Last summer Joanne and I attended a wedding on Hilton Head Island. The young couple had a beautiful ceremony out on a dock, just as the sun was setting. They had new degrees with student loan debt, new jobs (neither making quite $30K), two brand new cars with payments that are “comfortable,” a rented storage unit to hold extra stuff and were looking for their first house. With luck they’ll be able to keep jobs, stay just ahead of those comfortable payments on all their new possessions, reach that magic time when they can quit those jobs and then spend a few years in a retirement home.
Is that really the American Dream?
With all the interviews related to the release of Wisdom Meets Passion, I am being asked frequently – “Dan, is the American Dream still possible?”
I’m encountering a whole lot of Gen Y kids who are saying – are you kidding me? If what I described above is the American Dream, they want no part of it. That doesn’t sound like a dream – but a nightmare. They’ve seen what Mom and Dad have gone through, thinking they were on that path. But then Mom or Dad showed up for work one morning after 25 years of faithful service only to be told they had one hour to clean out their desk and leave the premises. And these kids are saying – “Why would I make myself vulnerable to that?”
So they don’t start with the same expectations for work – or life. They question whether a college degree will really give them marketable skills, they don’t care about having a mortgage or a Mercedes in the driveway and they intend to savor life now – not just when they reach retirement.
Remember Maslow’s pyramid from your introductory psychology class? Abraham Maslow determined that we can track people through a logical progression from the bottom to the top of the pyramid. People are concerned about their physiological needs first. If someone is hungry, he isn’t concerned about saving the world—that person is going to be looking for something to eat. If someone doesn’t have a safe place to stay, that will be her primary concern. It’s only after basic needs have been taken care of that anyone can climb up to the top of the pyramid—self-actualization or even transcendence, wanting to be part of something that goes beyond himself or herself. But wait a minute. Is that really the way it always happens? Do you know anyone who has seemingly ignored his own needs with a higher desire to help someone else?
Many, especially in the younger generation today, seem to ignore Maslow’s carefully defined pyramid. They ignore their basic needs to move up the pyramid all the way to transcendence (being involved in something that goes beyond the created world). The desire to make a difference is a stronger pull than having another bag of Doritos or even a BMW.
In Wisdom Meets Passion, my son Jared says:
“I never really cared about having nice things or even having food on my table. I have always chosen relationships over comfort or material things. Consequently, I’ve lived a life of deep, meaningful relationships. People often comment on the fact that I am still so close to the boys I grew up with. Now that we’re all grown up, we’re still like brothers, and I’ve been friends with most of them for nearly twenty years. They are family that I chose. Those relationships mean more to me than anything I could ever achieve on my own. I’d rather be hungry with a friend than have a full belly on my own. That will never change.”
So how would you define the American Dream? What does “success” look like for you?
Just leave your comment below. I’ll select three of the most interesting and send you the Wisdom Meets Passion Ubuntu package. Deadline is February 10th at 8:00 AM Central Time.
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Dan,
I work for a company where we receive and ship large quantities of electronics. One of our main products is a TV unit that includes a remote control. Each remote control includes a set of batteries, but most of our customers use their own batteries. Thus…a lot of extra batteries.
I walked by a huge box in our storage area the other day containing literally hundreds of fully-charged batteries. We use them occasionally in the office. But most will be discarded someday without ever being opened. They will lose all their charge and utility because they’re never put to use.
The thought that popped into my mind for some reason was this: “Wow, talk about a fate worse than death for a battery.” A battery is only a container, meant to energize action. If never used, a battery misses its purpose.
To me, success is grasping the opportunity to use as much of the energy and talents I’m given to accomplish what I believe to be meaningful and worthwhile. It means the opportunities are there to take and grasp to whatever extent I will use them.
We are blessed with choices that a battery will never have. We can choose whether we stay in a box or wade into the arena. And we can decide how to use the “charge” God has given us.
Thanks for the encouragement and question!
Aaron
Aaron,
I love the picture you create here. I’m going to make sure I use the “charge” I’ve been given today.
