In the 1990 blockbuster, Pretty Woman, the film closes with a man walking across the street under the fire escape that Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) climbs to profess his love for Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), saying, “Welcome to Hollywood. What’s Your Dream? Everybody comes here. This is Hollywood, land of dreams…” To be honest, it is one of my favorite pop culture references because, frankly, that is exactly what New York has always been; the place where dreams are made, where entrepreneurs come to succeed.
Think about it – movies and music in pop culture are the perfect historical landmarks for the pulse of the time periods in which they come from. And throughout modern history, New York has always been portrayed as the land of opportunity. After all, where do you think the phrase, “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere” comes from? Yes, it was popularized by Frank Sinatra in the 1980 song New York, New York. But it refers to the idea that New York City is one of the toughest, most competitive, and most demanding places in the world—whether in business, the arts, or personal ambition. There is a reason why it is played at Yankee Stadium when the team wins during baseball season.
Remember, for centuries New York has served as the launching pad for some of the most successful businesses in history including American Express, Estee Lauder, Tiffany & Co, Calvin Klein and so many more. Since the days our fair city was called New Amsterdam, people from across the globe have sought to launch their wildest entrepreneurial endeavors in the five boroughs. Even in today’s crazy rollercoaster ride of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, some of the most powerful players in those sectors got their start in New York. And they all started with a dream. Isn’t that part of what being an entrepreneur is?
You have to be tough as nails to succeed here. Some would say ruthless. And what you achieve in New York is likely adaptable to virtually anywhere in the world. Now yes, much of what I am referring to is how you execute your approach to business, and what business philosophy it is rooted in. In this case, I prefer to think more in respect of our cover interview, Kevin O’Leary. Yes, he is famous for being a shark. But he is also known for being fiercely loyal and dedicated to entrepreneurs who prove themselves. Those who work their asses off and fight for every dollar they earn. He is, after all, a capitalist – one of the smartest and most talented on our planet. Trust me when I tell you to heed his advice and learn from, to reference Star Wars, the Jedi Master of entrepreneurs.
And since we are talking Mr. Wonderful, I have to reference the thing that made him a household name, Shark Tank: a show that is produced in Culver City, California; or, essentially, the idea of Hollywood. It used to be that anything “tinsel” related came out of that area. Well, that hasn’t been true in a long time. New York surpassed Los Angeles as a focal point for film and television development ages ago. And, despite the recent hangover effect of the pandemic’s geo-shift of residency and commerce, people are starting to return to the city. Not offices mind you, but the city itself.
That spells a positive move for all the aforementioned sectors from both a commercial and consumer point of view. Though whether that trend continues largely depends on both this year’s mayoral and next year’s gubernatorial elections given the unpopular figures currently in office, and their policies that have shaped post-pandemic life in what is now the most expensive city in the US to live in. So that poses the question; is there a possibility that New York won’t be the land of dreams anymore? Is it dead or dying?
THE FINAL WORD
This city has been considered “dead” so many times over the last three centuries, it may as well be a vampire. Yet New York keeps coming back – and delivering the very outcome those seek who are bold enough to dream and pursue them. In other words, New York is the land of dreams. You just have to understand how to work for it and never give up. Be that entrepreneur that Kevin O’Leary wants to make a deal with. After all, isn’t that a dream for so many?