By David Magallanes /Guest contributor
I realize that for a lot of Americans these days, the only hope of coming even close to attaining the American dream of our immediate ancestors is — well, getting a job, a virtual mirage for so many who are seeking in the midst of what seems to be a dearth of opportunity.
But being the optimist that I am, I believe that there is still opportunity for us in this land of abundance, the Promised Land for millions throughout the world who in all likelihood will never see it. There is opportunity especially for those of us fortunate enough to be here already if we are educated or skilled or entrepreneurial. The more we can combine or learn to merge those assets, the better. The philosophies of the founders of these United States are indeed the Aztlán of those Chicanos and Mexicanos seeking opportunity and the chance to “make something of ourselves.” The guiding principle of this country is to allow its citizens and legal residents to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” (i.e., work hard) to attain whatever it is that pushes them into the maelstrom of life and to fulfill their vocations or deepest desires.
Although “working hard” is still a virtue extolled — ideally — by our teachers, parents and forebears, in this new economic age it is more urgent than ever that we “work smart.” Economic affluence is gained not so much by sheer brawn or long hours at the office, but rather more by strategic moves in social circles or at home or at the coffee shop on the keyboard. In this new age, we can leverage technology once we learn to master it, and use it to gain an affluence that our parents likely didn’t even imagine for themselves. This, then, is the new paradigm as we enter further — either with confidence or kicking and screaming — into the 21st century. To attain any measure of affluence, we must learn to incorporate technology into our work or into our purpose or mission, or risk being left behind in the dust of economic mediocrity.
I may not always agree with columnist and news anchor Bill O’Reilly, but in his article in the Ventura County Star on Dec. 11, 2011, he describes being “broke” as a graduating university student, starting work at $150 a week. But then after “working hard” (and no doubt with some degree of smarts) and “taking chances” (a necessary component of success), he had finally attained affluence.
I believe that affluence is offered to us, just as it was offered to Mr. O’Reilly, and that we can partake of affluence if we’re willing to work hard but mostly smart, willing to assume risk, willing to start over if necessary, and above all willing to trust the ethereal forces that carry us to our destiny. I believe that it’s up to each of us to set our own sails on the currents of life, pull them down when the storms hit (and they will), and to redeploy them when once again the sun shines and the fair winds blow.
This, I believe, is our privilege and responsibility as Americans: to chart our own journey before we leave the shores of comfort; to be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy that allow us to forge our own destiny; and to trust, always trust, the spirit of America, regardless of the dysfunctions that plague our system of government and the pessimists who get our attention.
— David Magallanes is the creator of his own enterprise, Real World Projects, a speaking, writing and Internet marketing business dedicated to the advancement of the American Dream. An emerging branch of Real World Projects is Edifiquemos, a Spanish language enterprise dedicated to teaching the Spanish-speaking how to create a profitable international (U.S./Mexico) enterprise with low investment and high earning potential. David may be available for speaking opportunities. To contact him and for more information, you are invited to visit and explore his web sites at www.realworldprojects.info and atwww.edifiquemos.com His e-mail is dmagallanes@RealWorldProjects.info