The friends you keep can set your value.

<p dir="ltr">One of the most profound concepts I came across recently was attributed to a Ty Cobb quote (arguably one of the best baseballers ever) that is easily applied to marketing and business:</p> <p dir="ltr">"Speed is a great asset; but it's greater when it's combined with quickness and there's a big difference."</p> <p dir="ltr">He was talking about positioning yourself in a game, so you don't have to be necessarily fast, but you are already "there waiting" before the pitch because you are gifted enough to read the cues.</p> <p dir="ltr">But in business this concept can be as simple as leveraging others with bigger, more prestigious, and more celebrity-like brands. </p> <p dir="ltr">Are certain Nike shoes any more intrinsically valuable because Michael Jordan's name is on them? </p> <p dir="ltr">No. </p> <p dir="ltr">But with that name, they ooze value, prestige, and talent. Thus, people line up at night to pay through the nose for them. </p> <p dir="ltr">Same with a brand Kim Kardashian promotes on Twitter or Instagram. She has created entire million-dollar brands for brand new Startups just because she advertised it, and not because the brand is any better or even is any good (aka her recent crypto promotions). </p> <p dir="ltr">This is how you cut in line (or speed things up) on your way to success in marketing. </p> <p dir="ltr">You can spend years and decades slugging it out or you can find ways to get there faster. </p> <p dir="ltr">One way to do it faster is to only associate, do business with, and joint venture with high quality, prestigious, & expensive offers, businesses, or brands. </p> <p dir="ltr">Don't sell cheap, appeal to cheap, or be anything but hostile and antagonising towards all-things cheap. </p> <p dir="ltr">That alone can elevate your business by default, and you are actually expected to charge more. </p> <p dir="ltr">It would be a weird disconnect if Michael Jordan's name was slapped on a pair of $10 sneakers or if Kim Kardashian promotes a $17 bag you can find at Kmart. </p> <p d