P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be here without the wisdom and strength of my praying grandmother who has poured into me for 46 years and counting. I am so thankful for her unconditional love and unwavering support. ❤️❤️❤️#internationalwomensday #womensday #womenshistorymonth
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Cubicle Life, Parent's Just Don't Understand, Relationships, The 16 yr old, The 6 yr old, The Water Cooler, Twittering in the Cubicle · June 23, 2010

Instilling Good Work Ethic In Your Children


When I was younger, about age 9 or 10, my father took me to work with him on Saturdays when he worked extra hours on a project. He was a computer systems analyst consultant (fancy word for data programmer) and worked in an office in downtown Phoenix with rows of complex machines and computers. I would sit down with him at the desk next to him and would marvel as he worked. Occasionally, he would have me help him by handing him materials or retrieving things from the fax machine or copier. I really thought I was doing something back then, and at the end of the work shift, he always treated me to a good meal and gave me $5 for my hard work.

I grew up knowing how hard my father worked to provide for my family. Taking those work visits made me see firsthand that my father’s job wasn’t at all glamourous. As an only child, I was spoiled, but I also knew that hard work and determination took you places. My father’s talent took us from the mean streets of St. Louis’s north city neighborhood to a decent life in the suburb of Glendale in Phoenix, AZ. I learned early that if you wanted to make something happen, you had to have a mix of good work ethic, luck and chance, prayer, and talent.

As a parent of a six year old and sixteen year old, I have tried my best to pass this along to my children. As a single mother, my son saw me struggle to make ends meet. He understood at an early age that a day missed of work for me was a day of missed wages. My daughter’s life has been relatively easy, but we have had our own share of struggles during the last few months as my hours were cut at my employment. I oftentimes hear others speak of the lack of work ethic that our generation has, but there is a reason for that— good work ethic is learned behavior. Yes, some folk are just born with the “grind factor” embedded in them, while others had to cultivate this by seeing it firsthand. How can we blame the generation for poor work ethic when we are the ones raising them and teaching the behavior?

Instilling good work ethic in your children has to happen as they are children. Once they are well into their teens, it may be too late to start to try teaching them these values. Taking your children to work with you, or speaking about your work day, or even showing your children through your actions that you work hard may set them up also to work towards their goals and not be lazy.

The entitlement factor is alive in our youth (I know my son at times suffers from it and I only have myself to blame) and we have to set up boundaries. The money for items that they want comes from somewhere—usually our hard work and dedication to our craft.

Instilling good work ethic in children starts at the home. Lead by examples.

I asked this question to my Twitter stream: “how did you develop your work ethic? Was it a learned behavior?”

Here are a few of the responses I received:

@Tojosan-mostly from being raised that way. Also realizing what works and doesn’t.

@enlightnmegroup- mine was learned, watching my parents work hard to give me and siblings what we needed.

@livelovelibra- I’d say it was a learned behavior…learned it in high school thru marching band

@2muchtv- at 1st, my parents. As I realized how it sucks to work with someone without a work ethic, I didn’t wanna be that person

@msrasberryinc- my ‘work ethic’ is in direct correlation to my ‘need money ethic’ which was learned by needing to pay bills & buy things

@MultipleHeart-learned from my parents. Both have a great work ethic

@jax1125- my work ethic comes from my family of immigrants. I was taught to do what I have to do so I can do what I want to do.

@sowhatiff- I learned by listening to the lessons, observing the actions, seeing the results, and applying all of the above.

@misssld2u- my work ethic is based off of never having parents physically & emotionally there for me. I’ve ALWAYS had to take care of me.

Let’s continue the discussion! How do you instill good work ethic in your children? How did you learn?


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In: Cubicle Life, Parent's Just Don't Understand, Relationships, The 16 yr old, The 6 yr old, The Water Cooler, Twittering in the Cubicle · Tagged: children, generation gap, parenting, work ethic, work issues

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Comments

  1. Reggie L says

    June 23, 2010 at 10:48 am

    I enjoyed reading this. My mom and dad always pushed me to be a hard worker and never take anything for granted.

    Reply
    • Dannigyrl says

      June 23, 2010 at 4:20 pm

      Absolutely. As with anything, out work habits are instilled and enforced by what we saw in our homes. As a parent myself, I am now aware just how much my actions speak volumes. They pattern themselves after us and what we do.

      Reply

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  1. Instilling Good Work Ethic In Your Children — theFreshXpress.com — The PULSE of Young Black America says:
    June 24, 2010 at 6:49 am

    […] continue the discussion! How do you instill good work ethic in your children? How did you learn?[ORIGINALLY POSTED HERE]Tagged as: children, Parenting, work ethic Article by Danyelle LittleThe Cubicle Chick embodies […]

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P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be here without the wisdom and strength of my praying grandmother who has poured into me for 46 years and counting. I am so thankful for her unconditional love and unwavering support. ❤️❤️❤️#internationalwomensday #womensday #womenshistorymonth
I was pregnant at 17. Had my son at 18. Struggle I was pregnant at 17. 
Had my son at 18. 
Struggled all throughout my 20’s and mid-30’s financially and professionally.
Married. Had a daughter. 
Took five years to graduate from college.
Started my own business by blogging about being a working mom.
Divorced. 
Found my way after a few changes in direction. 
Wrote my first book.
Became a social media powerhouse. 
Wrote my first novel. 
Now I’m the mom of a 27 and 18 year old. My son is going after his dreams and my daughter will start college in the fall. 
I’m still here. Still growing. Still thriving. Still learning. 
I’m proud to be a woman who has managed to conquer my goals, my vision, my purpose. 
Happy International Women’s Month to all of you who are doing the same. This is our time!

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