I bought a Birkin as an investment. It taught me a hard lesson about human judgment
In 2017, I bought my first Birkin. Not because I wanted to impress anyone. Not because it was a status symbol. I bought it because I saw it as an investment . As an entrepreneur, I naturally look at assets differently. If something has the potential to hold or appreciate in value, I’m interested. Ironically, after spending so much on the bag, I barely used it. It stayed in my closet because I was…
In 2017, Kate Hancock purchased her first Birkin bag, not for status or vanity, but as an investment. As an entrepreneur, she saw value in assets that could appreciate. Ironically, she barely used the expensive bag, keeping it in her closet out of fear of damaging its resale value. One day, she realized that the bag was limiting her experiences.
People treated her differently when they saw her carrying the Birkin, opening doors and receiving warmer service. This unexpected change in perception led her to reflect on human judgment and the role of first impressions. Humans make rapid judgments based on cues like clothing, titles, and reputations, even before getting to know someone's true competence.
Hancock's experience taught her that perception often influences access and that signals we send daily impact how others view us. While some may argue this shouldn't matter, she believes that understanding human psychology doesn't mean becoming fake. Instead, it means recognizing reality and deciding how to show up within it. Now, Hancock sees her Birkin as a lesson in perception, understanding that while the bag opened doors, maintaining strong character, competence, and results keeps those doors open.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
