The key to the american dream - education or business?

Which option is considered best to chase the American Dream? Business or Education? to understand which option is better, a foundation needs to be set. The term, “ American Dream, was discovered in the book, Epic of America. James Truslow Adams is the author of the novel and he is also the creator of the term, “ American Dream”. The definition James Truslow Adams provides is that the American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement (Adams 1931). He goes into more detail by saying that it is not all about materialistic value. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position (Adams 1931). The idea at the time gave Americans a sense of belief that there is an established freedom to achieve social and economic prosperity. As time passed, immigrants and other ethnic groups became knowledgeable of the freedom, and they decided to take part in the opportunity. Not only did the United States seek the freedom of fluctuating income, neighboring and other foreign countries desired for this type of economic freedom as well.

There has been an ongoing debate on whether education or business is the key to the American Dream. People may have disagreements on which route to take, but we can all agree that it takes hard work and dedication no matter the direction we choose. The objective of this paper is not to choose whether business or education as the better route, but to reveal the positives and negatives of both ideas. By the end of this paper, the reader should be able to decide which way they would take personally if they had to choose. Business: A way taken one dollar at a time Starting a business can be one of the most exciting things that can be achieved in a lifetime. The fame and recognition of others, this risks that are taken, and the income that is received are just a few ideas that come to mind. Taking the business route is one way to achieve the American Dream, but it is the best way? There are many positives and negatives when it comes to taking the business route. A few positives that will be mentioned are: job security, creating your own schedule, and promoting a unique brand When job security comes to mind, a businessman/businesswoman do not have to worry about competition for the position. Instead, you are automatically granted your position and being replaced by a superior will not be an issue.

Creating a schedule is also a valuable asset when it comes to owning a business. When first beginning a business, the person creating the enterprise has time on their side and can focus on what they need done first. Also, being able to decide how many hours a person wants to work or which days the business will be open are going to be convenient ideals to take into consideration. Bringing a unique style into the business environment can make a huge impact. Promoting a business can be seen as putting a handprint on the world. Furthermore, it rewards a person in a way that makes them feel like they have accomplished something. However, there are downsides when attempting to start a business and maintaining a project. Many roadblocks can be mentioned but the two that will be discussed are failing to gain support, and competition. Gaining support can fit into many groups which include, monetary support and support from others.

One of the main priorities for starting a business is having money. However, if a company cannot bring in any revenue, it will eventually collapse and file for bankruptcy. Staying on the topic of support, public relations is an additional factor. Having the support of a community can take a person a long way, but if there is not any type of foundation, it will be more difficult for a company to take off. Education: Education in general can provide someone with many opportunities. Being able to spread the knowledge gained, then spreading it to others can be a special sight. However, education grants people with knowledge, but can it grant others the job they have desired the most? A benefit to having a great education is that it can be shared the knowledge with others less fortunate. This is not limited to just children.

People of all ages can be Being able to give back to a community can be positive as they have a better grasp on certain ideals. An increasing income is another benefit to progressing an education. Displayed in Figure 1, as the level of education increases, the weekly earnings increase as well. Again, there are downsides to advancing a higher education. Time and money are major issues that come to mind when the topic is present. A statistic shows that a college graduate is left with a student loan total up to 37, 000 (Hess 2018). In perspective, the graduate expects to get the job they spent four years in college studying and preparing for. Sometimes, that is not the case as some students do not have the opportunity either due to job availability or other circumstances. In a case study done in 2013, a group of authors decided to test the theory of a higher education increases income. The experiment took place in Israel as they requested records from Ariel University Center. The data was researched over an eight year stretch of 2000 to 2008 and measured around 6, 000 students. Some of the results showed that the graduates had one hundred percent job security and an income that increased at least 3 times the national average. However, some fields would still make the same salary even if they did not have a degree. In addition, the male employment rate is twelve percent higher than the opposite sex. To achieve the American Dream, it takes both Education and Business. In a way, they both complement each other.

For example, a business cannot be operated unless the person running the business has the minimum knowledge and education needed for the specific occupation. On the other hand, an educated consumer needs a job to make income. That is not possible if there are not any businesses around. Both elements consume time and money, but the outcome expected is what people imagine and strive for. This all together forms what the American Dream really means. People coming to work in peace without any type of discretion or discrimination. The route of free enterprise and the promotion of competition between others is what brings the best out of people. Famous educators and businesspersons have paved the way for people to follow or to inspire new ideas.

An example of this is rise of one of most recognized talk show phenomena, Oprah Winfrey. Raised in rural Mississippi by her grandmother, Oprah was acknowledged as a well-known speaker by the early age of three. Around the age of nine, she moved with her mother whom lived in Milwaukee. She was sexually abused and molested by family and others. This led to behavior issues which included her running away from home. Soon, she was sent to live with her father in Tennessee where she would begin to develop more of her talents and personality. Oprah would have several opportunities to work with broadcasters and news stations, but her breakthrough came when her local tv station in Chicago gained national attention. She would not look back and her fame skyrocketed to the woman we know of today. Oprah’s story proves that anybody can become a successful figure no matter the circumstances they have to face. It is a combination of hard work, dedication, and using whatever a person has access to for their own personal gain.