Working My Pearls Day 36: Pearls and Power

Julius Caesar created a law that only aristocrats could wear pearls. A number of European countries had similar laws restricting pearls to the noble classes. Ancient Egyptians were buried with their pearls so that they could carry their power into the afterlife. My favorite story of this kind, however, is about a pair of pearl earrings. Cleopatra wagered Marc Antony that she could host the most expensive dinner in history. The story goes that she removed one of her pearl earrings, dissolved it in vinegar and drank it, offering the other earring to her dinner companion for his dinner. Having gotten her point, Marc Anthony apparently declined the dish.

Power comes in many forms and is displayed in many different ways. Some people surround themselves with status symbols to ensure everyone knows how wealthy they are. Others drop the names of powerful or high-ranking people into their casual conversations to remind others of their access and influence. Still others take advantage of their hierarchical status to advance their own causes, treating knowledge and support as things in scarce supply. How do you display your power? Is it a tool to use in a zero-sum game? Or something to be shared to ensure all boats rise? I like it best when we all win. So wear your pearls.