I liked Aaron’s analogy of the battery too. But he says ‘we can choose whether we stay in a box or wade into the arena.’ Well, what if the way into the arena is blocked?? I know I have certain strengths, talents, gifts, abilities, aptitudes, interests, desires, and passions, which I would love to share with the world, but it seems everywhere I turn, people block my way, or turn me down, or ignore me, or berate, or belittle, or diminish, or discount, or dimiss what I have to offer. So much for making use of my talents, and having a meaningful life, and contributing to society in a positive way…
Greg – something is terribly amiss in what you describe. My friend Michael Hyatt recently wrote a blog on the 3 components of work satisfaction and fit. He says:
Job satisfaction requires three components. 1.You must be passionate. This is where it begins. What do you care about? What moves you? What problems do you want to solve or issues you want to address? If your heart is not in your work, you have a job but not a calling. 2. You must be competent. Passion alone is not enough. You have to be good at what you do. Being good-enough will not give you the satisfaction you desire. You have to excel at your craft and be awesome. Mastery is the goal. 3. You must create a market. To enjoy a successful career, people must be willing to pay you for what you do. You don’t have to get rich, but there must be a market for your product or service. Otherwise, your career is not sustainable.
There has to be a “market” for what you offer. If no one wants it, you must re-evaluate. How would it contribute to society if no one wants what you have to offer?
Greg,
Thanks for your reply, and a couple of thoughts.
If you are experiencing some resistance to the sharing of your gifts and talents, it tells me you ARE wading into the arena…at least at some level. You couldn’t be meeting resistance if you weren’t trying ANYTHING. It sounds more like you’ve made some initial attempts that haven’t worked out the way you’d hoped.
As Dan suggests, you may need to measure whether the efforts you’re making line up well with your talents, gifts, and the needs of others. But don’t give up on the whole affair. Passion mixed with wisdom will lead you to connect with those you are suited to help.
And be careful of assuming others will oppose the use of your talents. A heart expecting the worst from others will often find it. Approach the day expectantly looking for the person you can serve, the person who will give you a chance.
I wrote a short book for children and families this past December which touches on the ideas of our calling and purpose. If you email me at [email protected], I’d love to send you a free copy.
Aaron
My wife, two boys and I are going through what has been the most difficult year ever. Our income has been cut in half due to a car accident, my boys were diagnosed with Autism and I have been working 80 hours a week to make ends meet. With all that said, all this has given me many opportunities to talk about my faith. When people see all we are going through and still see a smile on our faces, and a giving attitude, they ask questions. It has opened doors many times to talk about our faith and the hope we hold high each day. So what is success to me these days when it feels like so many things are falling apart? I had a taste of it this week when a new friend of mine, through one of these faith talks, told me that God is speaking to her through me and really helping her difficult situation. WOW, to know that God is working though me and helping me say the right things to help someone, that is success I am proud of!! My dreams have changed from saving money to saving people. Interesting what becomes important when life is flipped up-side-down. I know the day will come when I can save both again.
My dreams have changed from saving money to saving people. Interesting what becomes important when life is flipped up-side-down. I know the day will come when I can save both again.
Troy – sounds like you are growing in significant ways in this difficult year. I always look for “and” solutions rather than “either/or.” So I’m with you on this – expect to save money AND people.
Just wanted to say my heart goes out to your family Troy. So excited that you are using this experience to share your faith and hope with others. MANY blessings to you and your family.
Troy, I meant to mention I was at a AUSM conference recently (http://www.ausm.org/index.php/a-e-forum.html) . Even though I don’t have any children with autism, it was an INCREDIBLE event that was very inspirational and informative. It was focused on what corporate America today can do to benefit from kids that are on the spectrum. Absolutely cool how they are using these amazing kids’ strengths that add vast amounts of value to organizations. Dr. Stephen Shore was one of the speakers who is on the spectrum – he blew the doors off the place with how he has used his autism to became very successful. They also had Randy Lewis, a leader from Walgreen’s. They have one of the coolest programs around where they have the same expectations that their employees do the same, are paid the same, have the same standards, etc. yet they have about a 50% rate of hires that have some sort of “disability” (after watching this, I thought man, they should call it the abilities because of the incredible gifts people have to offer). His son has autism and their family’s story is very touching – because of his son, Randy led up this program that has benefited both the company and many families. Here is one of his video clips if you are interested. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeUQuuI_p7w)
Troy, you are right where God can use you to bless others! Be encouraged. Your story reminds me of a movie (that my teenager introduced me to. 🙂 ) called Temple Grandin. This is a movie about Temple’s life and how her Autism abilities transformed an industry and we all benefit from her insight to this very day! Don’t buy into the “disability” label nonsense regarding your boys, if you notice carefully they can offer this world so many beautiful things. I don’t care for the word “disability” as we all have abilities that can be used for the glory of God!
