New digs, new posts, and hopefully some new beginnings - I'm not going to pretend like a vast amount of people follow, read, and cling to my every post, but to those of you in the internet community who have casually ventured over at times, other than the layout being new, you will also notice I have recently decided upon a title: Enduring the American Dream. This blog was created some time ago in order to satisfy my not so frequent but still possibly just as pathetic need to rant about something publicly. Although this "new" blog will most likely still be heavily padded and encumbered by rants and tired references to the human condition, I want to do more with this great social medium this time around, whether that be simply blogging about my day to day or taking some time to reflect on books I'm reading, films I'm interested in, future plans, business ideas and theories, places I've been, people I've met, experiences I've had, and general thoughts about life, love, and the "American Dream".
In regards to the title, "Enduring the American Dream", it's a somewhat ironic outlook on life, especially life as an entrepreneur; an outlook that is derived from my current frustrations with society, the business world, and following one's dreams (Cliche? Yes). It seems in these modern times it's almost impossible to follow and turn one's "dreams" into reality. In a simpler time, in a relatively more ethical society, Americans were raised to believe that they could follow their dreams and literally watch their hard work come into fruition; achieving one's "dreams", goals, and aspirations. Presently, this belief, this old path, this tired model, has all but disappeared. It's becoming very clear to people of all creeds that the one sure way into the heart of the business world in any industry, whether that be music or canned food, is to place ethics on the back burner. Today one can literally buy one's way into any field or industry. A college degree does not guarantee a job anymore. It's about who you know, who knows you, and how far you're willing to bend in order to reach your desired goal. In essence, it's prostitution. In the same way the hollywood screenplay portrays a scandalous red lipped, short skirted secretary engaging in sexual relations with her superior in order to gain a promotion, the business world is willing to grant you a sleazy entry for the simple price of "sexual favors".
When speaking of "sexual favors" in the business world, although they could very well pertain to favors in the non metaphorical sense, more often than not said "favors" exist in the form of money, bribery, dirty business, and a general loss of ethical behavior. That being said and almost concluding my rant, the American Dream is kaput. One can no longer take the ethical and honest approach. One can no longer achieve one's dreams simply through hard work alone. The solution is to either conform, learn to fake it, or get out of the business. It is for that reason that I have chose to title this blog, "Enduring the American Dream". Because, aren't we all? Most of us took the route that was prescribed to us by parents, teachers, elders, and even religious leaders only to find ourselves graduated, in our mid twenties, sometimes jobless, most of the time clueless, and in disbelief. If this isn't you then congratulations. You're either one of the lucky few, you knew someone, or you learned to lie, cheat, steal, and use people and piers as stepping stones. The ethical dilemma we are faced with today as a society is, are these ethics (lack of) in fact wrong or are they simply the norm unaccompanied by career related or social consequences of any kind? Touchy subject.
So here I am, in my mid twenties with a college degree, without a career, and asking these types of questions; Enduring the American Dream.
**Please head on over to the right hand side bar and vote in my latest poll. Do you think the American Dream is dead?
