american dream

Secret of success

Madonna “American Life”

The American dream Secret of success The USA is the most powerful and successful

country in the world and everybody wants to know the secret of their success!

Lots of people believe that it is lying deep in the notion of the so called “American Dream”

If it is so, then to be successful we need our own dream, but do we have one?

So the aim of our research is to find out what the American dream means and whether we have our own Russian dream or not.

Success Fame Wealth Freedom Education Career Family House Opportunities …

"from rags to riches“

realization of high flying ideals

 the freedom that allows everybody to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice.

the opportunity for immigrants to achieve greater material prosperity than was possible in their countries of origin.

one's prospects in life are defined by one's talents and energy rather than by one's family wealth or political connections.

James Truslow Adams Epic of America (1931):

“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.

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 be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the circumstances of birth or position.”

Frederick Douglass (1818 – 1895).

who owes little or nothing to birth, relationship, friendly surroundings;

to wealth inherited or to early approved means of education;

who is what he is, without the aid of any of the favoring conditions by which other men usually rise in the world and achieve great results.

Douglass does not believe in what he calls the "good luck theory" 

Douglass is convinced that success can be explained by only one word, namely

"WORK! WORK!! WORK!!! WORK!!!!"

Stories of success

Benjamin Franklin

Madonna

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

From a poor, unknown son of a candle-maker to a very successful business man and highly acknowledged member of the American society.

Creates the archetype of someone coming from low origins, who, against all odds, breaks out of his inherited social position, climbs up the social ladder and creates a new identity for himself.

Key factors in this rise from rags to riches are hard work and a solid moral foundation.

Franklin also stresses the significance of education for self-improvement

Benjamin Franklin

Madonna From a 19-year-old

girl who came to New York with 35$ in her pocket to one of the most famous and successful entertainers in the whole world.

According to the American concept of a “dream” let’s find

out whether Russians understand it the same way and

whether they have their own Dream.

Interview Dates: May 25-29, 2009.

12 questions.

150 interviews:Students of Irkutsk State Linguistic

UniversityStudents of Irkutsk State UniversityStudents of Baikal State University of

Economy and ManagementCompany managers Interior designersDoctorsTeachers

Material wellbeing/Money/Wealth 17 %

Own a home/have a good place to live 15 %

Cars 11 %

Having a good job/career 11 %

Success/Goal Achievement 10 %

Happy, ideal life 8 %

Freedom/Independence 6 %

Family/Children 6 %

From rags to riches 6 %

Travelling/Holidays in a five-star hotel 4 %

World supremacy 2 %

Enjoy life to the full 2 %

Life in the USA 1 %

Foolish thing 1 %

On the seashore 18 %

In a big/huge/luxurious house 17 %

In one’s own house 12 %

In a country house/cottage/farm 11 %

In the USA (Miami, Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York)

8 %

In a small, comfortable house 6 %

In a warm place 6 %

In Irkutsk (e.g. Volzhskaya st.) 5 %

In Europe 5 %

In the south 4 %

In the heart of a city 4 %

In a small castle in New Zealand or Australia 2 %

In Sochi 1 %

On the Earth 1 %

35%

21%

44%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Positive Negative Uncertain

Positive-Optimistic,Hopeful, Proud, Confident, Excited Negative-Angry, Sad, Disappointed, Frustrated Uncertain-Cautious, Worried, Uncertain

17%

38%32%

13%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Better Same Worse

18%

27%

51%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Better off About the same Worse off

What does the American dream mean to Americans

What does the American Dream mean to you? (Coded and collapsed)Having a good job/make a comfortable living/financial security/debt free 37%Personal Freedom 15%Own a home/have a good place to live 15%Raising a family/caring for children 14%Opportunity/promise 9%Don’t know/not sure 9%Live in peace without terrorism/safety 6%Access to health care/Be healthy 6%Success/Goal Achievement 5%Happiness 5%Access to good education/college 4%A worry-free life 3%A return to traditional moral values/religion 3%There's no longer any American Dream 3%Good Country/U.S. Improving/Patriotic Mentions 3%Equality / Equal Treatment/Rights 3%Freedom of speech and expression 2%Respect for others/tolerance of diversity 2%Life/Living Each Day 2%Affluence/being wealthy 1%

ResultsWorkers volunteer having a good job, making a comfortable living,

being debt free and being financially secure as their view the American dream. Only 1%

say being wealthy.

What does the Russian dream mean to Russians

“The Russian Dream” doesn’t exist 17 %

Money/Being wealthy 12 %

Do nothing and get money for it 10 %

The same as the American Dream 9 %

Freedom 8 %

House 8 %

Russian soul 7 %

Family 7 %

Travelling 6 %

To plant a tree, to build a house, to bring up a son 6 %

Health of the country 5 %

Pride for the country/Confidence in its future 4 %

World peace 1 %

From rags to riches 1 %

To survive 1 %

To find a rich husband 1%

Results The concept of the Russian

dream doesn’t exist! People just want to be wealthy

doing nothing But it’s not that bad, because people believe in bright future of

our country. So, it depends on you if Russia

will have its dream or not

http://www.changetowin.org/features/the-american-dream-survey.html

http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-i-2008-10-30-175531.114126_Survey_Tough_Economy_Has_Not_Killed_the_American_Dream.html

http://www.changetowin.org/fileadmin/user_upload/presen.CTW.press.f2.082906.ppt#502,6,Jobs and the economy is the top concern for workers, with energy and gas prices, moral values and the war in Iraq in the next tier.

Wikipedia.org