I like to write about our Values, our Worldviews, and the Subcultures we inhabit — but I don’t think I’ve ever clearly explained why, have I?
Maybe I’ve never written about it clearly before because it hasn’t been clear to me why it really matters until now.
Having knowledge about these topics is a business owner’s secret weapon. For they determine what and why we buy.
They’re psychographics and they explore an individual’s concepts of the world they live in. Demographics don’t have a chance against these bad boys.
Can I Get a Definition?
We use a lot of words every day. And many words — words that I use and you use — mean different things to me than they do to you.
For that reason, I feel like I always liked definitions as I often find myself asking, “yes, but what does that word really mean?”
What are Values?
Values are what’s important in your life (your life priorities). Values are what you actually do, accomplish and be.
You live your values. Each of us commits our actions in pursuit of the important matters in our lives.
Your “individual character” is built around your deeply held values and the meanings and worldviews associated with them.
Values determine how and if you will vote, what products and services you will buy, how you live, and what kind of future you want for yourself and your loved ones.
What are Worldviews?
Worldviews are your set of beliefs about “how things work”, “how life is” and “what’s objectively important in life”. It’s your perspective, your point-of-view on life.
An interesting thing about your worldview is that the more you believe that your worldview defines you, the tighter you grasp onto it’s truth.
Your worldview can be your pain and it can be your peace.
What are Subcultures?
Subcultures are a cultural group (e.g., the Cultural Creatives) within a larger culture (e.g., Canadian culture), often having values and lifestyles alternative from those of the dominate culture.
Dr. Paul Ray (who wrote The Cultural Creatives) observed that there are three major subcultures in the Western World — the Moderns, the Traditionals and the Cultural Creatives.
Everyone within these subcultural groups shares similar values, worldviews and lifestyles and these things define their actions far more than any other subculture they may belong to, including their Ethnic subculture.
Psychographics – what and why we buy
A powerful thing about psychographics is that, as a business owner, the more you work on your own understanding of your values, your worldviews and what subcultures you connect with, the stronger your understanding of your customer’s psychographics will be.
A more empathetic understanding of what and why you buy can help you more authentically understand and connect with the buying motivations of your customers.
And the best part is you may just find that you know your customers far better than you think you do, and that they value, view and live in the world very similarly to you.
photo credit: illuminaut