I think the “American dream” was always based upon a type of master/servant relationship. If you keep people’s expectations low and simple, they are easier to control. People used to work for one company their whole lives, if they were lucky, and could retire in comfort about five years before they died. People weren’t necessarily thinking about their individual gifts and talents, or starting their own businesses. or moving around to different companies for the best opportunities.
Now that people are thinking that way, there is a new master/slave relationship to keep them in check. It comes in the form of credit cards, car payments, and student loans. These things keep people from thinking too far outside the box due to the fear and pressure associated with crushing debt loads.
The real American dream is true freedom. It requires an overthrow of the “ruling class” of creditors. It requires a renewed mind that denies the tyranny of expensive 8″X10″ pieces of paper with oftentimes useless degrees written on them. And it requires that we help each other, inspire each other, and leave the “Joneses” alone. The new American dream requires a brand new paradigm of creativity and social justice.
Raven – great points. That “overthrow” you mention can occur with no violence or bloodshed – but simply by our refusal to buy into those things that will ultimately crush us.
Raven,
Thanks so much for your contribution to the “Is the American Dream still possible” discussion. I’ve selected your comments as one of the most interesting and I’d be delighted to send you the Wisdom Meets Passion
Ubuntu package if you’ll just send your address to [email protected].
How would I define the American Dream? At this point in my life, the American Dream would consist of doing work that is fulfilling, being financially successful and living debt free. Many times I have heard of the American Dream being to own a home. Home ownership is a good investment and some day I hope to do so. Owning a home and other aspects of ‘the good life’ may not happen to me all at once right now and that is fine. To me success is having the freedom to truly explore and live out the meaning of my time here on earth. To me success is not measured by the amount of my worldly possessions. Instead on my dying day I would be able to look back on my life knowing that I had tried to live to my fullest. Not wondering about all the missed opportunities, not asking “What if…?” That would be success.
Leslie – that’s great. Only you can define what living life to the fullest means for you. And that may have little to do with having possessions – or even a house. Make the path truly your own.
Thank you Dan. I am working to make the path my own.
I define the American dream as the wonderful freedom we have to make what we wish of our lives each day. There is no 1 American Dream and that’s what makes it so special. What once seemed so defined has now become what you make of it and that makes me excited to pursue my passions and share the wealth I create with the world around me.
Success for me is making the most of each day and as Dale Carnegie would say to “live in day tight compartments”. Success is growing, pursuing, expressing myself, teaching my son, practicing patience love and understanding with my girlfriend, spending time with my family, striving to achieve financial peace, focusing on my physical health and still taking the time to slow down enough to enjoy the crisp fall air.
Success for me will never need to be the same as my fellow neighbor and the beauty in that freedom is the American Dream.
Michael,
You’ve approached this in a very cool way. The dream is not just measuring the stuff you have but in the way you live and love each day – awesome!
Michael, your definition agrees pretty well with that of the man who dreamed up the phrase, based on his understanding of the Declaration of Independence.
James Truslow Adams coined the term “American Dream” in his 1931 book The Epic of America. His American Dream is “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”
Michael,
Thanks so much for your contribution to the “Is the American Dream still possible” discussion. I’ve selected your comments as one of the most interesting and I’d be delighted to send you the Wisdom Meets Passion
Ubuntu package if you’ll just send your address to [email protected].
Dan, great blog. I don’t want to seem ungrateful for the life I have had so far, but I have been thinking a lot about this question recently.
