What Is Class? Part I
December 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm John R. Sedivy 2 comments
Background
In starting Cape Cod Branding a concept that Amy and I discussed was that of class. The naming of Cape Cod Branding was purposeful in that Cape Cod denotes a certain level of sophistication and draws association with small upscale specialty boutiques as well as a world renowned vacation spot for the wealthy. The branding aspect is meant to connote a certain level of business knowledge and convey this to our customers. This article launches the first of a two part series titled What is Class? In Part I I discuss the concept of class and in Part II class will be defined as well as a practical example provided.
What is Class?
What exactly is class? I would like you to ponder the following questions relating to class:
- Is it the amount of wealth one possesses?
- The level of formal academic education achieved by an individual?
- An individual’s pedigree or upbringing?
I have found the class question to be a tough nut to crack and have had countless hours of discussion with Amy concerning this topic and will provide our conclusions.
While reflecting on this topic I found myself drawing upon my past experiences and those of my business partner to answer this question.
Wealth and Class
Does wealth define class? While cataloging the individuals I had known with wealth there were some I would consider classy, while others were most assuredly not. Conversely, I know of individuals considered poor by material standards but who I consider contain much class.
Education and Class
What about formal education – does this indicate class? Again, as with the wealth aspect, I have found that education does not define class. In my travels I have had the good fortune of interacting with a wide range of individuals from high school dropouts to those educated within the Ivy League. As with the wealth test, I could not surmise a direct correlation between education and class.
Pedigree and Class
Surely then, one’s pedigree or upbringing must indicate class. As with the other aspects, not necessarily. I have witnessed that those with a “proper” upbringing can perhaps erect a facade of class, however those in the know (either raised or self taught) will easily pierce this, regardless of upbringing.
To Be Continued…
In Part II I give you the answer of how I define class based upon my experience and provide an example of class.
Class is an elusive quality and not easily defined!
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
Entry filed under: branding, Business Developement, John's Posts, Personal Developement. Tags: Academic, Amy Stevens Adams, branding, Brands, Business, Business Developement, Cape, Cape Cod, Cape Cod Branding, CCB, Class, Education, High School, Ivy League, John R. Sedivy, John Sedivy, jrSedivy, Marketing, Networking, Pedigree, Specialty Boutique, Success, The Cape, Upbringing, Wealth, web 2.0, Web Presence.
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