The American Dream

During my career, I have had the privilege to work with many bright, talented, and hard working individuals. I have worked for many people who fit this description but even better, have had the privilege of having such people on my teams.

Something I have learned over the course of 25 years in the technology business, is that there is no single recipe for success. In fact there are many pathways to success. I make this comment as I believe the technology industry is a reflection of all that is great about the American economic system. It is fluid, it is dynamic, it rewards those who deliver value, it gives unlimited mulligans for those willing to keep trying. It rewards hard work and innovation, and best of all, anyone who is industrious and willing can participate in the game. Technology firms, maybe more than most businesses, are interested in what you can do & what you can deliver and the rest is pretty inconsequential. Technology folks are rarely the snappiest dressers, because no one cares what you look like, if you can haul the mail.

As I stated earlier, I have been privileged to work with many very bright, talented, and industrious individuals in my career. When thinking about the opportunities that this industry and this country offers to anyone willing to take advantage, two people jump off the page as shining examples of the success that is possible in our country, like no other in the world. These two should be "poster kids" for anyone who has lost faith in the opportunity this country offers. Both of these folks come from working class, blue collar backgrounds - backbone of America kind of folks who were long on hard work, but short on fancy education. Neither of these folks has a pedigree, they did not graduate from prep schools nor attend elite private universities. They took advantage of their state college systems paying their ways through at least part of their college careers. They took what was ingrained in their roots and combined that with a tough competitive spirit. They started at the bottom rungs of the industry with the humility to learn and the drive to succeed. The result has been staggering. They are self-made, highly respected professionals who could have easily chosen much less challenging paths, but didn't. They have achieved sustained success over time. Everything they have, they got the hard way - through their hard work, their determination, the apt use of their talents, and little luck here and there. They did not hold the hand they were dealt they improved it. They are what our politicians should think of when they reference the American Spirit. They are living evidence that our economic society is indeed one of mobility and opportunity and those born into a circumstance are not destined to finish in that circumstance.

I think if our leaders knew more people like this, who are self made success stories, who leveraged opportunities available to the common man for uncommon results, they might understand little better why so many Americans just want a fair shot on goal and a chance to earn their way to success instead of a slice of someone else's pie. I have learned a lot from these two. I am proud to have worked with them, I am proud to have seen their accomplishments, I am proud that they are my friends. I only wish more people, especially people in Washington, knew their stories, because there are millions of others just like it. This is why America is exceptional, this is why so many flock to our shores, this is why I have such faith in the long term success of our nation. I have have seen what is possible, I know folks who are living it. I hope they are proud of what they have accomplished, because they ought to be, it is the American Dream.