I think it's easiest to teach by example. My dad didn't tell us to work hard we just saw how hard he worked. I know I have shortcomings - like a short fuse - but I've learned you can't come home from a long day of work and snap at the kids.
I'd been a wedding singer through college but after a few years of doing my best renditions of jazz standards to clinking glasses and the sound of forks on salad I thought 'Oh God if this is all I do I'll never be able to live with myself.'