A few years ago, I received a series of "class rules" through an instant messaging group. The list describes how everyday things are interpreted, depending on your social class.
At that time, I was part of an executive master program at a very prestigious university, it cost me a third of my yearly income and had a huge impact on my personal life and finances.
Reading that list made me realize in just a few seconds that I had been studying there for four years for a completely different reason than those around me. I felt heavily depressed first, then I realized it was actually possible to switch my expectations. I focused the last few months on building and strengthening connections, it completely changed my relationship with this university and the people there.
Money:
- You're poor? spend.
- You're middle class? manage.
- You're wealthy? invest.
Food:
- You're poor? quantity.
- You're middle class? quality.
- You're wealthy? presentation.
Time:
- You're poor? present.
- You're middle class? future.
- You're wealthy? tradition.
Education:
- You're poor? abstract.
- You're middle class? success and money.
- You're wealthy? connect.
Family structure:
- You're poor? matriarchal.
- You're middle class? patriarchal.
- You're wealthy? whoever owns the money.
Driving forces:
- You're poor? relationships.
- You're middle class? achievements.
- You're wealthy? finances, social life.
Language:
- You're poor? casual.
- You're middle class? formal, to negotiate.
- You're wealthy? formal, to network.
Social drive:
- You're poor? inclusion.
- You're middle class? self-sufficiency.
- You're wealthy? exclusion.
Personality:
- You're poor? be fun.
- You're middle class? be an achiever.
- You're wealthy? connect.
Destiny:
- You're poor? it's fate. You can't change it.
- You're middle class? your choices.
- You're wealthy? your expectations.
Hope it inspires someone :)