Immigrants: The Ultimate Entrepreneurs  

45 years ago my dad left everything in India to move to the U.S.

Legend has it that when my dad landed at JFK International Airport, an immigration agent asked “Hey kid - where are you headed?” To which my dad replied “Michigan!” “How much money do you have?” asked the man. “Oh, about 8 dollars,” my dad said proudly. The immigration agent called his friend over. “Hey Chuckie, this kid has $8 and he’s gonna find his way to Michigan!” They laughed. My dad was perplexed and felt a twinge of doubt. How was he going to get to Michigan? More importantly, how was he going to make it in America?

Well, he made it. And your parents did too. When I think about what it takes to start from nothing, I think about my dad.

Starting a company is hard – he did that successfully.
Starting your life - that’s on a completely different level.

I wish I could give my dad, and your parents, medals. They are the ultimate entrepreneurs.

Saleem S. Khatri is the Co-Founder and CEO of Instavest, a website where investors post their investments and then other investors can replicate those positions and donate a portion of their profits.