Monday 4 April 2016

Tony Peniche – The American Dream and What it Means Today

America was born as the land of opportunity. In 1931, historian James Truslow Adams wrote “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement,” regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. This was the beginning of the concept of “The American Dream,” which would later go on to influence and persuade thousands of immigrants to leave their homes in pursuit of streets paved with gold. Admittedly, this notion is a bit exaggerated; anyone who has been to New York knows that the streets are far from golden. But the core concept of the “American Dream” – equal opportunity for all – is still very much alive today.


In what other country could a barely 30 year-old entrepreneur establish several successful brands of men’s fashion, open a revolutionary creative development corporation that builds and manages office-studio spaces for creative professionals, and invent a patented line of laser-etched pieces of wood that can upgrade any bottle of whiskey to top-shelf quality in just 24 hours. Not only has Tony Peniche achieved all of these, he has also managed to find time to contribute to the pursuits of his fellow entrepreneurs by giving talks at colleges like the University of Oregon and Portland State University about startup business strategies, and by providing free business consulting throughout his home city of Portland.


A self-proclaimed natural leader, Mr. Peniche made a name for himself in fashion while he was still a student at The Art Institute of Portland. In 2011 he was awarded by PDX 30 for being one of the topmost entrepreneurs under the age of 30, and the following year he was named Fashion Designer of the Year by the Portland Fashion & Style Awards.


Miraculously, Mr. Peniche has managed not to let his fame go to his head. On the contrary, he uses his formidable position in the business world to promote other startup up companies. One such company is Findlay Hats, which provides customers with customizable, personalized hats that are the perfect signature to any style. Like Mr. Peniche, Findlay Hats founder Jimmy Hickey was a true believer in the “American Dream.” This is why, in 2013, Mr. Hickey drained his bank account and invested all of his money into his idea for a hat company that would be unlike any other. Today, Findlay Hats is a profitable company that continues to “outfit and inspire true adventurers.”


America is indeed a land of opportunity for those who are willing to seek it out. And fortunately there are people like Tony P

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