To Achieve The American Dream, Live Like An Immigrant

Let your heart rate slow down...I'm not starting a debate about modern illegal immigration issues.  What I'm referring to is the immigrants who made our country great, mainly during the first and second epochs of our countries immigration history.

These immigrants, from the colonial period to the mid-nineteenth century didn't have the watered down,  abstract idea of "The American Dream" that so many of us have today. Instead; these brave, pioneering men and women were objective and intentional about what was, in many cases, a perilous journey.  They knew the situation in which they currently lived. They identified the life they wanted for themselves and their families. Most of us do those things, but we stop short of step three. These immigrants took another crucial step: they simply stepped.  Once they knew what they wanted, they fought through hardships that most of us will never know to achieve their dream.

Once arriving in America (if they survived the trip), they took full advantage of the opportunity. They assimilated into the culture. They worked hard to acquire the land, assets and dreams that this new freedom afforded them. A large number started businesses of all types in this new capitalistic democracy. For many, the epic journey and hard work that began with a dream became a reality for their families.

So why do I say to live like an immigrant? I think it's painfully obvious.  To realize success, you need to realize the opportunity our freedom affords us. Just like those before us; evaluate the situation you're in, but don't stop there. Dare to dream, identify what you want for yourself and your family in an intentional and objective way. Now that you know what you want, have the courage to go get it. We've become numb and indifferent to our freedoms and opportunities. 

I don't know what your dream is, that's something you need to consider.  And believe me, I'm not suggesting that one dream is best for everyone. However; if you dream of work/life balance, the ability to build wealth while earning a great income, and having the support, training, and tools it takes to be successful, then watch this video. If this describes you, contact me immediately and start living your dream.

Equal Is Not Identical

In 1776, in the beginning of The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned one of the single most impactful phrases of our country’s history.  This statement was "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

The fact that we were founded upon a belief "that all men are created equal" has had a profound and lasting impact on our government, legislation, civil rights movements, and philosophy as a country. This phrase was originally written by Thomas Jefferson as a rebuttal to the political philosophy of the day, which was "Divine Right of Kings." It is a belief that always has and will separate us from much of the rest of the cultures of the world.

However, let us consider this statement for a moment.  Does the statement that we are all created equal imply that we are all created identical?  I believe it does not, and furthermore, I don't think Thomas Jefferson did either.  Most of us would agree with that statement when asked, but do our lives and actions agree with it?  We are told our entire lives that we can be whatever we want to be, and achieve whatever we want to achieve. The idea that we were fed by the previous generation (and continue to pass to the next) is that ANYONE can achieve ANYTHING by wanting it bad enough and trying hard enough, because we are all created equal.  

I want to challenge that thinking, and I know that my challenge will be met with strong resistance.  In 1856, a man by the name of Nicola Tesla was born.  Many people in our generation don't realize the impact he had on society, but it was amazing.  In addition to speaking eight languages, memorizing entire books, and holding over 300 patents for his inventions, he also helped develop the theory and process for Alternating Current (AC) electrical power. If you're not familiar with that, it's what our world basically runs on.  Matt Wilkerson could never do that, no matter how much I believed I could or how hard I tried. Simply put, Nicola and I are very, very different.  We could waste the rest of this blog proving my point, but the fact is we are all different, unique, and have varied gifts and talents.  It doesn't mean that we're necessarily better or worse than others, we're just different. 

So, why does this matter, and why is an outside sales recruiter writing about it? The fact is, many companies and recruiters waste their time, money, and talents believing that ANYONE can do ANYTHING if they work hard, believe hard, and are trained right.  Guess what? That's the same as telling Nicola Tesla he should have been a farmer.  Farming is admirable, noble work that literally feeds our country, but that wasn't where his talents, abilities and interests were.  Telling Nicola to farm would be ridiculous and counterproductive to society. 

In the same manner, it is ridiculous to recruit individuals to a particular position that they are in no way suited for.  Our job as effective recruiters is not to simply fill round holes with any shape peg that will apply for the job. Our job is to be an advocate for our company AND for the applicant.  We do no favors to anyone by giving jobs to people who are not right for them.  What you get is unhappy, ineffective workers, and really unhappy employers who now have a weakened workforce.

Instead, may I suggest viewing yourself as a filter in some sense of the word?  Get to know the applicant as a person.  Find out if his or her interests, attributes and abilities lend themselves to success in the position you are recruiting for.  Don't sell the job, and don't be afraid to push back.  If the applicant wants the job and believes they can do it, they'll let you know it. And above all, be transparent. Don't hide unattractive aspects of the job.  Potential employees deserve to know the pros AND cons of what they are getting into.

In short, a recruiter can be judged not only on finding the right applicant, but also identifying applicants who may be very talented in other areas, but not right for the job you are filling.  By realizing that everyone is different you can improve the lives of everyone involved while building a more effective organization.

I cannot speak for other organizations, but I can tell you that at Heartland Payment Systems, we look for the best possible fit. We believe that giving the right person the right opportunity creates a successful work environment that truly has no limits.

Financial Slavery and The Altar of Success

Slavery; because of it's context in our history, the word carries a lot of weight.  When we think of being enslaved, it generally invokes more than simply a cerebral response. The idea of slavery carries an emotional element to it also.

In a country where the practice of human enslavement has been addressed and fought against, why would I take the time to address the idea of slavery?  Slavery can take many forms. Emotional scars from our past enslave many of us, and some of us are in slavery to addiction.  While I believe these are very important topics in themselves, that's not the purpose of this blog.

Today, I've been struck by the reality of the effects of "financial slavery" on the majority of Americans. For a variety of reasons, we've bound ourselves to countless hours, days, and years of our lives to our jobs. I completely understand that some of us simply have to survive, and that some of us just refuse to live within our means (choosing instead to live lives we simply can't afford).  Whatever the reason, the results of this bondage are horrific.  Think of the events, life changing moments, and all the little moments we miss with our families when we are forced to plan our lives around our careers.  We miss not only witnessing our family and children's growth, but we don't even get to help to form who they will become (other than by the example of working too much we set for them).  In short, we sacrifice the most important things in life at the Altar of Success. It's a depressing and overwhelming thought that plagues us to the point of refusing to think about it.

Contrary to popular belief, we don't always have to continue to do the same things the same way we've always done them.  There are other ways to function.  In addition to doing the obvious things of budgeting properly and living within our means, allow me to introduce you to the idea of planning your career around your life. If you're like most of us, you've probably never considered it, and if you have, the idea of it is as much of a reality as dinosaurs; you know they existed, but you've never seen one and don't ever expect to.

The problem is that most of us have never been shown any other option, and if we have, we were too scared to listen.  Consider this; some people, regular people, choose their work hours, have an uncapped income possibility, and build wealth while earning an income.  I realize that this is where many of you will check out, because you don't believe it exists.  But if you want to know if it's possible to ever break the chains of financial slavery and to live your life instead of just surviving it, you're going to have to look up from the rat race for a minute to see that there is a different way.  I work for Heartland Payment Systems, and I see people everyday that live in the reality you dream of.