How America Makes ‘The American Dream’ Seem Achievable
While the ‘American Dream’ can be interpreted in many ways, put simply it means dream big, work hard and one can make even an outrageous dream a reality in America. Not to forget getting mildly rich in the process.
To me, America is more than the dream it promises to fulfil. It is a conviction that Capitalism only favors hard work and the game is not rigged. American system provides one with a level playing field to feel just as competent and as likely to win as anyone else.
Naysayers might cast aspersions on this broken system - agreed, it is indeed broken in many ways but it is undeniably meritocratic and gives hard working people their due.
As I reflect on my personal journey of living and working in America for a while - I can not help but think about why I am convinced that America not only makes one dream the ‘American Dream’ but can also make the dream seem achievable.
America gives me a sense that I truly belong here
Work in America is tough but working here is easier compared to most other developed countries. Sounds confusing? Let me explain.
America is really inclusive and encourages people to bring their authentic selves to workplace. Nothing matters - the color of their skin, their religion, their social standing, their accent - as long they bring value to the table. Not to forget, there are several role models of success here — immigrants who came to America decades ago, paved the way and are now shining examples of where hard work can take you. Since the focus is only on honing one’s craft, this massively reduces the pressure of social integration for immigrants and they are able to provide their 100% at work.
In fact, this is something that American have aced - Americans meet immigrants half way when it comes to helping them get integrated at work or in society in general. There is also a concerted effort on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives every step of the way in most organizations that provide the right support structure to the underrepresented communities, thus giving them an equality of opportunity.
Since immigrants are embraced with so much gusto, I feel I belong here and also feel empowered to dream big and audacious — the ‘American Dream’.
America has provided me with the ever elusive financial liberation
While I haven’t ever been impoverished, coming from a lower middle class in India I have always scraped by in life. I remember always being very careful about spending money as there was a limited supply of where it came from, well until I moved to America.
The Capitalistic nature of the system in America ensures that people who toil are compensated appropriately - although, with market volatility this can also become a slippery slope as fortune can change pretty rapidly, in fact this precise thought keeps one under perpetual check and prevents complacency from setting in especially among immigrants (as Indra Nooyi famously refers to this as the ‘Immigrant Fear’ in her autobiography — ‘My Life in Full’).
Let’s face it, money is not the end but is definitely a means to an end. Not having to worry about money is a luxury and makes one truly set out on the path to achieve a higher purpose in life. If one plays the Capitalistic game right, it is almost guaranteed by Uncle Sam that there will not be a dearth of money in America.
And sometimes, turns out US dollar is all that’s needed between dreaming the ‘American Dream’ and actually living it.
