In a recent LinkedIn post, Steven Bartlett shares a deeply personal reflection on the extraordinary work ethic and attitude of his Nigerian mother and English father. The entrepreneur and media personality details the immense sacrifices his parents made to provide for their family, highlighting their perspective on work not as a burden, but as a privilege.
Parents’ Unwavering Dedication
Bartlett recounts how his father worked a full-time job late into the evenings, only to join his mother at her demanding job in a restaurant kitchen until the early hours of the morning. His mother, after leaving the restaurant, established a corner shop named KJS, where she worked tirelessly. Bartlett describes the challenging conditions his mother faced, including sleeping in the back room of the shop on a bag of rice due to vandalism and break-ins from local youths.
“My dad again, would finish his full time job, and go straight to my mum’s shop and help her until late into the night.”
This relentless schedule meant his parents were often only home when he was asleep. Bartlett emphasizes that the most striking aspect of their commitment wasn’t just the sheer volume of work, but their mindset towards it.
Work as Privilege, Not Hardship
A central theme in Bartlett’s post is his parents’ unique framing of their labor. He notes that they never described their efforts as ‘hard work’ or complained about it. Instead, they seemed to view their work as a profound honor and opportunity.
“They never ever described or viewed what they did as hard work. I never ever heard them complain even once about ‘working hard’. They seemed to view work as the ultimate privilege, honour and opportunity.”
As Bartlett has grown older, he increasingly recognizes this example as his most significant professional influence. He posits that their profound example of gratitude, dedication, and personal agency has shaped his own approach to his ambitions.
A Foundation for Success
Bartlett explains how his father’s consistent support for his mother’s ventures instilled a core belief in him and his brothers: the importance of being a supportive partner and living in service of one’s loved ones. This foundational principle, he argues, has enabled him to pursue his own dreams with a focused sense of gratitude.
“It’s their example that has enabled me to pursue my own dreams with a level of focused gratitude that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
He concludes by contrasting his parents’ struggle for survival with his own pursuit of self-actualization, acknowledging the significant ‘luxury’ of being able to search for purpose and fulfillment, a path paved by their sacrifices. The post resonated widely, with many commenters sharing similar experiences of entrepreneurial parents and the enduring impact of their work ethic.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Steven Bartlett on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on December 12, 2025 | View original post on LinkedIn →