[gshdg]

This. What's a strong work ethic and why is it important to you? What makes you think the vast majority of people's work ethics are insufficient for your purposes such that you have to specifically look for people with stronger ones?

Have you had a problem with hiring people who slack off and get nothing done? Are you asking how you find people who will work 80 hour weeks for months on end without overtime and without quitting on you?

[diweirich]

My goal is to find other freelancers to work alongside that have a similar work ethic. I want to find people who will collaborate and take ownership of a project on an equal level. Ideally people who aim to deliver not just a functioning "widget", but the best widget the client has ever seen.

[afarrell]

It sounds like you want to ask

1. What motivates them.

2. How they communicate in the face of roadblocks.

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I suspect you want to do more thinking in order to be more precise about what you really want.