Dressing Down is a "Status Symbol" Only for the Actual Rich Elite

Some people live life as though they are permanently on an Oscars Red Carpet event. Constantly obsessing about what they are wearing, which car they are driving and what designer clothes so-and-so is wearing or how much someone’s handbag costs. We come from generation and generations of poverty, how can we afford to spend so much time on frivolous things like clothing?

When asked “what would you do if you got up the next morning 1million, 5million, 10million, 50million or 100million richer?” 90% of people responds with “I’ll go shopping spree”. This responds always make me wonder, is our biggest life problem lack of possessions – like clothing, cars, houses, etc? If same people were living for a bigger purpose, would their first responds still be to go shopping? 

This is What Happens When Material Things Become a Symbol of Personal Identity

 

Studies and just plain observation shows that people with unimaginable success, inventors of unusual things, extraordinary leaders/CEO’s, owners of conglomerates, etc – do not so much care about "things". These people live for something far bigger than looking fly. An outfit cannot change the world, it probably won't even change your day. So, why don’t we focus on far more bigger things? Things that will outlive us. Why don’t we focus on things like legacy building and generational wealth?

Mark Zuckerberg isn’t Mark Zuckerberg because he dresses nice/expensive. He is Mark Zuckerberg because he built Facebook. Steve Jobs is Steve Jobs because he built Apple... not because he had the latest Ferrari or Roy Royce.

Speaking of Mark Zuckerberg, actually he is not on the list of best-well-dressed. Zuckerberg (worth 66 billion USD) is known for his famous gray T-shirt – he said, “I refuses to spend any of my energy on things that are silly or frivolous”. Barack Obama is also known for his gray or blue suits (he said in an interview, “I'm trying to pare down decisions”).

Bill Gate(worth 91 Billion USD), a great man who held the position of world’s richest for 18years has been jokingly described as dressing like a high school math teacher.

Steve Jobs, Apple founder, a man who built the greatest and most innovative tech company in the world was famously known for wearing just a simple black poloneck jersey, blue jeans and sneakers almost every day.

Jeff Bezos, current world’s richest man yet there’s nothing about his looks that screams “I AM THE WORLD’S RICHEST MAN. He’s just a simple man with a simple clean look. But I’ll have to give it to him though, he is definitely one of the best dressed compared to his billionaire comrades I’ve mentioned here.

The list goes on, there’s Phil Knight, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, Aliko Dangote, Strive Masiyiwa, Larry Page, Patrice Mostepe, etc. These all fall in the list of world’s Richest but could never make it to the list of world’s best dressed due to their simplicity. The world’s richest people understands the science of simplicity. They don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Its about WHO you are not what you were.

Well, there is nothing wrong in looking nice or dreaming to have a better life. In fact, most of us dream of being filthy rich someday. Where the struggle to choose between bread or butter ends coz we can’t currently afford the two at a go. The idea of nice clothes, cars, and a sweet penthouse seems all so appealing. But what if we have it in reverse? What if there is more to life?

The filthy rich people of the world don’t really spend their money the way we would. The world’s richest think of buying something that will turn their 80 billion into 90 billion (investments) while an average person is probably thinking of what’s the latest car in the market.

I guess we now have a clear understanding why the world’s richest gets richer and the poor getting poorer. 

When you are no longer in this world, what will you be remembered for? Let's wake up and focus on bigger things. We have a continent to build. Africa is waiting for you! You owe it to your children and the next generation to leave your legacy in Africa and the world.

Also read This is What Happens When Material Things Become a Symbol of Personal Identity

By Nicky Verd 

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I am Nicky Verd, a Prolific Writer, Blogger and Transformational Speaker. I am passionate about inspiring you to Take Ownership of Your Life. Reconnect with your dreams and jump-start your personal transformation. 


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