Ask For Opportunities

A lesson from Kanye West's documentary about taking initiative and creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you.

Core Example: Kanye's Studio Sessions

• When record label wouldn't fund studio time, Kanye created opportunities:

  • Asked Jamie Foxx to use his home studio
  • Got Jamie Foxx to do vocals, which became part of "Slow Jams"
  • Turned a favor into a successful collaboration

• Jay-Z Studio Encounter:

  • Asked Jay-Z if he could rap for him during Jay-Z's session
  • Freestyle rapped without a backtrack
  • Impressed Jay-Z enough to get featured on his track
  • Got Jay-Z's endorsement: "Kanye West man, he's got it, he's gonna be big"

Real-World Application (Shaan's Story)

• College Experience:
  • Took "Getting Rich" class at Duke
  • Hedge fund investor asked class to pitch business ideas
  • When everyone stayed quiet, Shaan seized the moment
  • Pitched sushi restaurant concept (Chipotle for sushi)
  • Recognized the "fork in the road" moment to take initiative

Key Principles

• Don't wait for permission or perfect timing
• Create opportunities through direct asks
• Turn small openings into bigger opportunities
• Take initiative when others stay quiet
• Use confidence to create momentum

Documentation Method

• Keep notes of lessons and opportunities
• Write down key moments and insights
• Track potential ideas for future use
• Build repository of experiences and lessons