Making It In America

Excerpt from . . . Making It In America --
What Immigrants Know and American's Have Forgotten

Since the first explorers set foot on the North American continent and stayed to build a nation, immigrants have risked life and limb not only to chase, but also to live the American dream. And in the process, they have learned a lesson that many Americans seem to have forgotten.

The American Dream is a promise, not a guarantee.

Immigrants to this country certainly want a better life, but they know it is not a guarantee. They come because they know that in America, it is at least a possibility. Because in America, dreams come true.

Take Ling Chai, who grew up in China. To avoid imprisonment and pursue the freedom she longed for, she escaped, leaving family and friends behind.

When she came here, she found things were not as she thought they would be. In fact, she says, "just like in China, there were preconceived notions of what men are expected to do as opposed to what women are supposed to do, and they certainly were not paid equally for doing the same work."

Still, she encourages us, "Until perceptions change, we need to make sure that we don’t let the world define who we are. We need to define those things for ourselves."
Immigrants have found that the ability to see under, around, and over obstacles is at the root of all success. We are not naive enough to think we won’t confront obstacles of every kind. But in "the light" of our dreams we don’t see them. Our dreams are so intensely real, and burn so strongly, that we see only possibilities.

If we are to move ahead, we cannot allow ourselves to be chained by limitations, real or perceived. Hanging on to past injustices will only rob us of our future.

In her book, Thinking in the Future Tense, Jennifer James has great advice for intra-prenueurs. She notes that, "your job and security will depend on your own competencies and work skills. That makes you responsible for staying on the cutting edge when it comes to skills development and knowledge of your business or profession and the market in which you compete."

What if you are the head of the company? How do you prepare the workplace of the future?

When immigrants come to America, they immediately identify with the American dream. They adopt American ways as their own and integrate their culture on top of it.

People today want to work for companies they can identify with. They want to connect with more than a paycheck and a logo. They want to work where there is connection, an exchange and integration between the company’s mission and principles and their own personal, emotional, and spiritual goals and values.

Take a look at the huge exodus, of blue-chip executives, bankers and lawyers from what was once considered dream jobs to go to Web start-ups. Why are they leaving? It’s because both their companies and their industries have become complacent. Who wants to sit around year after year doing the same old thing? Sure you change the packaging and the marketing but virtually it’s the same old thing. They want new challenges, new frontiers.

That was the thrust of a USA Today article by Thor Valdmanis on Oct. 12. 1999 entitled "Blue-chip execs wooed by Web start-u1ps".

Brandyn Criswell, who left Wilson Sonsini for online news service Cnet, says: ''I didn't do this because it's any easier. The difference is the passion and the sense of ownership, having a stake.'' Former Volpe banker Paul Werhley who jumped to online search engine Ask Jeeves in March, added, ''You're taking on a financial risk, (only one in 10 start-ups succeeds), but it could pay off. It's also sexier than investment banking.'' The latest big executive to join the web craze is Andersen Consulting CEO George Shaheen who was ditching a $3 million salary to join online grocer Webvan.

Entering the workplace in the 21st century will be like entering a whole new world. And you can have an advantage if you approach it with fresh Immigrant eyes. Look to the future will hope and excitement. Bring to It your Imagination and passion. Stay In touch with your Immigrant roots, embrace the unknown.

The common sense, simple concepts and strategies that immigrants have used can help you amass not just financial success, but also a life with purpose and pride. Accepting and adopting these immigrant customs can prepare you for making it in these times of change in the workplace of the future. After all, who deals with more massive change than the immigrant?

With core immigrant qualities and ideals—visions, belief in God, country and self, personal passion and perseverance—everyone can make it in America.