> I don't know why people do it. I can't answer this myself, but I've gotten some hints at it over my lifetime of hearing my dad's stories (repeated over and o

> I don't know why people do it. I can't answer this myself, but I've gotten some hints at it over my lifetime of hearing my dad's stories (repeated over and over...) One is that it's part of the American dream. As immigrants, being able to say that you made it and are self-made can mean a lot. Second and probably more importantly, successfully running a business, along with all the financial risks included like loans, can give you a leg up in one crucial area that is very hard to acquire as a poor immigrant - high credit score. This let's you get far better loans, mortgages, etc. Having that history where you can prove that "yeah, I make good on my debts" goes a very long way. Especially if you're as savvy as my dad.