As a child of two art students that struggled financially, I vowed to not to put myself in that position. I then got a business degree and have worked for a top 10 accounting firm for over 12 years. Just recently, a co-worker and good friend who started 6 months after me was let go (not for performance reasons).
It really hit home. It got me thinking about my own career path. I always thought the “safe and practical” route was the way to go, but armed with this new information I am kidding myself.
I am at crossroads and am struggling with what to do. I feel like this is going to be one of those defining moments of my life and I don’t want to screw it up.
To me, I think success is defined as matching and maximizing your talents with a purpose while being able to support my family. My American Dream is showing my kids that this is possible.
Aaron, Wow you are describing the dismantling of what a lot of people thought was the American dream. I spoke to the executives at the Saturn plant here in TN just before it closed. A lot of those people simply refused to believe that it was actually happening. Losing their jobs was simply not supposed to happen – the thought they were living the dream and it turned out to be an illusion. Don’t get caught unprepared. Make sure you know your best options.
Amen to that Dan!
Aaron, good for you for noticing your discontent – as hard as it is, these can really be the turning points in our lives to some incredible transformations. Totally cheering on your comment of ” My American Dream is showing my kids that this is possible.” LOVE IT! Dan’s book really will hit home with you if you haven’t read it already. It sure did with me. Best of luck!
Jen
Dan,
I love how you turned Maslow’s hierarchy on it’s head. It reminds me of how that young carpenter from Galilie spoke and lived his life. He lived a life of giving not gaining, loving and serving others with everything He had. A couple books I’ve read this year were a real wake up call for me; Radical, Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream by David Platt, and a book my son-in-law of four months suggested; The Irresistible Revolution, Living As An Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. As a 57 year old who started working at age 14, I would typically chafe at the term – radical. OK I still do…, but both of these books helped open my eyes to see the truth (or lie) of the American “dream”. My bride of 34 years and I have much to consider in the coming months as we sort out how to best live a life of success. For me it will have to do with stewarding the resources we’ve been blessed with, encouraging others to live life with the end in mind which for us means to hold everything loosely, live by faith not by sight, and to be generous with our time, talents, and treasure. Our goal? To one day hear well done, good and faithful servant. That will be success for us.
Scott – yes a life of success is what we’re looking for. That will vary for each of us and thankfully so. The old model of one American dream is what needs to be challenged. Thanks for sharing.
YIKES! Wow, that description of that young couple starting out up to their eyeballs in debt is just depressing, but oh so common. If only we could read our own life stories in black and white, it would be so much easier wouldn’t it?
It has been uplifting to read through the comments to this thought provoking blog.
The American Dream for me today is to live with joy, abundance, and passion, as well as being able to spend meaningful time with my family while giving hope and inspiration to others in a role that I am passionate about. What does success look like for me? Success for me is to have a great obituary (i.e. a meaningful and purposeful life), accomplish the impossible and help others realize they can too, be a bountiful provider, and to be a great mom.
(Dan, I have your beautiful Wisdom Meets Passion Ubuntu packages that I am gleefully sharing so please don’t pick me)
I will need to disagree. The only reason you can flip the pyramid is because you and your son already have Maslov’s lower portions. No one with a stubbed toe can do much. People hiding in insecurity are disabled. People without loving relationship are generally to broken and lack the support and encouragement needed to thrive. It is great that your family has developed well and met the lower needs. But I’ve been nerely without food, in great pain, alone. The pyramid is unflippable, you are not seeing your overwhelmingly met needs in these areas. Don’t assume.
cjb,
I think you’ve misunderstood Dan’s point. Dan didn’t say that Maslov’s pyramid needs to be flipped on its head, or even that it has been for him. He said, quite correctly, that many people today seem to be willing to sacrifice being assured of all their basic needs for the opportunity to be a part of something larger than themselves. In fact, many people who have given their lives to great causes do so precisely because of the truths you mention — that there are people who live with disability, insecurity, poverty, and fear.
Aaron
Dan, excellent blog. I have stop trying to live the American
dream and start living the dreams God designed for my life. Early in life, I was
caught up in the prescripted American dream. You needed nice house, new latest
car and a good job. A couple years after college I was married, new home, automobiles,
starting a family and a good job. I was living the American dream so I thought.
