THE AMERICAN DREAM.

The path toward that elusive ideal began when Bill Derry made a casual pitch to his brother Jim Derry: Let's buy a business together.

Like many entrepreneurial moves, this one was full of risks—purchasing a small player in a niche industry where Bill worked but Jim knew nothing about: selling bolts, rivets, and other fasteners to manufacturers. The two brothers took the leap anyway, pushing everything they had to the center of the table to buy the slumping brick building that housed the operation.

The single biggest asset the Derry brothers brought to their new venture was their '60s upbringing in Rockford, Illinois—blue-collar, Screw City, car hoods the size of aircraft-carrier decks, back when nobody knew the word "cholesterol."

Their solid Midwestern heritage shaped and honed Bill and Jim, anchoring them in faith, family, and the relentless pursuit of purpose. And it gave them the traits and tools to grow the sleepy business from less than $1 million in annual revenues to more than $200 million.

Their story reinforces the reality: The American Dream is aspirational and attainable, but never guaranteed. The brothers' inspiring journey also provides a roadmap to finding purpose, living better lives, creating happier and more productive teams, and guiding more profitable ventures.