Do you think you have what it takes to live the American dream? Many would say anything is possible, but others may not know exactly what to strive for when asked this question. On Shark Tank, we see it happen every time this show happens to stream across our television screens.
Let’s first start by defining what the American dream is. This was a concept by James Truslow Adams, he defined it as “the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (Cobb 2015). Once Americans heard of this concept, they all strived to live this luxurious life. Over the years, Americans have found the drive within themselves to try and lead this kind of life, which led many people into ABC’s show Shark Tank.
Shark Tank is a show about entrepreneurs who pitch their ideas about products they have invented to six millionaire and billionaire sharks. Once entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, the sharks can either decide to invest, or decline. If they invest, they can either give the exact amount of equity and money they asked for, or choose to counter. If they decline, they simple say “I’m out”.
Entrepreneurs only have a few minutes to make their pitch, sell their product, hand out samples, and talk money. Sharks are quick to judge how well the pitch went, and curious to know just how much money they have made. If they are not interested in the product, do not find it useful, or are against what it stands for, then they always get out. The sharks are more likely to invest if they feel the product could be a solution to a current day problem, or want to be apart of the company that is doing well off.
The sharks are made of four guys and three girls. “There’s Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks; Barbara Corcoran, who went from waiting tables in Manhattan to building a $2 billion real estate empire in the city; Daymond John, who grew his homegrown clothing line into a globally recognized fashion brand Fubu; Robert Herjavec, son of an immigrant factory worker turned tech mogul; Lori Greiner, the “Queen of QVC” who has launched over 400 products; and Mr. Wonderful himself, Kevin O’Leary, a venture capitalist who turned a $10,000 loan into a business worth $4.2 billion” (Cobb 2015). These sharks are hungry for someone who has the love and drive towards making money from their product.
They adore those who have came from nothing and have made their way up to the top. It is truly extraordinary for the sharks to see those of different cultures, and financial backgrounds to start building better lives for themselves. Though the sharks may yell at those they find unorganized and sloppy, they do a fair amount of crying at sob stories. Their emotions may get in the way sometimes, but at the end of the day the sharks are only hungry for the money. “Shark Tank allows viewers to enter the competitive world of startup culture and sit in on one of the most important and exclusive aspects of entrepreneurship — the investment meeting — all without leaving the couch” (Cobb 2015). Most Americans go on this show to become millionaires and billionaires just like the sharks, but some do it just because they believe their product may just make the world a little bit easier, and better for everyone. “While this may seem like an obvious sentiment — who doesn’t want to be paid for doing something they love? — I see it as the evolution of what we value as a society. “Through Shark Tank, I learned that a new element has been added to the traditional idea of “success.” It’s no longer just about making money; it’s about finding a way to add value. It’s about finding how you as an individual can best use your talents to remedy a need. Ultimately, Shark Tank has taught me that passion and transparency have been added to our nation’s values” (Cobb 2015). Shark Tank is living proof that an average American whether it may be a child, a mom, or somebody who has nothing but two pennies to rub together, can be successful. This show has proven that kids can be creative, college kids have potential, and is living proof that moms can be business owners. These are key elements that people were not aware of before this show airing.
People think to themselves all the time that if they had the money, time, or resources to make their product big, then everyone would be successful. Sadly, this is not the case for most Americans, which leads to why Shark Tank has truly changed the lives of millions of people. “Cuban’s statements reveal Shark Tank’s favorite narrative: people who experience personal setbacks, start over with next to nothing, remain focused and driven, do whatever it takes to succeed (selling door-to-door, for example, always gets an enthusiastic response from Cuban), and now just need the help (money, connections, advice) of an investor to reach the next level. And as Cuban’s remarks suggest, this narrative has a pedagogic function: these stories model how to achieve success” (Newsom). Mark explains that the sharks are not just interested in those who have struggled to get up to this point, but have more respect and willingness to want to reach out and help to get these people back on their feet.
Overall, this show proves that if you apply yourself with passion and drive, you can amount to anything. It is possible to make your dreams come true if you are willing to take the chance and take risks in order to make it big in the business world. Clay Newbills perspective on the success of Shark Tank, is that “It embodies the American dream,” he said. “It shows people that entrepreneurism is alive and well in this country. It empowers viewers to believe, ‘I can do it!'” (Richmond 2013).When others see just how many people can actually live out their dreams and make them into a reality, it sets a domino effect on the rest of Americans to want to do the same.
In an interview with Robert Herjavec who is one of the sharks on Shark Tank, Eugene Kim asked, “What makes Shark Tank so great”? Robert replied with, “It's the American Dream. It's the desire to better one's position in life, and who doesn't have that desire? I think when people watch the show, they always think, 'That could be me,' and it really could” (Kim 2014). Personally, I find it extremely interesting to hear from one of the sharks itself to say just how easily anyone could become one of the many people who get a deal on the show. This gives you personal insight into what really puts a light in their eyes. “Overall, the success of the show depends on how many deals are struck and the way they are struck. This show is definitely the golden ticket to the “American Dream” (Haugh 2014). This show is a fast track to success. It is an intimidating twenty minutes to the countdown of your dreams. It is a make it or break it kind of deal, but if you show confidence and pride towards what you are doing, the sharks will feel it as well.
So we know that Shark Tank is one of the many pathways you can take to achieving the American dream, but is it something that is still attainable? When Todd Aaron Jenson asked billionaire shark Mark Cuban, he said “I don’t think it’s harder today than it has been in the past. I think achieving the American Dream has always been built on hard work and finding something you are good at and doing everything you can to be great at it. I truly believe the biggest challenge we all have isn’t ambition or in many cases even effort or knowledge; it’s finding the one thing we truly can be great at” (Jensen 2014). We have always seen the American dream as something that may not be achieved, we can now look at this show as a significant representation of how far we have come with society. Shark Tank is a mirror into the future, and it is clear proof that with hard work and dedication, you can run the world.
Works Cited Page
Cobb, Kayla. "How 'Shark Tank' Embodies the New American Dream." Decider. N.p., n.d. Web.
14 Oct. 2015.
Haugh, Leigh. "'Shark Tank': Ticket to the American Dream." Headliners Today. N.p., 15 Nov.
2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
Jensen, Todd A. "Billionaire Mark Cuban: 'Outwork Everyone Else to Accomplish [Your] Goals'
(INTERVIEW)." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
Kim, Eugene. "'Shark Tank' Investor Talks About Hating Mark Cuban, His Best Deal So Far,
And The Key To Success For Any Startup." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 15 Oct.
2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
Newsom, Chad. "Shark Tank and the American Dream Chad Newsom / Savannah College of Art
and Design | Flow." Flow. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
Richmond, Ray. "ABC's 'Shark Tank' "Embodies The American Dream", Says Producer: TCA."
Deadline. The Deadline Team, 10 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
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