We were living the comfortable for several years until
things went south on our American dream. In less than 11 months my wife gave
birth to our youngest son who was over three months premature, she was sick for
the six months of her pregnancy and six months afterward. After the baby spent
two months in the hospital, I lost my job from a company that I worked over
twelve years. We say our American dream turned upside down and inside out. I
had to exhaust all our retirement and savings account to take of a premature
baby, sick wife and my other son. I found out quickly that the mortgage
company, power and gas company along with others do not stop sending payments.
We had several other things to happen that exhausted our
finances and stretched our patience. I learned from this experience that a
prescripted definition of the American dream can quickly leave you hanging.
During our time of intense struggle, I saw a new definition of success in
living my dreams that was bigger than decaying possessions.
My definition of success is becoming the person God has purposed you to be, living positive values
that guide your daily choices and actions, accomplishing the goals that give
your life direction and sowing seeds that empower others.
Thanks, Dan for the encouragement and inspiration you give.
Wow thanks for the great definition of success!
My definition of success is the same of the One that I follow. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 6:19 thru 21: “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
St Irenaeus said “The
glory of God is man fully alive” and Albert Einstein said, “The most
beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of
all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no
longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are
closed.” Don’t confuse the American Dream with consumerism, which
robs men and women of the emotion of mystery and makes them dead as can be. We
must not forget to be “fully alive” by standing in awe of this thing
we call life. As long as we are willing to lay down the lie of
consumerism and open our eyes, America gives us the freedom, the place and the
opportunity to be fully alive. That is the true American Dream that my
grandparents came to America for – to be fully alive not living life under the
oppression of corrupt regimes and policies. That does not mean I have to
be rich, famous, talented, or any other thing that consumerism tends to put
upon us. I just have to be fully alive. Perhaps Carl Sandburg, the great American poet and dreamer, expressed
it well when he wrote the following:
I ASKED the professors
who teach the meaning of life to tell
me what is happiness.
And I went to famous
executives who boss the work of
thousands of men.
They all shook their
heads and gave me a smile as though
I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday
afternoon I wandered out along
the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of
Hungarians under the trees with
their women and children and a keg of beer and an
accordion.
The “American Dream” is simply having lots of stuff, and not owning any of it. After getting sucked into the “American Dream” for several years, we then lost, or opted to sell, most of our material possessions to get back on track. But it wasn’t the same track we got on. Through our financial devastation we learned there are many different tracks in which to journey. We decided to follow God’s leading, financial advice from Dave Ramsey, and career/calling advice from you (Dan). Due to that, we have been able to structure the life we truly desire: lots of family time, dinners together, active area, beautiful weather, jobs we enjoy, and we are able to give to those who are on the wrong track… to let them know there are many different ways to live, and all the possessions in the world will never make them happy. We no longer desire all the material things to show off to our friends, for which I am grateful. We are happy, daily, doing activities we love, as a family. We ARE living the dream… not the “American Dream”, but the dream God has instilled in our hearts. And that is OUR success.
Summer, Thanks so much for your contribution to the “Is the American Dream still possible” discussion. I’ve selected your comments as one of the most interesting and I’d be delighted to send you the Wisdom Meets Passion
Ubuntu package if you’ll just send your address to [email protected].
Dan, the cynic might say there are two American Dreams.
The first, the traditional one, is that through hard work, honest dealings and the fullest application of his or her ability any American should be able to accomplish great things, unfettered by social class, national origin, politics or other arbitrary distinctions. This is essentially the view of James Adams, who coined the phrase.
The second American Dream is to hire people who believe the first.
Its easier to live in a inverted hierarchy of needs when you are single. Once you get married and have kids the pressure to provide is ON.
This Mike is a very true statement I think
I am currently chasing the American Dream. As a college student I am struggling with what career can I obtain to give me that sense of comfort. I know that it is frivalous but I have come from nothing and I am trying to show that I have the ability to become someone. This is all for the wrong reasons, but I cannot turn back. I have too many people thinking I am better than I am.
