I was discussing with a friend who is very, very particular about the type of places she is seen in. I mean, of course, nobody wants to be in sketchy company. But hers is a little too intentional. Even when she did not have a job, she would work freelance out of 5-star hotel lobbies, bars and restaurants she could definitely not afford. She’d wear her best blazer and a pair of heels and look the smartest that she can.
She would save to book business class tickets rather than economy class.
Her strategy? To meet people of a higher social class than her.
Her theory? People hardly ever marry up. At least not without trying. There may be some truth in her belief system. Think about it. It is only in movies that the Prince goes incognito to a grocery store and falls in love with a common girl. That sounds straight out of Nollywood. Or a Harlequin novel, right?
The families from old money and the spouses they have are usually at the same level of the status hierarchy. And then normal people like us most likely run in “normal social circles.” Well, that’s because it most likely is. People from drastically different social classes don’t just happen to bump into each other in hallways. This could be because they run in the same social circles, or as I like to call it—power circles. And if you don’t insert yourself into these circles, there’s no way it’s happening.
So, my friend may have a point. You can give yourself an edge by somewhat being in the places where these people live, work, and converse. This does not have to be for just marriage like my friend’s agenda. It could be for business, career-building and networking. That is why in that regard, some parents spend a lot of money sending their children to schools of the elite. Because education is one thing, and exposure is another thing entirely.
Take heed however not to be malicious, fake or greedy because you’re trying to make new, albeit powerful friends. You can’t know everything they do. So it’s best to not lie or act as you do. You should not pretend to, for example, have been to places you haven’t even heard of. Or own things you don’t actually own.
That would just be a case of Jennifer in ‘Jennifer’s diaries’ It should rather be the calibre of conversations you are going to have with them that would speak well for you. Let your intelligence come into play and you won’t need to fake anything. Everyone, both wealthy and average, can smell a fraud from a mile away, and you don’t want to be that person or make that impression. Because if an average person is guarded, you can imagine what it is like for stinking rich and/or powerful people that already try to keep their circle small.
So if you’re going to be like my friend who pins $200,000 wedding rings on Pinterest even when she’s not ready for the lifelong settlement, but is ready to meet Prince Charming, these may well be the facts.