The New American Dream

The New American Dream In a recent magazine interview, a reporter asked me whom I thought of when I heard the word successful. My answer wasnt Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Kim Kardashian. Nor do I think of the old American Dream as the definition of success. When I think of success, I think of my friend Jamar. Although he is an outstanding father, husband, high school teacher, and real estate investor, those things alone dont make him successful. What makes Jamar successful is that he is living the New American Dream: he is happy, healthy, and debt-free; he has full control of his life; and he doesnt derive his self-worth from external factorsâ€"all of which makes him the most successful person I know. A decade ago, it was Jamar who taught me You cant change the people around you, but you can change the people around you. I listened, and Im a better person today because I surround myself with people who are more knowledgeable and more skilled than myself. Thats how we grow as individualsâ€"and the more we grow, the more we have to give. Subscribe to The Minimalists via email.