineer on heavy construction.  Bridges.  so unless some lucky candidate is having a bridge build in their living rooms...ZERO chance.  well, not true.  I would allow meetings and training classes.. PJ pants okay.

[Susky River Rat]

I think it came from wanting to succeed. When I raced motocross growing up I wasn’t blessed with talent. So I worked my butt off to get as good as I could be. I also watched my dad work 21 days straight all the time as well. I worked a full time job welding and always had side work or a part time job. One day I got upset with the owner of that company walked out to where I’m at now. Within 3 years of being at the company I’m at now I became in charge of all the welding there. There is about 80 welding employees there. It’s mostly office work or training. I still am the first person to roll up my sleeves and get under the welding hood when it’s needed. When I am under the hood I’m the same old hungry employee I was. Let’s get the job done right and fast. I can tell someone till I’m blue in the face this is how long this build should take. Nothing earns their respect more then from time to time doing it right along side of them. 
 

 I may still be relatively young but, Hard work, skill and knowledge got me to where I am at. That is also what is going to keep me where I am at or move me higher.