You’ve heard people talk about the “Great American Dream.”  We all know it exists because we see people coming from all over the world to the United States of America with the Great American Dream in mind.

     Everyone has a different twist on this dream.  Indeed, originally it was primarily religious freedom but since then it has taken on a different emphasis based on the circumstances of the people who have the dream.  For some this dream is still religious freedom, for others it is equality of opportunity, for others it is the dream of economic prosperity.

     Our free markets are amazingly open to equality for all.  An immigrant from Bosnia has the same potential as a native of Phoenix, AZ of being successful in business.  Taxes are applied the same across the board, market forces are the same for both, and solid business practices apply equally to both.

     There is one reason that some succeed and experience economic prosperity, while others don’t.  That one reason can be boiled down to the simple word: EFFORT.

     You’ve seen the privileged child - born with a silver spoon in their mouth, afforded every opportunity by their doting parents, dressed in designer clothes, driving the latest model sports car, attending the best colleges – who has all the trappings of success thanks to their parents or grandparents, but can’t produce their own economic prosperity.  And you’ve witnessed the immigrant - who speaks poor English, walks to work, wears the privileged kid’s cast-off clothes – succeed in reaching economic prosperity.  The difference is EFFORT.

     Without EFFORT nothing happens.  Waiting for a handout does not create economic prosperity.  For those who want economic prosperity, stop waiting for someone to hand it to you and put forth some effort.  For those who want your kids to experience economic prosperity, quit giving them everything, allow them to put forth some effort and earn it.  For those who are putting forth effort and creating economic prosperity, my hat is off to you.  You are living the Great American Dream.

     If you have been putting forth effort without seeing success, then check back regularly, because effort combined with the right knowledge can produce huge changes.  The Great American Dream is alive and well, it just takes effort to achieve it.