The Advantage of Immigrant Mentality

The Advantage of Immigrant Mentality

We live in a world where often times being from a different country is made out to be a weakness. On social media, we see hate-filled videos of people being told "This is America... speak English!" or "Go back to your country!" Sometimes these sentiments can trend towards violence. Our own President was elected with a campaign promise to deport so-called DREAMers- children of illegal immigrants that came to the United States at a young age... children who in many cases identify as American.

As a young child, I was once asked by a classmate why I was singing Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" which was popular at the time. The truth is, I was not born in America. I was born in Accra, Ghana. That heritage is one that I have learned to be proud of.

My father grew up with very little financial means. He wore his first pair of shoes at age 15. His own father did not care for him. I was named after his uncle, Andrew Danquah, the man who made sure that he was able to go to school. In school, my father excelled. His talents in the classroom led him to graduate from the University of Ghana Medical School at the top of his class. He then received acceptance to a residency training program in the United States.

My family came to the United States to join my father after he began his training program. I was a-year-old at the time. Although I became a naturalized citizen, I came to this country as an immigrant. On the surface many would look at me and describe me as a black American or an African-American. Yet my experiences and upbringing have been different. I would describe myself as a Ghanaian American.

With regards to my upbringing, I view my immigrant heritage as a major strength. My parents raised us with the idea that we had been given a tremendous opportunity by growing up in America. They emphasized the importance of academic achievement and the relationship between academic success and financial independence. My mother would say, "Your father grew up with so little and yet look how much he has accomplished. With the foundation we have given you, we want you to achieve even more."

My parents are just like any parents out there. They wanted their children to grow up with much more than they had. The importance of achievement was something that they ingrained in us.

Perhaps it was a perfect storm... my mother's insistence on academic excellence along with my father's example as a hard-working physician and provider. Something interesting happened in my family... everyone went into healthcare. My oldest sister is a nurse. My older brother is a female pelvic reconstructive surgeon. My youngest sister is an internal medicine physician. My youngest brother is an orthopedic surgeon. I am an interventional cardiologist. This clearly did not happen by chance. My family was shaped by immigrant mentality.

Immigrant mentality has been described as the ability of people from other countries to make necessary sacrifices and seize vast opportunities that are present in America. Perhaps, this concept has even broader applicability... even for those native to this country. Learning to think like an immigrant is a proven way to accelerate careers and build enterprise. In his 2012 Harvard Business Review article, "Adopt An Immigrant Mindset to Advance Your Career" Glenn Llopis summarizes evidence based strategies for success. His four points are:

• Look for opportunities everywhere
• Stay on your toes
• Unleash your passion
• Live with an entrepreneurial attitude

I am a Ghanaian American. I am proud of my heritage and have become keenly aware of the advantages it has provided me. Immigrant mentality is a representation of the "American Dream"... a dream that for many remains alive and well.