Why Cultivate a Killer Work Ethic?

Lessons and reflections from a multifaceted career

May 18, 2024

I recently had the honor of contributing to a VeryWellMind article: A Strong Work Ethic Can Make Your Career and Character—Here's How to Develop It.

It’s an easy and inspiring read packed with practical wisdom.

I give a huge thank you to

julie

for the opportunity. Aside from being an incredible writer, coach, podcaster, and poet, she has done so much more for my life that it’s difficult to account for it all. My gratitude for her goes beyond words.

As I was contributing to the piece, reflecting on my career path brought back a flood of memories - early startup challenges, triumphs at Rakuten, Blizzard Entertainment's golden era, and founding my nonprofit start-up.

I thought of the amazing people I’ve met, admired, learned from, and collaborated with. I recalled the conflicts, disappointments, and roadblocks as much as the victories and celebrations. Yet no matter the struggle, regardless of the outcome - every moment seemed to have its own set of lessons to glean.

I’m thankful for what I’ve experienced over the years and how much my life has expanded as a result. In my darker moods, I could lament a life cursed with trials and challenges. But I choose to see it blessed with unique and awe-inspiring opportunities.

I firmly believe that these experiences weren’t just a gift bestowed onto me, but rather synchronicities created and facilitated by a key attribute: having a killer work ethic.

What Constitutes a Killer Work Ethic?

At its core, a work ethic is a set of values and principles that guide an individual’s behavior in the workplace. To me this looks like: reliability, flexibility, humility, collaboration, perseverance, discipline, compassion, kindness, curiosity, proactivity, and conscientiousness.

Putting these concepts into practice has made the difference for me in countless situations, leading to consistent delivery of results, a trustworthy reputation, and profound personal growth.

Embodying these principles can have an enormous impact on the people around you. I often forget this fact, typically beating myself up mentally until someone kindly reminds me or I browse through the endorsements on my LinkedIn profile.

I find it a strange dissonance listening to the harsh voice of my inner critic and receiving such heartfelt praise from others. It’s a set of extremes I am learning to integrate and balance out as I grow.

Regardless, a strong work ethic requires hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. Progress might feel slow, or it may seem that your efforts aren’t appreciated. The truth is: people observe our actions and are affected by them in ways we seldom realize.

Below, I share the raw, long-form notes I sent over to Julie for her article in case it’s of any use or inspiration to anyone reading this. Let me know in the comments if this resonates or if you’d like to share your own style of work ethic.

Characteristics of a Strong Work Ethic

Reliability
- Follow through on your commitments. This is the most fundamental building block to working effectively in any organization and in any environment. If your team or your customers can’t rely on what you’ve promised, it erodes trust.
- When others trust you, it cultivates a willingness to give you their time, attention, energy, and ideas. More importantly, when you can trust yourself - your confidence rises, fear loses its hold on you, and making decisions become easier.
Flexibility
- Our society is undergoing rapid change, permeating every facet of our individual and collective lives. In order to thrive, you need to be able to adapt. Set yourself up for success by accepting that things never remain static, be willing to let go of old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you and the team, and constantly experiment with new ideas.
- By responding to your environment with a sense of curiosity and play, you will find new perspectives on situations and problems. You’ll find that with clarity, creative solutions flow to you with greater ease.
Humility
- Here’s the hard truth - you don’t know everything and you will inevitably make mistakes. It’s a condition of the human existence - but that’s OK. Recognize that this is not a reflection of your inherent worth, but rather an opportunity to learn and improve.
- Operating with grace means taking ownership of your own faults and being compassionate about flaws in others. It means getting your own ego out of the way while still holding forgiveness for yourself. Doing so dramatically improves your working relationship with others and builds loyalty with your customers.
Collaboration
- We live in a world of immense complexity, with many layers of systems constantly interacting with each other - economic, technological, social, legal, or environmental. As a result, the problems we face are too unwieldy for a single person alone to fully grasp and solve. But humans are clever, and we’ve figured out that we can achieve great things through collaboration.
- Your ability to work with others is an absolute necessity - without it, you can’t tackle the big challenges. This includes clear communication, reciprocity, integrity, and a genuine interest in the well-being of others.
Perseverance
- Work is an inherently difficult endeavor. That’s why we don’t call it play. It takes focus, courage, and energy to get up every day, face daunting challenges, and solve difficult problems.
- It may seem easier to give up sometimes, for it often takes multiple tries to get things right. Whether it be in life, business, or relationships - the greatest rewards are hidden behind the discomfort. Having the grit and resilience to overcome adversity is a superpower, letting you ascend to unimaginable heights.

