Taking Ownership of The American Dream

What Does it Really Take to Succeed in America?

It can be stated that it depends on grit or individual responsibility. Maybe it can be referred to the privilege one possesses inside. Perhaps another question is concerning the definition of success in the present society?

Indeed, “Hillbilly Elegy” — one of the 2025-26 Northwood University Omniquest selections — is the reflection of author JD Vance’s upbringing, full of instability and uncertainty due to poverty. From an Appalachian hillbilly to the current Vice President of the U.S., could it be considered a self-reflective piece for all of us?

Capitalism indeed assumes that everybody has the opportunity to succeed thanks to their personal responsibility and hard work. In such a way, JD Vance is the personification of the capitalist system.

Nevertheless, why does it not work for everyone when it works for somebody?

Vance emphasized the lack of agency in how little control one has over their life. This goes along with the core of capitalism, on how individuals can resort to doing less and caring less about improving themselves if they don’t see that their actions matter.

Therefore, Vance himself confessed that there were times when he felt like he was on the verge of giving up on himself. This is where capitalism meets its limits. But it is also where capitalism shines and revives on its strength. Free enterprise creates new opportunities for those willing to relocate and adapt to market changes, which is something no static system can offer.

We can’t deny the core value of how our outcomes are shaped by the values and choices we make, and not by circumstances.

People respond to incentives, and at a point without incentives, is success still only about effort? Personal responsibility cannot be dismissed. “Mamaw,” who is a turning point in Vance’s life, invites the understanding of a strong support system despite a fragile and triggering foundation.

Incentives cannot exist in isolation; they only work if individuals trust that their efforts will be rewarded. One might say this is a disciplined mindset towards success. But most are not aware that this success can only be possible in a free enterprise system where people are not restricted to responding to opportunities firsthand.

So what truly determines success in America?

The most plausible answer lies between two forces. The existing systemic structure and the individual’s action. While free enterprise opens up chances, one should still take advantage of them. Economically speaking, individuals cannot expect equal opportunities. As Hayek argues, true equality cannot be achieved without jeopardizing individual liberty. Markets create opportunity, but at the end of the day, individuals, families, and communities determine how that opportunity is utilized. One must take ownership of their choices.

Attaining success in the present society of America depends on a range of factors. Hard work is definitely important, but that alone cannot be enough. It also takes an opportunity that needs to be seized. But that, too, on its own, is insufficient. A system that values the same and aligns productivity is vital.

What bridge opportunities and hard work to respond to market incentives is the culture. The values passed down from generation to generation. Mamaw did not provide Vance with any material possessions or social connections. Rather, she provided him with faith in himself, and that eventually gives him the will to reach higher despite his harsh environment.

The faith was the fuel for Vance’s drive, and the free enterprise system was the road he was to follow. Hillbilly conveyed a message and representation of a community. And the initiatives required from a community are not to lose its pride. Vance’s own life serves as an example of a system that is not defined by individuals’ circumstances.

Success in America is defined by our own willingness to grasp opportunities in one of the greatest engines of social mobility created.

About this Piece
Cindy Lin Myint, a Hospitality Management student from Yangon, Burma, authored this piece inspired by Northwood’s recent Omniquest selection. Omniquest is a university-wide program in which provocative and challenging books are selected and the themes of the books are explored through the academic year. This essay, which Cindy Lin Myint wrote as part of an exercise in her Economics of Public Policy course, is featured in the Summer 2026 edition of When Free to Choose, Northwood’s signature publication dedicated to exploring the importance of free enterprise and other tenets of The Northwood Idea. Click here to receive When Free to Choose in your inbox!