Labor Day is around the corner so everyone’s making travel plans and thinking about gas prices. There’s nothing wrong with that, but here in our corner, we’ve been thinking about the spirit of Labor Day. Sure, Labor Day fun facts are popping up around the internet: Labor Day began in Canada in 1872 (Forbes) and on February 21st 1887, Oregon was the first state to legally make Labor Day a holiday. There are many more interesting facts to go around, but what piqued our curiosity is the meaning of Labor Day.
The United States Department of Labor describes Labor Day as being dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. What a fantastic and necessary dedication to hard working Americans who continue to strive for more. This country is most certainly built on hard work and sacrificial leadership. Each day, well known American’s like Oprah and lesser heard of American’s such as Georgia-Pacific Professional’s 2012 Great American Worker contest winner Rose Cceberio, push further and further to achieve and build a better future. So in honor of Labor Day, we’ve compiled a list containing some of the greatest American Workers and achievers whom symbolically stand for free enterprise and the opportunistic qualities of the American dream:
- Eli Whitney‘s invention of the cotton gin in 1793 was a game changer. Though the cotton gin unfortunately further spurred the slave industry in the South, it also revolutionized the American cotton and trade industry.
- In 1890, Frederick W. Taylor pioneered the field of scientific management in the late 19th century, carefully plotting the functions of various workers and then devising new, more efficient ways for them to do their jobs.
- In 1913 Henry Ford introduced the assembly line, a step in the process that became known as mass-production. Of course, Ford’s accomplishments enabled cars to be accessible by every-day citizens.
Henry Ford Working. Photo Credit: Inc.com
- On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened (The Street). This was one of Walt Disney’s greatest accomplishments. Neal Gabler told CBS News that Disney’s “greatest legacy was his mindset that you could look at the world and impose your will on it. You could control a world that seemed so out of control. He seemed to make dreams come true.”
- Sam Walton launched the first Wal-Mart in 1962.
- On June 20th, 1975, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws ushered in the blockbuster era in Hollywood.
- Also in 1975, Bill Gates began his Micro-Soft software venture, which went on to have a defining role in technology and culture (NPR).
- In 1986, Oprah launched the Oprah Winfrey Show which eventually amassed some 42 million viewers and improved lives around the country.
- Steve Jobs pioneered the launch of the Iphone in 2007, which has gone on to make MSN Money’s top 10 list of best selling products ever, raking in $150 billion revenue for Apple as of 2012.
Clearly, this list could go on for ages. Hardworking Americans have set the bar for top achievement. From visionary leaders to public speakers, this country produces and nurtures bright minds. The future holds many more astounding achievements for Americans, and today we celebrate the hard work it takes to make big things happen. Visionaries lead the way, but every day in the office or the factory, strong-willed people make these dreams transform our world. This Labor Day, remember the great accomplishments of the past and celebrate the amazing feats to come.