Benefits of Developing a Strong Work Ethic

Results
- There are few things more satisfying than seeing your creations completed, shining with a quality that only you could produce at your best. Whether it be a happy customer, an increase in sales, a more efficient process, or a more beautiful product - having a strong work ethic enables you to consistently deliver, and deliver well.
Growth
- Taking on new challenges and pushing yourself to do your best will transform you into a relentless machine - constantly learning, improving your skills, and evolving. Don’t forget to occasionally pause and reflect on your previous years to see how far you’ve come.
Reputation
- When you deliver consistently, people start to notice. They trust in your capabilities, they respect your input, they gravitate towards your energy, and they become your biggest supporters.
- Over time, your reputation will open up opportunities you can’t even imagine - whether it be a salary increase, promotion, partnership, a dream job, or more.

How to Develop a Strong Work Ethic

Set a vision for who you are and what you stand for
- Understand who you truly are and what you value most. Is it integrity, consistency, quality, speed, pragmatism, creativity, compassion? Envision yourself operating at your absolute best and what that looks and feel like. Then show up each day and make the choices that represent that ideal self.
Practice self-discipline
- Believing in something and acting on it are two different things. Each day, commit to small achievable actions and activities that adhere to your goals and principles. Over time, this consistent behavior will turn into habits and routines and yield compounding returns.
- Set boundaries around distractions such as social media, email, and nonessential meetings. Learn to say no when necessary and commit to following through on your true priorities.
Surround yourself with motivated individuals
- People naturally conform to their environment, and that includes people. Surround yourself with peers and colleagues who share similar values and work ethics. Their positive influence can help motivate and inspire you to stay focused and committed to your own goals.

Work Ethic Skills for Success

Curiosity
- Build a desire to learn, explore, and understand new things. Ask questions, seek truth, and approach situations with an open and inquisitive mindset. This skill will drive you to acquire new skills, solve problems creatively, stay engaged, and promote empathy and understanding.
Conscientiousness
- Strive for excellence, diligence, organization, and dependability in your daily efforts. Pay attention to details, minimizing errors, and improving the accuracy and precision in your work.
Proactivity
- The greatest problem solvers are self-driven, forward-thinking, and solutions-focused. By taking initiative, anticipating future needs, and creating solutions before being asked, you lead the way in preventing delays, minimizing disruptions, and accelerating progress.

Examples of a Strong Work Ethic

When I have to recollect the best people I’ve worked with in the past, I always remember the ones who were reliable. They showed up every day with a smile on their face, they followed through on their commitments, and they owned up their mistakes. Not only did I feel safe and confident that they were on my team, but it was an absolute joy to be in their presence. Collaborating was fun, work felt like play, and we produced amazing work together.

The Downside to Work Ethic

Don’t be too hard on yourself, practice self-love
- A strong work ethic can sometimes translate into excessive self-criticism and perfectionism. Constantly striving for flawless execution can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety. To avoid this pitfall:
  - Recognize that perfection isn't possible in every situation.
  - Accept that mistakes happen and learn from them rather than dwelling on them.
  - Practice self-compassion and remind yourself that everyone encounters difficulties.
  - Set realistic goals and celebrate achievements, no matter how small.
Don’t burn out, practice self-care
- Working long hours and neglecting personal needs can result in burnout, which impacts mental and physical health. To prevent burnout:
  - Schedule downtime regularly, including hobbies, relaxation, and social engagements.
  - Prioritize restorative activities, such as meditation, yoga, or reading.
  - Establish healthy routines, like exercising daily and maintaining a balanced diet.
  - Delegate tasks whenever possible and learn to let go of control.
Don’t judge others, practice acceptance
- Having a strong work ethic doesn't mean looking down on those who don't share the same drive or pace. Judging others based on their work habits can create tension and undermine team cohesion. Instead:
- Focus on your own progress and accomplishments rather than comparing yourself to others.
- Offer support and encouragement to colleagues facing challenges.
- Appreciate diversity in working styles and acknowledge that different approaches can yield successful outcomes.
- Foster a supportive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

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What I’m Doing This Week

Gratitude

I’m grateful to be able to navigate immense change and retain my sanity.

Lesson Learned

Be mindful what you ask for.

Listening to

Keep Me by Novo Amor

Watching

X-men ‘97

It’s such a joy to bond with my children over my own childhood joys. This resurrection of the cult-classic comic-book-to-TV adaptation nails it. Combining complex storylines, deep character arcs, epic battles, and just the right amount of over-the-top 90’s campiness.