Among today’s many headlines, it’s easy to overlook the quieter stories that show the American Dream is still very much alive—such as my wife’s.
In 2017, my wife Linda left Venezuela after political instability made it unsafe for her to stay. She flew to the U.S. on a tourist visa and requested asylum at Boston’s Logan Airport, a legal port of entry. That was one of a series of decisions that led her to where she is today—though the road was by no means smooth.
After arriving, she rented a room from a Brazilian woman through Airbnb. The woman took a liking to Linda and kindly offered her a job cleaning homes for a decent hourly rate. But Linda said, thanks but no thanks. She didn’t want to put a ceiling on what her time was worth. So she got a job selling cars at a dealership owned by a Venezuelan.
She knew some English when she arrived, but not enough to do business. So she took intensive English classes, made a point of speaking English as much as possible, and was soon selling cars in both English and Spanish. After a couple of years working at various dealerships on the North Shore, she realized she wanted to move into a field with higher commissions. So she transitioned into real estate.
It took her several tries to pass the agent license exam—seven, in fact—largely because of the specific terminology involved. But eventually she succeeded and got a job at a boutique real estate brokerage in Boston’s South End. Developing a unique method to match renters with their ideal properties, she quickly built momentum in the Boston rental market, doing a dozen or more deals a month. She worked long hours, often every day, focused on being more reliable and responsive than anyone else. During the Covid lockdowns, when many agents paused showings, Linda kept going—helping people find homes when they needed it most.
I met her during this time, and was immediately struck by her drive and determination. There’s one moment that showed just how far she had come: when we moved into our first apartment, the person our landlord hired to clean it was, to Linda’s surprise, the same Brazilian woman she had stayed with when she first arrived in Boston. It was a quiet reminder of how different her path could have been.
For a time, she thought she would stay in real estate for the long term, moving into larger deals, possibly even development. But the industry had its challenges. Clients would disappear, payments weren’t always reliable, and the work environment could be difficult. When new regulations made it harder for agents to earn commissions, she decided it was time for another change.
Throughout these years, Linda navigated the legal immigration process—first as an asylee, then as a green card holder, and now awaiting naturalization. The process was slow, demanding, and often expensive, but she remained committed to it every step of the way. She built her life here with focus, discipline, and a deep sense of purpose.
That same mindset led her to start something new: an online marketplace dedicated entirely to American-made brands—My American Goods.
Using her savings, she left real estate and devoted herself fully to building the company from the ground up—developing the website, onboarding products, refining marketing, and handling customer service. In less than a year, she has processed thousands of orders, partnered with over two hundred American makers, and recently opened a physical storefront. While I help where I can, she has built the business largely on her own and is now at a stage where she’s preparing to grow further, including hiring and potentially bringing on investment.
In other words, she’s become a wealth creator.
I’m obviously proud of her, but I think many people would be. She has supported herself entirely through her own work and followed every step required to build a life here. Though she has faced challenges along the way, she has remained focused on moving forward. She has consistently worked to contribute, build, and create value.
My wife’s story doesn’t attempt to answer broader debates, but it does show what can happen when opportunity is met with discipline, patience, and a commitment to building something meaningful.
