I agree that Zara needs to lean into more fashion(distinct strength) and how it relates to modes.
I also am curious how “modes” relates to internal narrative.
Sometimes when I get home from work, I got from work mode to chef mode to dad mode.
These are different narratives wrapping the story of my life as I do these jobs. Do these then alter my behavior and encourage me to act the way I believe I should act in those mode?
Hey Reilly I had not really thought about internal or personal narratives as a part of what makes modes function in daily life, but it makes sense. There are certainly negative modes and positive modes and sometimes the only difference between the two is my inner voice. So, I can experience a negative travel mode and a positive travel mode and they feel like two very different things. Sometimes external factors affect negative versus positive but sometimes, to your point, it's the stories that I tell myself.
As the story continues with events that range from waking up, commuting, work, family, wind-down, travel/vacation, etc. — our narratives contort the story based on the contextual intake and the "mode" we label it.
It's the classic "the person and the situation."
Perhaps the negative modes are when our perception of a mode is not met.
When I'm in travel mode, it should be like X not Y.
So when the expectation of a certain mode is disrupted, we get cranky.
This may also be an issue caused by subcultures clashing, as the groups identify modes differently and don't agree on them, hence culture clashes.
Just as my ideal vacation mode is one of reading and swimming laps, it would stress me out being on vacation with someone who wants to explore and be out.
Same mode, different meanings that have been shaped by our upbringing and overall perception based on "how we think it should be"
So, to your point, an external factor may not be inherently negative, but simply a mismatch of our mode, meaning that it disrupts our expectation. Which leads to the victim narrative and a nice little pity party.....
Appreciate your thoughts and taking the time to share.
Hi Reilly! Thanks so much for listening and for the great comment and question! I feel like you're describing my daily life -- swap mom mode for dad -- and it all fits! We have become increasingly adept at mode swapping. In the (good?) old days, before every facet of our lives was tech-enabled, we were more likely to be in one mode at a time. One of the superpowers technology has given us is the belief that we can switch modes on a dime. As I mentioned in the episode, I think the most friction comes when we don't have time to switch modes and try to layer conflicting modes on top of one another. Your question about narratives is interesting. I think you're speaking to belief systems here. For modes, we are usually talking about how people get something done, so in chef mode on a regular Monday my goal is to get something that passes for balanced and healthy on the table, eaten, and cleaned up as quickly as possible. So many narratives inform that single mode: I *believe* I need to provide food that is healthy. I *believe* I need to leave the kitchen clean afterwards. I *believe* there is limited time. So, in answer to your question: Yes, our narratives are constantly informing our modes. As experience creators, we need to help people do what they're trying to do in a way that fits the context, so we don't always need to understand all of the belief systems, but we do need to understand the goals and context of the mode. Thanks again for listening and keeping the conversation going here in the comments!
Yes I really like the note about conflict in overlapping modes. A solid point for brands to remember in experiences and if they are accidentally forcing guests be in in 2+ modes at once!
Totally true about the context.
I've always been fascinated by the typical career-driven American when they enter "vacation mode" (I've always been self-employed, so this phenomenon has been of observation and not my personal experience!)
Their behavior of this defined mode is based on the belief of how they THINK they should act. (i.e. take shoes off, drink alcohol, overeat, etc) — so their subjective perception of this mode is the belief that then gives guidance for how they behave.
However, I agree that we cannot predict the subtle subjective nuances of each perceptive belief behind a mode. My version of "work mode" or "parent mode" are most likely different than yours.
So perhaps that the most immersive of experiences is when a mode is agreed upon, but also how that mode is perceived. Yes the group is smalller, but that is the point!
As Godin says "people like us do things like this"
Okay... I'm done. Thank you for letting me ramble.
Interesting episode today!
I agree that Zara needs to lean into more fashion(distinct strength) and how it relates to modes.
I also am curious how “modes” relates to internal narrative.
Sometimes when I get home from work, I got from work mode to chef mode to dad mode.
These are different narratives wrapping the story of my life as I do these jobs. Do these then alter my behavior and encourage me to act the way I believe I should act in those mode?
Thoughts?
Hey Reilly I had not really thought about internal or personal narratives as a part of what makes modes function in daily life, but it makes sense. There are certainly negative modes and positive modes and sometimes the only difference between the two is my inner voice. So, I can experience a negative travel mode and a positive travel mode and they feel like two very different things. Sometimes external factors affect negative versus positive but sometimes, to your point, it's the stories that I tell myself.
I like that.
As the story continues with events that range from waking up, commuting, work, family, wind-down, travel/vacation, etc. — our narratives contort the story based on the contextual intake and the "mode" we label it.
It's the classic "the person and the situation."
Perhaps the negative modes are when our perception of a mode is not met.
When I'm in travel mode, it should be like X not Y.
So when the expectation of a certain mode is disrupted, we get cranky.
This may also be an issue caused by subcultures clashing, as the groups identify modes differently and don't agree on them, hence culture clashes.
Just as my ideal vacation mode is one of reading and swimming laps, it would stress me out being on vacation with someone who wants to explore and be out.
Same mode, different meanings that have been shaped by our upbringing and overall perception based on "how we think it should be"
So, to your point, an external factor may not be inherently negative, but simply a mismatch of our mode, meaning that it disrupts our expectation. Which leads to the victim narrative and a nice little pity party.....
Appreciate your thoughts and taking the time to share.
I can certainly identify with the "getting cranky" part when my modes are disrupted....
Cognitive dissonance gets us all!
Hi Reilly! Thanks so much for listening and for the great comment and question! I feel like you're describing my daily life -- swap mom mode for dad -- and it all fits! We have become increasingly adept at mode swapping. In the (good?) old days, before every facet of our lives was tech-enabled, we were more likely to be in one mode at a time. One of the superpowers technology has given us is the belief that we can switch modes on a dime. As I mentioned in the episode, I think the most friction comes when we don't have time to switch modes and try to layer conflicting modes on top of one another. Your question about narratives is interesting. I think you're speaking to belief systems here. For modes, we are usually talking about how people get something done, so in chef mode on a regular Monday my goal is to get something that passes for balanced and healthy on the table, eaten, and cleaned up as quickly as possible. So many narratives inform that single mode: I *believe* I need to provide food that is healthy. I *believe* I need to leave the kitchen clean afterwards. I *believe* there is limited time. So, in answer to your question: Yes, our narratives are constantly informing our modes. As experience creators, we need to help people do what they're trying to do in a way that fits the context, so we don't always need to understand all of the belief systems, but we do need to understand the goals and context of the mode. Thanks again for listening and keeping the conversation going here in the comments!
Totally agree Aransas.
Yes I really like the note about conflict in overlapping modes. A solid point for brands to remember in experiences and if they are accidentally forcing guests be in in 2+ modes at once!
Totally true about the context.
I've always been fascinated by the typical career-driven American when they enter "vacation mode" (I've always been self-employed, so this phenomenon has been of observation and not my personal experience!)
Their behavior of this defined mode is based on the belief of how they THINK they should act. (i.e. take shoes off, drink alcohol, overeat, etc) — so their subjective perception of this mode is the belief that then gives guidance for how they behave.
However, I agree that we cannot predict the subtle subjective nuances of each perceptive belief behind a mode. My version of "work mode" or "parent mode" are most likely different than yours.
So perhaps that the most immersive of experiences is when a mode is agreed upon, but also how that mode is perceived. Yes the group is smalller, but that is the point!
As Godin says "people like us do things like this"
Okay... I'm done. Thank you for letting me ramble.