How to Thrive in America’s Economic Evolution by Embracing Innovation, Personal Responsibility, and Timeless Success Principles
Everyone who calls themselves an American shares the idea they have the privilege of living in the land of opportunity. It’s a lofty notion—one that translates objectively for some and subjectively for others. But here’s the uncomfortable truth that most people refuse to acknowledge: the America we knew just a few decades ago has fundamentally transformed, and those who fail to adapt will be annihilated.
As Jim Rohn wisely stated, “You cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself.” The question isn’t whether America is changing—it’s whether you’re willing to change with it.
The Romantic Ideal Versus the Harsh Reality
America the Beautiful remains a romantic ideal. Songs and anthems have been composed and orchestrated to eternally herald the abounding pride and praises of what many believe is the greatest nation on earth. Citizens pledge their allegiance to its flag with an often absolute and total commitment to the protection of the tenets that have made our country exceptional.
Our nation’s pledge specifically speaks to a personal commitment—in earnest—not only to the flag, which merely serves as a representation of our nation, but to the republic proper. Interestingly, out of the many years I recited this pledge, I ashamedly must admit I never really understood what my daily participation in this mass ritual was all about. I simply droned along, innocently but ignorantly conforming to the social expectations of my teachers, school administrators, and politicians in absentia.
As I’ve grown older and my childhood innocence has been tempered by experience, I’ve discovered many unanswered questions about the systems governing the country I still embrace as the greatest nation on planet earth. I honestly struggle to recognize the historical, perceived beauty of our great nation through the lens of our current reality. I’m not overwhelmed with unconditional pride in our country, its government, and some of its citizens—not because I don’t love America, but because I love it enough to demand better.
Tony Robbins teaches that “progress equals happiness.” If we’re not progressing toward the ideals we claim to cherish, we’re regressing. And regression breeds discontent, division, and ultimately, destruction.
The Death of the Old Employment Paradigm
By my estimation, we live in a new America, vastly different from the nation we knew just a few decades ago. Our great nation’s citizens used to have confidence they would have gainful employment and could rely upon their companies being solvent for the entirety of their working lives. In times past, workers never fathomed their employers would squander their pensions or retirement funds in servicing their own greed. Now all these realities are accepted norms.
The country is in its next ideological and philosophical shift. The old work paradigms are evolving by requirement—not by choice. America is known as the land of opportunity, yet far too many Americans have interpreted that statement to mean the land of employment, wherein its people earn wages for the hours of labor they provide. Parenthetically, I struggle to see the difference between indentured servitude and the linear income paradigm. But I digress.
Here’s what Brian Tracy would tell you: “You are where you are and what you are because of yourself. Everything you are today, or ever will be in the future, is up to you.” The employment model that sustained previous generations is dying—not because of political failure alone, but because of economic evolution.
Ironically, the American dream eludes many American citizens because of the soft and hard programming of our social, collective mindsets, our educational institutionalization, and the self-sabotaging cycles of debt we create in pursuit of our piece of the pie. Then, to remain afloat, many are forced to take on multiple jobs meant for multiple people, and our dreams quickly morph into horrible nightmares.
The Harsh Economic Realities We Must Face
In the new America, we are being challenged to become innovators, creators, and seekers of opportunities instead of employment. We’re being challenged to revive the powerful and timeless sentiments of President John F. Kennedy when he said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Amazingly, many complaining about government being too big criticize the government for not creating more jobs. Here’s the very harsh reality: In the name of profit maximization, American jobs have been, are being, and will continue to be shipped abroad for corporate executives to increase profits by cutting expenses. In America, the greatest costs in production are wages and benefits. Unless Americans develop a willingness to work unreasonably long hours for as little as $1.00 a day, there’s no way we can compete for these jobs any longer.
This is going to sting, so brace yourself: Most of the jobs lost to America are never coming back as they were. We’re either going to accept this fact and roll with the tide, or be crushed beneath its merciless power.
Then there’s technology to consider in this equation. Machines are now doing increasingly more in the production process. They don’t need breaks, days off, compensation, or health benefits. Machines don’t have emotions, life concerns, family issues, self-destructive vices, prejudices, biases, or free will. They do exactly what they’re programmed to do, and they can do it around the clock. Nor do they unionize, dissent, or require fair or ethical treatment.
As Darren Hardy reminds us, “You alone are responsible for what you do, don’t do, or how you respond to what’s done to you.” Complaining about automation won’t stop it. Adapting to it will position you to thrive.
From Wage-Earner to Wealth-Creator
In the new America, we’re going to have to make ourselves ready to redefine how we create value that results in compensation. We’re being required to create wealth, not wages. We can certainly resist this natural order of evolution, but it most often ends in mere frustration, which leads to catastrophic unrest, that ultimately ends in violent conflict and the devastating results of that violence.
