In this episode I will explain why this is the most underrated statement of the mindset of a person who is truly free.

To start off, let’s be inclusive, and imaginative here. Don’t take this statement too literally. What this reflects is an attitude.

What is a luxury item? According to Investopedia, a luxury item is not necessary to live, but it is deemed highly desirable within a culture or society. Luxury items tend to be sensitive to a person's income or wealth, meaning that as wealth rises, so do purchases of luxury items.

You may be familiar with AP watches, Burberry scarfs, Cartier diamond necklaces, … there’s a luxury brand for every letter of the alphabet, you can find it on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Luxury_brands

Luxury items are a way for us to signal to the people around us that we’ve made it. In a later podcast, I will be doing weekly book reviews, and one book goes deep into modern biological theory - which basically says all of life have just 2 goals: survive and propagate. Nothing else matters, if you’re not going to survive or propagate. Everything people do is to achieve either or both of these goals. Even when people do crazy things to be remembered. Because being remembered is a way to “survive” in that your memory or identity survives the passage of time.

Why do people buy luxury items? Even though it’s overpriced, and you don’t need it intrinsically to live? It’s just to signal that if I can afford this, I have enough resources and capabilities to survive and propagate. The more extreme my wealth, the more I’m proving this. This is why Apple can charge such steep prices for their products. Because they have solidified themselves as a luxury brand. If I wear an Apple Watch, I’m signalling to all the ladies in the room that If you mate with me, the chances that our offspring will survive is much higher than the dude who uses a Pixel phone. No hate on Google, but if you don’t get my point, notice what happens at high school gatherings when people pull out their phones.

Let’s go back to the statement and examine the other part: Wear … for curiosity only - not trying to extract any value or function out of it.

This is essentially the mindset equivalent of “luxury”, or the other way round, you get it. Just like how you don’t actually extract any value or function out of luxury items, wearing your watch for curiosity only is the same: you’re not trying to use it in any way to survive. You’re just curious.

This is such a mindset to strive for: “mindset goals” anyone? This is when you’re not bound by society’s expectations. You’ve made it, but you’re so over your friends pressuring you into joining them with their next big purchase.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, be sure to share, download or follow this podcast on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts from. If you’re stuck in a day job, and want to win a free 30-minute call on how to start your own e-commerce business, email me with the subject line Episode 10 to [email protected]