My previous post got me thinking about status symbols and the assumptions we make. You see someone driving a BMW, a Mercedes Benz, an Infiniti, you usually think they are big time and have a great life. It's the clothes people wear, the shoes they own, the malls they shop (here in St. Louis it's the aforementioned Plaza Frontenac), the stuff they own.
Products that can make that leap to "status symbol" are destined for greatness, at least in the short term. And, they usually have prices that reflect this status. Take iPod as an example...they are the most expensive mp3 player on Earth, and the most popular. You may even catch peeps with other mp3 players referring theirs as an iPod...another way you know you've got a status symbol on your hands...they have become the generic name for a product class(think "Coke"). How about that Starbucks coffee? There's something about carrying that cup (and the magical sleeve it comes with) that screams status symbol...as you scream about how much you just spent on cup of coffee. Status symbols get to our emotions as we make bad decisions and overpay for something because of what it represents. Or is it what we think it represents? Other status symbols off the top of my head: Sirius Satellite Radio, Motorola RAZR Phones, In-Ground Sprinkler Systems, paying a company to fertilize your lawn. The list could go on for days.
The interesting thing: we all know these are status symbols, for some of us it is subconscious. And, when it gets down to it, all it does is project an image of you that is entirely surface, nothing deeper. So, the next time you are driving to work and you see that person in that fancy car, realize they might not be in such a great situation...remember that a crazy amount of peeps in the world are deep in debt. One of my first blog posts was about a neighbor that freely admitted he bought an in-ground sprinkler system because everyone else in the neighborhood was doing it, despite the fact he had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" (his words) to get it installed. And there's the problem, put yourself in a dire financial situation for a sprinkler system.
It's time to wake up and smell the coffee (I'm not talking the $8 a cup Starbucks variety)...and start watering your lawn the old fashioned way.