Bob Proctor taught that “the only limits in our life are those we impose on ourselves.” The shift from employee to entrepreneur, from wage-earner to wealth-creator, isn’t just an economic necessity—it’s a mindset transformation.
The old formula—go to school, get good grades, seek security—isn’t the winning strategy it used to be. Going to college to attain a Bachelor’s Degree doesn’t assure anyone gainful employment anymore, evidenced by the over 50% of college graduates who are unemployed or underemployed. It’s no longer a given to get a secure government job, work for thirty or forty years, and retire to collect a secure pension.
In the new America, we must become creators of personal wealth. We must begin to answer the call of entrepreneurship and do something to build for the future. We must refuse to accept less than we’re worth, allowing our dreams to dwindle and die within us. We must resist the temptation to accept the limitations of the rat race and dare to walk away from the mediocrity common to approximately 97% of the world’s population.
The Crisis of Division and the Path to Unity
In the old America, we pledged to be one nation, under God, indivisible. In the new America, we’ve spiraled downward in an out-of-control descent into increased division. No, none of the manifestations we presently see are different or radical new institutions. Racism is nothing new, nor is classism. But it appears the blatant disregard of our neighbors is on the rise.
In the new America, we’re drawing lines in the sand and distinguishing ourselves as predator or prey, as superior or inferior. Those with spiritual beliefs and values are being vilified and mocked for what they believe, while those who believe in God use their beliefs to uphold the same lines of division, judgment, hostility, and intolerance.
Les Brown would say, “Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.” Division is the enemy of progress. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity—it means recognizing that we rise or fall together.
In the new America, it appears we don’t know how to disagree. Instead of creating open dialogue about real issues, we’re now choosing to seek secession from the union we declared we patriotically believed in because we don’t appreciate the nation’s choice for presidential leadership.
Political leadership broadly characterizes the citizens they’ve sworn to serve as beneath them, leeches on society, whiners, and victims. This isn’t specific to one person or a small group of people. It speaks to a pervasive social disposition that drives deeper and wider divides between the classes of people.
In fairness to those who live under the illusions of this elitist mentality, there is a growing, troublesome sense of entitlement in our country that must be adequately addressed. However, we can’t provide provisions and sustenance to people without requiring them to provide some value to the world community and expect them to arrive at that conclusion all on their own.
The Call to Personal Responsibility and National Renewal
The nation is going the way of its citizens, and there’s absolutely no escaping this truth. We are America! The country is the sum of its parts. We are not separate and disconnected. The problems of the few are the problems of the many and vice versa. No one is exempt from the reach of calamity, challenge, or loss.
Poverty, crime, addictions, discrimination, prejudice, social unrest, classism, sexism, inadequate education, and oppression are not just bad for some—they’re bad for us all. The results of this hit list are far-reaching, even generational, and none of the inevitable scenarios track well for the whole of the country and its future.
John Maxwell teaches that “leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less.” Each of us must lead in our own sphere of influence, taking personal responsibility for the America we’re creating through our daily choices.
Therefore, in the new America, we must build on the firm foundation laid by the august body of great Americans who came before us. We must become thinkers again, conscious of our neighbors, working toward the good of the whole. We must engage our world more creatively, proactively, and with the innocence of an imaginative child.
It’s time for us to find our spirits of exploration once again, to discover new paths to greatness, abundance, and overall wellness. Maintenance of what is or was is a recipe for disaster. As Zig Ziglar famously said, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
Your Action Plan for Thriving in the New America
The new America doesn’t need to be a totally new model throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The new America will simply be one in which we live by the precepts and principles that made us the greatest nation on earth. The new America will thrive because of actualized equality for all and in every regard. The new America will resurge to find its place as the irrefutable greatest nation on earth.
But this transformation begins with you. Here’s your action plan:
- Shift from employee to entrepreneur mindset – Start viewing yourself as a business, not a worker.
- Invest in skills that create value – Focus on problem-solving, creativity, and innovation.
- Build multiple income streams – Don’t depend on a single source of income.
- Take personal responsibility – Stop waiting for government or corporations to save you.
- Bridge divides, don’t deepen them – Seek understanding before seeking to be understood.
- Commit to lifelong learning – The education you received years ago is already obsolete.
- Serve your community – Your success is tied to the success of those around you.
Are you ready for the new America? More importantly, are you ready to become the kind of American that the new America needs?
The choice is yours. The time is now.
Related Articles:
- Exploring Personal Development and Success Principles
- Building Wealth Through Entrepreneurship
- Leadership and Personal Responsibility in Modern America
- Overcoming Economic Challenges and Creating Opportunity
