It was a shift from tunnel vision to seeing the entire forest.

I was challenged like no other - going from being surrounded by liberal city folks to rural folks who were into machine operation, cutting metal, and farming.

• I didn’t know anyone

• I constantly felt like fish out of water – that awkward newbie who was too quiet

• I felt out of place – I lived in a diverse suburb now I stayed in small-town America

But I transformed from a Liberal No Details Boy to a Hands-On “Gear Smith”

During my first days in the factory, I was awkward, speechless, and struggled to converse with anyone.

I just didn’t have much to say because I kept thinking I have nothing in common with these folks. I was scared because I didn’t know anything about gear manufacturing. But, then I started to figure out if I just took interest in learning about the process people would be more than happy to teach me.

In 3 months I went from knowing nothing – to be able to recite the process in my sleep. I could even explain how each of the super complicated million-dollar machines functioned.

The first-hand experience with a self-made founder is priceless exposure

The founder came from extremely rural India and he set up a shop that made the finest gears in the world.

He grew up with little income, barely had a formal education, and fought his way to a life in the United States. Despite all odds against him and a constant uphill battle of fighting for cash to build the factory, he pulled through in building a really difficult part for the fastest cars in the world.

Just spending time with him made me believe diverse experiences like this are priceless. Our personal collection of lenses grows from these stints.

Made in America is very much alive – It is just being driven in an unexpected way.