The dream you noted Dan is basically one of employees trading their time to be “looked” after
That certainly does not work now
All of us should take responsibility for ourselves, and loved ones and start from there
Follow common sense, passion and truth and you won’t go far wrong
Personally I would buy shelter for the sake of stability but cars etc, well Mercedes are behind me (made in Brazil, and not as good as the German counterpart anyway)
With good comms. and ideas you can acheive that personal need to meet a challege I think
It is easy to philosophize when your basic needs are met. There is another basic need not dealt with adequately here. After having 14 years of university with all that involves, I find myself simply day to day trying to stay out of the hospitals, and trying not to keep neighbours awake at night with my crying out in physical pain. Yes, there are basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, but another one of having enough health to think about much else. I am very thankful that in this country I am able to obtain the strong narcotics needed to even be able to write this. So the American Dream at first glance seems to be to get enough education so that one can slowly die, while helping as many others as possible on the way down. I appreciate being able to give some food to those without food. What most speak of as the American Dream is only a dream; it is not reality. It does provide some degree of safety net to those in terrible need. But plenty of others here in North America cannot find that safety net, and live on the streets with nothing. I for one will share everything I have with anyone who has less. I will and do love my homeless neighbour as myself. Anything I have, if s/he needs it more than I do, it is theirs. Automatically, just as Jesus said. I just wish I could heal my homeless neighbour, as Jesus did. That ability would help me to fulfull much more of what should be the American Dream! But that actually goes beyond being just the American Dream. And once I have helped my destitute neighbour with what I have physically, and have done whatever is in my power to bring them healing, then it would be my privilege to show them what Jesus meant by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and showing them the way to cast oneself on the mercy of Jesus for their eternity.
The American Dream is waking up with God and beholding the infinitely bright light of a morning sunrise, sharing that priceless gift with the people you Love and finding someway to put this same energy to use for the Kingdom of God!
Dan, I think your article is 100% accurate. Depending
on which scale you use I’m either at the “old” end of Gen Y or just
outside it. For years I’ve heard our generation being described as lazy
because we don’t want to invest 25 years at a company and “wait our
time” to move up the ladder. Laziness has nothing to do with it. You
hit the nail on the head; we’ve seen what happened to our parents. We’ve seen
our parents invest their whole lives in companies, many times to the expense of
their family life only to be shuffled out the door with no notice and little if
any severance. We’re simply not going to allow ourselves to be used in
the same manner our parents were even if that means we don’t have a BMW in the
driveway, or our own driveway at all for that matter.
Success to me is peace and contentment. As a personal finance coach, I see so many people who tried to reach the “American Dream” so fast that they have no hope, much less peace or contentment. Peace is being able to provide for our needs through our passion, not just a j-o-b. Contentment is allowing your dreams to be your “American Dream”. I have just written a book that has been out for 4 weeks now. I have sold 7 copies. But I feel successful because I am living my “American Dream”. Thanks Dan for everything you do.
Debbi King
Personal Finance Coach
http://www.abcsofpersonalfinance.com
Debbi,
Thanks so much for your contribution to the “Is the American Dream still possible” discussion. I’ve selected your comments as one of the most interesting and I’d be delighted to send you the Wisdom Meets Passion
Ubuntu package if you’ll just send your address to [email protected].
“a thankful heart is a happy heart”. The American dream, which stems from the freedom to prosper, is a beautiful idea, but it will only be fun if you can be thankful and content throughout the pursuit of prosperity. And the only good reason to prosper beyond your own families needs is so that you can freely give what you’ve been given. Excess is to bless others with which is one of the greatest joys in life.
Dan, is it possible to get a larger, electronic version of your World Changers diagram here? I am having trouble reading it, and I may even want to print it out (like a wall-poster) as a daily reminder. Is this allowed??
Zack,
I use WordPress a lot, which is the system that Dan’s site runs on, so I could tell that the diagram was a sized-down version. The original full-size version can be found here:
https://www.48days.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Maslow-Dan.png
Knowing Dan, I’m pretty sure he’d love it if you printed this out as a reminder to you 🙂
Aaron
Zach – I can’t add it here but I’ll go back up to the original post and add that as a download.
