Time to get primitive

So last time we discuss the importance of fine-tuning your wardrobe, today I want to get primitive.

It pops up now and again but how can having a male hunter-gatherer nature help our shopping behaviour?

Way back, a man’s job, as a leader of his own cavedom, was to bring home specific items, mostly meat (today’s special is Mammoth trunk. Enjoy!). This led to a very clinical approach to hunting, using knowledge to locate ‘the prey’ in ways that economised time, energy and other resources. Once the mission was completed, they had to get the meat home ASAP for the woman to handle, while they got back to more important things…like waiting for dinner. On the other hand, woman’s job the ‘gatherer of fibers and vitamins’ for balanced diet involved the ‘wondering’. She would use colour, texture and smell, to ensure safety and quality of the veg, this took longer, a lot more energy and not always fruitful. It wasn’t such a see it, kill it and go mentality as the man. So, we understand men and women have different styles but that’s not the end of it. We’ve all witnessed something fundamentally different about men’s shopping trips compared to women’s.

For men, shopping only takes place once a ‘need’ is established. It is only a means to an end and if the need is satisfied, that’s goal achieved! No need to spend precious resources wondering around aimlessly. For men, the ‘means’ is always weighed up against the costs of time, energy and money spent. We’ve all seen it, poor boyfriend is dragged around the shops, looking blankly at us as we try on a very similar dress to the last shop. Then perhaps going back to our original choice, the first thing we looked at 5hrs ago. Women take a different step when shopping and add recreational value to the means. The value is not so much in acquiring something but in the pursuit, pushing the actual ‘function’ of a purchase to the backseat. The thrill of the chase, even though majority of time the chase is often a trying and tiring experience.

There is a lesson to be learnt here. What if as women we look to men here for some shopping guidance (Yes men do have their uses..lol). What if we can learn to shift our focus a little and strike a balance between what we ‘want’ and ‘need’ by approaching it in a sophisticated and logical manner, the way men do. Once we know what works for us, everything else is disposable information you can choose to select from. Surely the biggest gratification should come from the fact that you found something that ticks all the boxes and not just from having another skirt? We’ve all seen what happened to Angela…who needs another one hit wonder

I talked previously about shopping with intent and purpose. Every year as women, we use shopping as a bit of emotional downtime, a retreat or a last ditch attempt to find a one-time show stopper. All of this soothes us for a split second and then the cycle starts again anytime we have an important business engagement or a bit of loose change burning a hole in our purses.

I’m not trying to be a boo-boo here, I just want you to avoid buying things that turn your lovely homes into caves full of objects you never use. As a business owner, all these unworn purchases could amount to money that can go into your business and your life.

So next, time you go to the shops, savour the time and have fun but try and shop like a man…lol! Finding and taking possession of things you need that work for you ….see it, kill (grab) it and go!

Until next time,

Best,
Samantha x