Immigrant, Inc. Why Immigrant Entrepreneurs Are Driving the New Economy (and how they will save the American worker)

by Herman, Richard T.; Smith, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780470455715
• ISBN10: 0470455713
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-11-09
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

A provocative look at the remarkable contributions of high-skill immigrant entrepreneurs in AmericaBoth a revelation and a call-to-action, Immigrant, Inc. explores the uncommon skill and drive of America's new immigrants and their knack for innovation and entrepreneurship. From the techies who created icons of the new economy-Intel, Google, eBay and Sun Microsystems-to the young engineers tinkering with solar power and next-generation car batteries, immigrants have proven themselves to be America's competitive advantage.With a focus on legal immigrants and their odyssey from homeland to start-up, this unique book Explores the psyche, cultural nuances, skills, and business strategies that help immigrants achieve remarkable success Explains how immigrants will create the American jobs of the future-if we let themWhether you are a CEO, a civic leader, or an entrepreneur yourself, Immigrant, Inc. warns of the peril of anti-immigrant attitudes and a hostile immigration process. It also explains how any American can tap their "inner immigrant" to transform their lives and their companies.Written by an immigration lawyer who represents immigrant entrepreneurs and a journalist who specializes in international culture, the authors have a front-row seat to this phenomenon, offering a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of the most persistent entrepreneurs of the era.

Author Biography

Richard T. Herman is the founder of Richard T. Herman & Associates, an immigration and business law firm in Cleveland, Ohio, which serves a global clientele in over ten languages. He is the co-founder of a chapter of TiE, a global network of entrepreneurs started in 1992 in Silicon Valley. He has appeared on ABC's 20/20, National Public Radio, Fox News, and various affiliates of NBC, CBS, and ABC. He has also been quoted in such publications as USA Today, InformationWeek, PC World, Computerworld, CIO, Site Selection, and National Lawyers Weekly.

Robert L. Smith is a veteran journalist who covers international cultures and immigration for The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper. He has written extensively about immigration issues and has interviewed people at all points of the immigrant experience, from undocumented field workers to millionaire entrepreneurs.

Table of Contents

Preface: My Immigrant Experience	p. xv
Acknowledgments	p. xxi
Introduction: Welcome to Immigrant, Inc.	p. xxiii
A Mighty New Idea	p. 1
The Mounting Evidence	p. 7
Discovering a Phenomenon	p. 10
The Accidental Entrepreneurs	p. 12
Urban Legend?	p. 14
A Skill Grows Lucrative	p. 18
Mother of lnvention	p. 19
The VCs' Keen Eye	p. 21
New Seeds, Fertile Soil	p. 23
A Land of Opportunity, Still	p. 27
A True Model Minority	p. 30
An Idea, an Obsession	p. 33
Learning to Persevere	p. 35
Survival, Climbing, and Thriving	p. 38
Where Business is Business	p. 41
Restless Dreamers	p. 45
Seeing it First	p. 47
A 24-Hour Job	p. 49
Mexico Never Tasted So Good	p. 51
No Room for a Dream	p. 53
The Colors of Palestine	p. 56
Earth's Best and Brightest	p. 61
Attracting the Striver Class	p. 64
An African Way	p. 66
The Reluctant Italian-American	p. 67
Out of Shadows, into Solar	p. 71
Love, Study, and a Start-Up	p. 72
At Home Far Away	p. 75
Cowboys of a New Frontier	p. 79
A New Kind of Entrepreneur	p. 81
A Melting-Pot Dream Team	p. 82
The Super Prof	p. 85
Joining a New England Tradition	p. 87
The Guru	p. 88
New Era of Innovation	p. 91
Made in America?	p. 93
Reviving the Motor City	p. 95
Spirits High, Lights Aglow	p. 97
Desperate Achievers: Prequel to Google	p. 99
Starting from Nothing	p. 101
The Boat People	p. 102
An Artful Niche	p. 103
The Family of Google	p. 106
Anxious Wait for Visas	p. 109
Importing Solutions	p. 115
A Gateway Re-Emerges	p. 117
Tapping the Tide	p. 118
Savvy Pilgrims, Creative Shopkeepers	p. 121
A Wave of Home Restorers	p. 123
A Boost for Everyone	p. 125
The Power of One	p. 127
Pushing Open the Door	p. 129
Toward a "Shared Prosperity"	p. 131
A Harlem-Like Renaissance	p. 133
Seeds of Progress	p. 135
The Stimulus We Need	p. 137
An Immigrant Advantage	p. 140
America Losing Ground	p. 145
Suffering an Antiquated System	p. 148
A Better Way	p. 152
The Change We Need-Changing Attitudes	p. 155
Thinking Like an Immigrant	p. 161
The Dream-Keepers	p. 164
A Nation of Immigrants Indeed	p. 166
Keys to Success	p. 168
The Explorer	p. 169
The Knowledge Advantage	p. 172
For Pride, For Family	p. 174
The Power of Teamwork	p. 175
The Possible Dream	p. 177
Appendix	p. 183
About the Authors	p. 211
Index	p. 213
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