If we were to inquire about our parents' aspirations during their formative years, the most likely response would be, "I wanted to graduate, get a job with a stable income, and settle down in my own house."

In the US, the period from World War II to the 2008 financial crisis was called the heyday of The American Dream. The driving force behind this dream can be summed up in one word: work. It all started with the outbreak of the Second World War when most men went to the front and, to maintain the country's economy and production, women joined the labor force. However, even after peace was restored and soldiers returned, women persisted in working. And so, for the first time in history, men and women worked side by side, supporting their families together by bringing home the bacon and paying their expenses.

With two earners in the family, households had a greater amount of disposable income than ever before. As a result, they could acquire larger houses, cars, and state-of-the-art devices, enjoying a standard of living their parents could have only imagined.

However, behind the pretty cover of this American Dream was a long-running marketing campaign aimed at getting people to spend more and more money. This strategy encouraged Americans to associate success with expensive purchases and owning more luxury items than their neighbors.

Nevertheless, the American Dream didn't last long. After the global economic crisis of 2008, steady jobs for the middle class began to disappear. To cut expenses, businesses have either relocated jobs to developing countries or replaced their workforce with technology.

Most modern jobs are temporary and insecure. Many people who invested in education hoping to find a stable job are now unemployed or land low-paying jobs to at least make ends meet. This is undoubtedly a disheartening story. However, should we be demoralized by it? As you will discover, there is a bright side to the downfall of the American Dream, as it has given rise to a new, promising epoch.