Every day millions of Americans hear the term "American dream" and roll their eyes in disdain. What is this American dream, and what can I do to reach it? You may get an Ivy League degree, or you may be a high school drop out. Either way, success is based on these four traits: creativeness, ingenuity, hard work, and tenaciousness. If you can master all these traits there is a big chance that you have what it takes to build a business enterprise and become successful. The only real way to get tremendous financial success in this nation is to become famous or become a chief executive of a large corporation. If you are not afraid of rejection, and you are prepared to work your way up the business ladder, here is what you have to do to become successful.

First and foremost, to build a business of any kind, you will first need capital. Now, you may be lucky enough to be independently wealthy to begin with, but if you are like most Americans, this is the part where you are going to need a loan. It is the getting of this loan that your business degree may most come in handy. Lenders like to see such degrees before parting with their money, but it is not the only important factor. Obviously, presentation is half (if not more) of the battle. You have to convince the bank that they are taking a reasonable chance with you. You have to make the banker see what you see: the potential for profit in your business model. If you feel nervous about this prospect, just repeat to yourself one thing: Bill Gates was once in the same position, feeling the same nervousness. And he was turned down for several loans before finally getting one. That is where perseverance comes in. You must have it, or you will not succeed.

If you are moving into a sector of business where you have already made contacts, now is the time to get in touch with those people and let them know you are going into business for yourself. Tell them what will set your business apart from others of your kind. Extend them a discount of some sort. Encourage them to tell their contacts in the business world about your new endeavor. One thing that all successful businessmen have in common is their remarkable ability for self promotion. You will need that trait if you except to succeed in the business world. If you are the wallflower type, you may want to think about a different line of work.

Above all else, you must do research throughout the life of your business. You must be an expert in the field you work in. Whether you are selling office supplies, tires, or web sites, you have to learn everything there is to know about your market. This means researching the history, keeping up with the trends, and using that data to mold your own business innovations and ideas. Studying the past can help you avoid mistakes that others have already made, and studying the future will help you to think ahead of the curve. No new business can find success doing the same old thing. Creativity is the key to being successful, even if you are only making minor changes.