Dan, to me the American dream and success can be summoned up in one word: Freedom. Freedom to live life on our own terms, not having to sacrifice time from things that are important to us doing something that pays well but drains happiness and adds stress. Like you always say Dan, I don’t want people to know whether I’m working or playing, freedom does this.
Kimanzi,
I think you are exactly right. Poverty is not the lack of money as much as it is the lack of choice. And often that’s only the perceived lack of choice.
The American Dream: A wife by my side, my children in the yard playing with their father. The food is on the table and the dog is in the yard. The church service has ended and the friends are leaving the home. The fireplace is warmed and the books await my arrival. The clocks are nowhere to be seen the love is all that’s felt. The children wait to get tucked in and have mom and dad say goodnight. The projects wait for inspiration and the photos are soon to be developed. Freedom rings and music plays and the cool breeze hits our faces. Another day is soon upon us gifted by the Lord. I do not want I do not worry for what I need is always given. The gift of life was lived once more and shared by me to others. I had with me all through the day those who always mattered.
The American Dream is freedom. Yes, there is the freedom from tyranny that our government promises, but freedom means so much more than that. There is the freedom to be ourselves. The freedom to blaze our own trails. The freedom to pursue dreams. The freedom to achieve beyond those dreams. The freedom to not be shackled by a nine-to-five and mounds of debt. The freedom to love. The freedom to experience Christ’s salvation. I define success as living in those freedoms. But success doesn’t come easy. Right now, I suffer in a nine-to-five as a sales rep. Each year, I grow my book of business, beating expectations. Each year, my commissions shrink. Each year, I hear about austerity measures. Each year, I hear that my company’s profit has achieved new records and our stock is soaring. Something doesn’t add up. That isn’t a life of freedom. Adding to the success of a greedy few isn’t my success. THIS YEAR, will be different. THIS YEAR, I will define my
freedom. THIS YEAR, I will live my dream. THIS YEAR, I will be successful.
I like this-
The freedom to not be shackled by a nine-to-five and mounds of debt.
Dan, there is a missing component in most people’s “American Dream”. Jim Collins refers to it in his book “Good to Great”. It is the counterweight to Freedom. Your hierarchy addresses it. It is RESPONSIBILITY. Freedom without responsibility is fire without a fireplace – picture it: in the right place, it warms the heart and home, but outside the fireplace it destroys and brings heartache. Give me Freedom, and the grace to use it with Responsibilty. Paul alluded to this in scripture when he said that all things were lawful for him, but not all things were expedient( beneficial). Let Freedom ring, and let it be accompanied by the melodious strains of Responsibility!
My wife and I believe that most take the American dream fore-granted. She’s been to Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, and Ethiopia – while I’ve been to Mexico and Ethiopia – which further opened our eyes. We are empowered to go out and create whatever we’re willing to go out and create. We’re able to compete with whomever we’d like to compete with. It’s unseen anywhere else in the world.
For us success is sharing a message with others that we’re designed with a purpose, all of us, regardless of background or starting point. We believe that God has something in store for us, and that we can do unimaginable things when were let go and let God.
The American dream. Live life fully each day doing something you are passionate about and enjoy, spend time with wonderful family and friends, and be able to do it without having to think about money, which is simply a tool. One of the best times in our life was when we had sold a house with a discount so we could live there three more months. We had no commitments.
When did the definition of “the American Dream” merely focus on the acquisition of “stuff” – much of which is actually owned by the bank? When my grandparents came to this country via Ellis Island from Russia, it was to escape the inevitability of the communist takeover of the country. It was to be free to determine their own destinies, rather than receive the blessings of “security” from the newly-founded government, which assured the revolutionaries that there would be food, housing, education and a job guaranteed by it. It was to be able to succeed or fail on their own merits. My grandparents chose the risks inherent with emigration – they had to learn a new language, had to find jobs and be willing and able to negotiate for fair wages, had to learn and understand both the laws and their rights under the law, and did so without much more than a small dowry furnished by my great-grandfather. They lived the American Dream and never looked back at their decision to leave the promise of utopia to risk the prospect self-determination. I believe that definition is still valid and definitely worth keeping.
