The Mindset of Dapper Dan (part one)

Deep Dive N°2, Part 1

Author

LaToya Allen
May 17, 2025

Welcome to The Strategy Files—a newsletter about history's most ambitious people in fashion, beauty, and culture. I study the icons, you apply their strategies; you win.

This month’s deep dive comes from the book Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem.

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12 Lessons From This Month’s Deep Dive:

  1. Think in frameworks.  Dan has a framework for picking your next big idea and another for building a team. This saves him time and energy.

  2. Validate your idea by talking to potential customers.

  3. Not everyone can come with you. Even when you want them to.

  4. Know more than the competition. Even if you’re only competing against yourself.

  5. Build your network before you need it. 

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