American Dream Come True

Update on the American dream: It may be tougher to chase, but its allure is as strong as ever. Just ask Miguel de Leon, chief executive officer of the Pacoima electronics company where he started 16 years ago as a minimum-wage worker. He arrived in Los Angeles 21 years ago--broke and unable to speak English.

Now, he’s got his eye on a red Jaguar to replace his year-old Mustang convertible.

Myriad executives recall their early days in the mail room. In that sense, De Leon’s story follows the same Horatio Alger path. But De Leon’s path began in El Salvador, where, as a boy, he was gravely injured by an exploding grenade. Like thousands of others, he followed his dreams north, studied English at night, earned a degree in business and moved up the ranks.

Ultimately, De Leon took over the company, saved it from bankruptcy and made the difficult transition from defense contracting to commercial electronics production. He kept workers working, creditors paid and customers satisfied. In short, he found the American dream after years of sweat, risk and faith.

Even now, during the good times, it’s easy to grouse about how they’re not nearly as good as they used to be. But it’s tough to imagine another country where a young immigrant with the right mix of brains and determination can make it big. Small wonder such a place remains so attractive to so many.