Great example of a real American Dream. Thanks for sharing.
My Dream Is To Have The Following Engraved On My Tombstone: “He Helped Me Find My Way”.
God puts in our hearts the desires that He has for us
My definition of success: Living my life utilizing God’s purpose for me. It has been my experience that the talents and skills given to us in the form of a passion became evident in our childhood. (Our natural curiosities and passions that we had early in our lives.) Only when I ignored that passion, talent and skill, did I fall into the “American Dream” others had set for me. When I ignored those passions, I was miserable and struggling in all areas of my life. It wasn’t until I started listening to that inner voice and having the faith and courage to go forward towards what I truly loved to do that every area of my life started to fall into place for me and at an amazing pace and in amazing depth that I could never have dreamt of!
Julia – beautiful example of finding your own American Dream. Thanks for sharing.
The American dream means today what it has always meant – freedom; freedom to dare, to dream, and to discover. It’s the freedom to become the person God created you to be. The American dream is the ability to express yourself through your unique creative talents, and the freedom to provide service to others. It is freedom to serve those in need and to come along side of others with similar goals, dreams and passions. Finally, the American dream is the ability to choose what we will do and who we will become. The American dream is freedom, and it is alive and well.
Tim – well put. It is indeed still alive and well!
When I think of the American Dream, I think of July 4th. Every year, we celebrate that one giant social and government experiment actually turned out pretty well. I’ve never been threatened physically.
I’ve never feared death by mortar strike.
I’ve rarely gone to bed hungry or lacked for basic needs. There was a time as a child that my single mother struggled and we didn’t have much food or heat, but that is the most extreme it has ever been for me.
Neither have most Americans. And we should be so thankful for that.
So why should we not celebrate all that is good about this country, because there is so much good.
Dwell on the goodness of our nation. Dwell on the fortune and blessings of living here. Dwell on our remarkable history.
Don’t let your thankfulness drift into shame or guilt. I have seen that all too often, even with myself.
Instead, think of all the ways that you can use your citizenship here to touch the world. The world needs countries to look up to. It needs the “shining city on a hill,” and I believe that through all of our faults, mistakes, and disagreements, that we are that shining city.
And we have people like Jalen…
Seven-year old Jalen asked me, “Do you like Burger King?
I told her that I don’t and she mentioned that she was trying to sell a coupon for a free burger for a dollar.
“Is that for school?” I asked.
“No. I found it in the newspaper and I’m trying to sell it. It’s worth two dollars and I’m going to sell it for a dollar.”
I was finally leaving my office in an old neighborhood near downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. I was freezing cold, ready to get home, and yet I stopped.
I know little about Jalen’s background, but from what I can make of it, she certainly doesn’tcome from privilege. So when she showed me more entrepreneurial spirit in that moment than most people will show in a lifetime, I knew what I had to do.
“I can’t use it,” I said. That’s a lesson in targeting and rejection.
“But keep trying. Keep finding things to sell. I wish there were more people like you, Jalen. If you keep it up, you can make so much money. Keep at it, OK?”
“OK,” she said. “I know someone will buy it.”
I know that someone will too.
There is no doubt in my mind that America…the world…needs more entrepreneurs. It needs more people willing to create, find, and offer a service of value and accept payment for it.
Someone is getting a dollar off a burger. Jalen is getting a dollar for her efforts.
How is that not win-win?
How is that not the American ideal?
How is that not the way out of recession?
The way out of poverty.
The way out of 16 trillion dollars in national debt.
The way out of depression. Out of addiction. Out of the seemingly endless cycle of family lack, abuse, and suicide.
Don’t you dare tell me that’s crazy. Being an entrepreneur gives a person purpose. It gives a person something to dream about.
THAT is the American Dream. And anyone who thinks it’s impossible needs to meet Jalen or the thousands of others like her. And they need to stop marching, living in tents downtown, and shut up. Because the DREAM is alive an well.
End rant.
BRILLIANT!
Amen, Amen. Amen!
Dwell on the goodness of our nation. Dwell on the fortune and blessings of living here. Dwell on our remarkable history.
2024 and beyond Matt. Well said.
We are so blessed.