The Road To The Seemingly Unattainable American Dream

Today’s world is characterized by a relentless desire for success and a seemingly unattainable goal of satisfaction. Conflicting desires for comfort and predictability continuously clash with our craving for innovative experiences and spontaneity.

Society has self-created and projected this vision of perfection that seems so distant and unreachable along with a flawless utopia in which we could “have it all.” But when it comes to logistics and reality, is having it all really an existent variable in the equation of life?

The answer to this question has various ambiguous explanations, all of which cannot be unanimously defined or broken down. While what having it all really entails fluctuates amongst people, a common theme can be seen amid the explanations. Most seem to desire the successful corporate job with plenty of opportunity for advancement, while simultaneously balancing the a stable family in the traditional style home with the white picket fence. Don’t forget the chocolate lab running riotously through the front yard!

With the current economic crisis and many college graduates unemployed and back at home, it is easy for society to lose sight of this dream. But that is exactly where I think we go wrong, classifying it as a dream instead of a goal.

Call me an optimist, but I firmly believe that we make our own destiny, a destiny predetermined by the steps we take to satisfy our desires for our intended future. While economic factors do play a vital role in these situations, society needs to take a more proactive approach to their future and really hold themselves accountable for the measures of success they receive, instead of using external factors as a scapegoat.

Always remember, laziness leads to lack of accomplishments. There is a fine line drawn between those who are lazy and those who reward themselves with momentary rest after a hard days work. Work hard, play hard.

Learn to network yourself. All these connections that are established during your teens and early 20s are more valuable than you can imagine once you graduate to the real world. Maintaining connections is such a vital aspect to anyone’s success.

Be personable, save the attitude. A smile goes a long way in the business world. Yes, your grade point average, experience, and skills are paramount, but your personality personifies that black and white resume with a splash of color.

Give a lasting impression. However you conduct yourself in an interview determines the likelihood of a callback. You never get a second chance at a first impression. Make sure you present yourself to the interviewer in such a way that you’ll be all they think about over the next few days, in a positive light, of course.

Always be yourself. In a society s influenced by superficiality and deception, it has become effortless to spot a phony from a mile away. Not being yourself is not only uncongenial, but it could insinuate that you have skeletons in your closet you are attempting to conceal. Do not give anyone an opportunity to doubt you.

Never give up. Remember, success never comes easy; efforts just are just held on different scales for different people.

You figure out the life you want and then you just go for it. It is not easy; you’re going to have to give up potential memories along the way. Those early years consist of living your life in such a way that many cannot envision, but the result is a life most people could never imagine.

Michael Kaye | Elite.