Sunday, September 02, 2007
So far this morning I have conducted three radio interviews, had a marketing strategy conference call with my record company, held a meeting with my band and crew, reviewed edits to my "Spirit of the Wild" television program and answered a dozen or so e-mails.
RECENT COLUMNS BY THE TEXAS WILDMAN
- 11-16-08 Ted Nugent: Obama's victory is sad vote for state of dependency
- 11-09-08 Ted Nugent: The few, the proud
- 11-02-08 Ted Nugent: America needs real change, not Obama's fantasy drivel
- 10-26-08 Ted Nugent: Grateful celebrity celebrates going silver-haired
- 10-19-08 Ted Nugent: Let's emulate my tap-dancing grandma
Now I am going to have breakfast and plan the work for the rest of the day. I love it.
That brings me to Labor Day. I like to celebrate it by laboring. While the rest of the country takes a day off to celebrate hard work by sleeping in, barbecuing and attending parades, I turn up the production heat.
On Labor Day night, my guitar will howl in delight and pay homage to James Brown while gleefully scorching the souls of rock 'n' roll fun gluttons.
Raised in the Motor City during the automotive revolution by parents who taught me that everything comes from hard work and dedicated effort, I have been blessed to achieve my American Dream. I could because I internalized one of life's lessons: All things worth having are the result of sweat and hard work. Period.
Every so often I am asked by a young musician how I got my break in the music business. I never got a so-called break — not one. Nor do I know any band that did.
I achieved success honing my craft by traveling hundreds of thousands of miles and playing thousands of concerts.
No easy path
There is no cheap or easy path to long-term, fulfilling success. It takes brutally hard work, and the competition is fierce. Regardless of your chosen profession, you have to crave success or it will forever elude you.
There is no substitute for a work ethic. Having parents instilling this most basic capitalistic value in our young people is the foundation on which they will be prepared to achieve the American Dream and make America more competitive in the global marketplace.
Coupled with a work ethic, it is vital for young people to obtain a marketable vocational skill or advanced education.
On average, a high school graduate can expect to earn $1 million over his or her lifetime. Those with a college degree can expect to earn $2 million.
The sky is the limit for young people with a work ethic and a skill or degree.
America needs an educated and motivated work force if we are to maintain our global economic supremacy.
Economists are predicting that China will eclipse America as the world's largest economy in the next 20 years. That's unacceptable and it is not inevitable. We have an obligation to future generations of Americans to ensure our economy leads the world.
Our economic supremacy is tied intrinsically to our other freedoms and our ability to positively influence international events and issues.
All of this is why I believe Labor Day is an anachronism. Created by labor unions over 100 years ago, Labor Day is a well-deserved day of celebration, but specifically achieves nothing to strengthen America for the future.
American Success Day
That's why I recommend adding to Labor Day an annual American Success Day.
American Success Day would be a day for Americans to plan for their futures instead of resting on their laurels. There is too much of that already.
It's time to change course and upgrade. We must look forward and plan ahead.
I envision American Success Day as a day where Americans could spend the day with vocational and college representatives, attend job fairs, speak with career counselors, talk with business and entrepreneurs about opening a small business, etc. Now, that would be a productive way to spend a day.
The American Dream is still alive and well, but turning a dream into reality requires a tremendous amount of dedication, commitment and hard work. It is the American Way.
Ted Nugent is a Waco-based musician and television show host.
