Let me preface this entire piece about this next polarizing polymath by saying this: I stopped trying to defend Kanye’s genius several years ago. But just because he can be attributed to saying some of history’s wildest (and downright dumbest) comments, doesn’t mean we can’t learn something from him.

In episode 003 of The Dabble, we will cover Sequential Intelligence using Kanye’s infamous rise (and fall).

In Laymen’s terms, Sequential Intelligence is the understanding and ability to produce a set of strategic moves where each move lays the groundwork for the next. Sequential Intelligence is how you take last week’s Skill Fan exercise and turn a snowball into an avalanche.

A lot can be learned from how Kanye’s journey. He started as a producer, then a music artist and fashion icon, before becoming an entrepreneur who hit a net worth of $2 Billion. Up until that point, Kanye was giving the world a masterclass in Sequential Intelligence.

In a nutshell, here are some of the moves he made…

MOVE #1: Leveraging his most in-demand skill

Kanye had a skill every Chicago rapper needed… he made beats. Yeah, he could rap, but there was a surplus of that, but not everyone made good beats. He went all in on his “hub skill” of hitmaking, encompassing everything that went into producing a hit record. The demand for his skill eventually landed him as a producer on Jay-Z's album "The Blueprint" in 2001.

This first move gave Kanye the credibility and connections he needed to pursue his dream of becoming a rapper. When thinking about all of the moves you could possibly make, think about leveraging the skill and attention you already have and how you can use it to propel you towards the skills you need that will get you the attention you desire.

MOVE #2: Transitioned into rapping by leveraging his network

Kanye could already rap. He also proved that he knew how to replicate hit record after hit record. Despite initial resistance from record labels, Kanye persisted until finally releasing his debut album, "The College Dropout," in 2004. The album was critically acclaimed and commercially successful, establishing Kanye as a major artist.

After establishing his dominance in a small market (ie. music artists and rappers), he entered a new, bigger market by stepping out from behind the scenes and becoming a household name. His first big hit came by way of collaboration with Jamie Foxx and Twista, “Slow Jamz.”

Once you’ve leveraged your skill by providing value to experts in your profession, with the right collaboration, they become your peers. As an added effect, the collaboration can provide a “co-sign” that indicates to the market you are transitioning into that you’re the real deal.

MOVE #3: He found his look and voice, then innovated

Kanye didn’t create anything innovative out of the gate; he first released “The College Dropout,” which counted with relevant hits and collabs with relevant artists. Once he had the ear of the market, he started to innovate with his tracks on "Late Registration," "Graduation," "808s & Heartbreak," and "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Not only did each album introduce new sounds and concepts, but he also made sure that his visuals were cinematic and aesthetically captivating, which prepared the path for his next move…

MOVE #4: Transitioning into the Fashion Game, Then the Media Game.

I’ll be careful not to give Kanye too much credit here because Dapper Dan was making hip-hop culture and fashion accessible to luxury brands WELL before him. But, we have to admit that Kanye most definitely impacted the fashion world. I distinctly remember when backpacks became a trend, thanks to the man himself.

If you are interested in his full transition into fashion, here is a GQ piece that documents the unabridged history of his contributions to the space. <link>

The important thing to learn about his moves is that it took lots of strategy or wherewithal to understand how each move would impact the next. Each time he focused on the successful completion of one move, he’d open up a web of options for additional moves he could take, then take a huge swing on the ones he knew he had the biggest likelihood of knocking out the park.

Yeezy launched multiple companies and backed multiple ventures that would eventually make him a billion-dollar brand.

Sequential Unintelligence

If you don’t think sequential intelligence is a thing, then you put yourself at a serious disadvantage. Not only do you miss opportunities to turn “small moves” into bigger opportunities, but by not strategizing a sequence of moves, you allow external factors to affect your next move. There is also a chance that your wins will be isolated and not leveraged properly, which can lead to what I call “high school quarterback syndrome.” You’ve heard them before… middle-aged men who perpetually recount the highlights of their heyday.

ALL OF YOUR MOVES MATTER. And, your next move, if not planned properly, can completely nullify all of the hard work you put in.

Kanye’s ego led him to a sequence of missteps from erratic behavior, public outbursts (yes, even years after the Taylor Swift mic snatch!), a forgettable political run, and antisemitic comments, to name a few. This sequence of missteps knocked him out of billionaire status, and should serve as a cautionary tale that we should never rest on our laurels… you could always experience a fall from grace.

A quick overview to help you think about your own sequence of moves.

1. Analyze your overall goal and break it down into smaller tasks or steps, like we did with The Rock last week.

2. Determine the order of tasks based on their importance and urgency (exercise below). Prioritize tasks that need to be completed first to build a solid foundation for the following actions.

3. Arrange tasks in a logical order that makes sense in the context of your main goal. Each completed move should create a logical path for your next move to happen.

4. Identify dependencies between tasks. Dependencies are the tasks that cannot begin until others are completed. Understanding what your dependencies are is crucial for effective sequencing. Example: it was easier for Kanye to launch a fashion brand once he became a famous rapper heralded for his sense of fashion.

5. While having a sequence is important, remain flexible to adjust the order as needed. Unexpected challenges or new information may require you to pivot.

   Let me wrap up by saying this: Sequential intelligence provides clarity on what needs to be done next and gives you a mental framework to help you maintain focus and reduce confusion (my fave). As someone whose superpower and kryptonite is ADHD, sitting down and mapping out my sequence of moves allows me to have a sort of visual dashboard I can keep handy to make complex goals into smaller, and more manageable sequential steps.

   Sequential thinking aids in better decision-making by ensuring that each step is considered in the context of the overall goal.

Keep scrolling if you’d like an exercise to help you plan out your next sequence of moves…

Let’s take all of your moves and put them in writing to make it easier to visualize. Grab a pencil and paper and follow along…

THE SEQUENTIAL INTELLIGENCE MATRIX

1. List Tasks: Write down all tasks or actions you need to and want to take. Look for any tasks that are dependent on the completion of another, then chunk them under a main task(s) you need to complete first. Circle the actions that have the most dependencies. For now, we’ll call these circled actions “kick-starters.” Kick-starters usually can be completed without any dependencies.

2. Drawing the Matrix: On a separate sheet, divide the page into four quadrants and label them as follows:

   • Top left: Urgent and Important

   • Top right: Not Urgent but Important

   • Bottom left: Urgent but Not Important

   • Bottom right: Not Urgent and Not Important

3. Fill In The Quadrants: Place each kick-starter into the appropriate quadrant based on its urgency and importance. You can only complete one task at a time, so you should place importance and urgency on the tasks that will open the most possibilities with the lowest barrier to entry and the least amount of effort and resources.

4. Make it your own: Write down your thoughts outside of the matrix. It really helps to visualize all of the actions you need to take. Remix the exercise and make it fit your needs!

Your exercise should look somethin’ like this:

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