Work Ethic: When Or If?

Some people have always had it. Some people never have it. Some parents attempt to pass it on or teach it/instill it, and others just don’t care to. Sometimes they think it will magically appear one day when or if their family member finds their passion. Some of you may have the same thought process as I do about work ethic, but I know a lot of you do not. I don’t believe it is just something that happens, whether it be as a child, teenager, or adult. I think you either have it or you don’t. I don’t think it just comes on when you find your passion in life. I think work ethic makes itself active in a person for just a few reasons.

I think work ethic comes on most and easiest when it is instilled in you when you are young. The best way I’ve done and seen this is by giving children responsibilities that are required of them. It also helps to have someone in their life that they see on a daily basis that has a work ethic and the kids get to see it from their eyes day in and day out. If it isn’t taught early, then I believe it is beyond rare for that person to have it just appear one day out of nowhere because it is time to go to work as a young adult or even a middle aged adult. What’s left if you do nothing when they are young is at best, you get a bare minimum human. That’s at best! Most likely you’ll get a lazy person who feels entitled to get what everyone has worked for by just being. Those are the “don’t hire” people. They are usually lazy and just simply take up unnecessarily space in this world. I had chores when I was younger and I never felt forced or pushed around to do it. I still had time to play 3 sports and hang out with my friends. My school work never suffered from having to do stuff to take ownership and learn about being clean and taking care of a home. I never really hated my parents for putting those duties on me. Of course I probably had an attitude a few times, I was a kid, teenager, and going through puberty, so I was an emotional asshole at times, but I knew deep down this was going to be worth it’s weight and gold one day in building me into what I was and wanted to be. Work ethic to me is more of a pride within thing than anything else. If people see you don’t have any pride in yourself, your appearance, or how you handle your life, they will treat you as such. You’ve shown them your self worth and what you’re worth to the rest of us. Good luck with that as you get further into the world.

The other way I think work ethic comes along for someone is a far tougher road, and the odds of it really coming true is really tough. Some people after years and years of not having work ethic and realizing they did nothing in life have to find it out of necessity to survive. Not being able to keep a job, get a better one, or keep a property nice means you’re most likely going to end up jobless and homeless. Then you either find that work ethic or your parents should have not thrown away that box from your last Christmas present so you have a home. Unfortunately by the time this comes about it is too late and who you are is who you are. This is when the weak fold and not even knowing what true work ethic is, means they are too far behind to catch-up. Oh it can happen, and does everyday. People all the time pull themselves up by their boot straps and figure it out. However, you shouldn’t count on it, and if you could find that work ethic early in life, you will always have that. You’ll be able to find something you do have passion for and be that much better at it. I’ve lost jobs, lost everything because of life mistakes, and had to start completely over. You know why it never takes me long to get even further up the ladder than even before? Work ethic! I don’t have shit handed to me. I go and grab everything I want and I work my ass off to show I belong in the same chair if not a bigger one than everyone else. Work ethic…learn it early, teach it early, or may rare luck be on your side. Remember, you weren’t put here to just be in the way. You were put here to be someone. You weren’t put here to be mediocre. Being great at anything starts with work ethic. As hard as it can be sometimes, it’s that simple.