In 2014, Harden spent 500,000 yuan to invest in sports drinks. How much is the appreciation now? Netizen: Make a lot of money

Do you know? Sometimes what changes life may be a word from a friend.

On the afternoon in 2014, Kobe patted Harden on the shoulder and said, "Brother, don't put the eggs in the same basket, just invest in a project with me." It was such a simple suggestion that Harden's $500,000 turned into 28 million in 7 years! This is not an inspirational chicken soup, but a wealth legend that really happens outside the NBA arena.

Speaking of Kobe, everyone's first reaction must be the "Black Mamba" who made a decision on the court. But you may not know that Kobe, who took off his jersey, has an admirable business acumen.

In 2014, Kobe, who was at the peak of his career, made a decision that many people were confused - spending $6 million to invest in a sports drink brand called BodyArmor. You know, at that time, there were already giants like Gatorade on the market. An emerging brand wanted to get a share of the pie, which was simply a mantis arm to get a car.

But Kobe is Kobe. What he values ​​is not only the product itself, but also the potential and differentiated positioning behind the brand. Where others see competition, he sees opportunities.

What's even more rare is that Kobe didn't have this opportunity exclusively. He found Harden and said earnestly: "Investing in this matter cannot be done by luck, but also by vision. Don't put all your money in the same place. "

Harden listened to Kobe's advice at that time, and might still be muttering in his heart: $500,000 to invest in a beverage brand? Is this reliable?

But you have to listen to your friends' words, let alone a life mentor like Kobe. So Harden gritted his teeth and took out $500,000 to follow up on BodyArmor. Compared to Kobe's 6 million, Harden's 500,000 looks like a "try-water" small fight.

But who would have thought that this "small fight" eventually became one of the most wisest decisions in life.

7 years later, in 2021, Coca-Cola announced the acquisition of the remaining shares of BodyArmor for US$5.6 billion, and the entire brand valuation soared to US$8 billion. what does that mean? Harden's 500,000 instantly turned into 28 million, a full 56 times return! Kobe's 6 million has become about $400 million.

You may ask, why can BodyArmor's valuation surge in just a few years? The answer is simple - Kobe's personal influence is the greatest brand asset.

BodyArmor's co-founder Mike once said a very interesting thing: "Kobe's investment not only brings us financial support, but more importantly, it brings brand vision. "

Think about it, when Kobe appeared in BodyArmor's advertisements, when he mentioned this brand on various occasions, that kind of influence could not be bought with no amount of money. This is the commercial value of top IPs - not just endorsements, but deep binding.

More importantly, Kobe's understanding of products and brands is far beyond that of ordinary investors. In his autobiography "The Spirit of Mamba" he mentioned: "Whether in the basketball court or in the business field, we must maintain attention to details and desire for victory." This persistence in details allows him to judge BodyArmor's advantages in product innovation and market positioning.

After reading the story of Kobe and Harden, you may think: I am not an NBA star, what does this opportunity have to do with me?

In fact, what is really worth learning is not the specific project of investing in BodyArmor, but the investment thinking behind them.

The saying that Kobe taught Harden - "Don't put all the money in the same place" isn't this what we often call diversified investment? Moreover, the logic of Kobe's investment in BodyArmor is also very simple: be optimistic about the long-term prospects of a track, choose brands with differentiated advantages, and then use their own resources and influence to help them grow.

This idea can be applied to our lives. For example, if you are optimistic about the future of new energy vehicles, then invest in related stocks or funds; if you think healthy diet is the trend, then focus on organic food or meal replacement companies; if you think content creation has promising, then learn related skills or invest in platform stocks.

The key is to have a long-term perspective, rather than thinking about making quick money when you go in and out.

After all, the most important thing about Harden's ability to obtain these 56 times the investment return is not the 500,000 principal, but Kobe's friend. Sometimes, the advice of a good friend can really change your life trajectory.

This reminds me of a sentence: Your circle determines your height. The reason why Kobe can give Harden such advice is not only because he has business vision, but also because he is willing to share opportunities. A true friend does not congratulate you after you succeed, but thinks of you in front of opportunities.

Of course, we must also be open to friends’ suggestions like Harden. Many times, we are used to our own comfort zone and are instinctively repelling new things. But if Harden rejected Kobe's advice because he "don't understand the beverage industry" or "investment is risky", he would have missed the most important wealth opportunity in his life. The BodyArmor investment story of Kobe and Harden looks like a privilege that only superstars can enjoy. But if you think about it carefully, everyone has their own "Kobe" around them, and every era has their own "BodyArmor".

The key is, when the opportunity comes, do you have enough vision to identify, do you have enough courage to act, and do you have enough patience to wait.

As Kobe said, no matter what field he is in, he must keep his attention to details and desire for victory.. This "Mamba Spirit" is not only suitable for basketball courts, but also for every choice in life.