A podcast by 37signals about the better way to work and run your business. The REWORK podcast features the co-founders of 37signals (the makers of Basecamp and HEY), Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sharing their unique perspective on business and entrepreneurship along with host Kimberly Rhodes.
En este episodio, Jason Fried y David Heinemeier Hansson de 37signals discuten la importancia de no depender de hojas de ruta extensas y prioridades fijas. En cambio, enfatizan la toma de decisiones en tiempo real y la flexibilidad para adaptarse a los cambios, utilizando ciclos de seis semanas para mantener el enfoque sin comprometerse a largo plazo. Destacan que las prioridades deben ajustarse según la información más reciente y la capacidad del equipo.
Have a day job but dreaming of launching the next big thing? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , a listener question sparks a conversation with 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about juggling consulting work while building products on the side. They share real talk about timing, expectations, motivation — and why your side project should serve you, even if it doesn’t turn into a smash hit. Key Takeaways: 00:12 – Host Kimberly Rhodes reads a listener question abo...
In a world where constant reinvestment is celebrated, 37signals chooses profit. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about how profit gives them freedom, clarity, and staying power—not just for the company, but for their customers too. They make the case for building a business that’s solid, simple, and self-funded. Key Takeaways: 00:27 – How being profitable is actually a choice 08:34 – Why it’s important to take money off the table 1...
Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss building a business that can run without the founders needing to be constantly involved. They explore the importance of creating enjoyable roles for themselves, the tragedy of entrepreneurs who dislike their day-to-day work, and the balance between staying relevant and allowing the team to grow. They also touch on adapting roles over time, avoiding overwork, and the challenges of serial entrepreneurship.
Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss how 37signals manages to increase capacity and expand their product lineup without significantly growing the team. They reflect on past strategies, the ideal team size, and the importance of having 'spare capacity'. The conversation explores the balance between business needs, personal interests, and the need for continuous learning and innovation through the creation of real, shippable products.
Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson answer listener questions in this episode of The REWORK Podcast . They discuss the roles 37signals hires for (and the ones they don’t), the importance of staying accessible as a founder, and the thought process behind choosing a business structure. Key Takeaways 00:16 – Employee roles at 37signals 04:33 – How non-programmers contribute to programming 16:44 – Techniques for writing job descriptions 18:47 – Tips for being an accessible founder 25:22 – Decid...
Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss the decision to reintroduce a free plan for Basecamp, exploring the reasons behind it and its potential impact. They reflect on past pricing strategies, the importance of exposing the product to a wider audience, and the long-term benefits of offering a free option. They also touch on the costs associated with free plans, the challenges of measuring intangible benefits, and pricing considerations for new products.
Jeffrey Hardy discusses 37signals' unique approach to company structure, which favors mentorship over traditional management roles. He explains the company's evolution away from conventional management, the importance of hiring self-directed individuals, and the specific strategies used for effective mentorship, such as live code reviews and focusing on teaching values and decision-making skills.
Does blogging still matter in tech? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals' Principal Programmer Jorge Manrubia about why blogging is very much alive. They dig into the history of the 37signals developers blog, the company's process for contributions, and the added benefits this communication tool provides. Key Takeaways: 00:50 – Meet Jorge 01:03 – The history of the 37signals developers blog 02:25 – The process — who contributes and how topic...
There is a way to bring your customers together in a meaningful way. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , host Kimberly Rhodes welcomes 37signals' Support Team members Merissa Dawson and Ashley Bowe to discuss how the Basecamp Community came to life. They describe how they've connected with Basecamp customers and how they've connected customers with each other. They also offer a few tips for anyone looking to start their own community of customers and company enthusiasts. Key T...
Customer support is more than just a department — it’s a core feature of any great product. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , Kimberly Rhodes chats with Chase Clemons, Head of Customer Support at 37signals, about the company's view of support as a product feature. They discuss 37signals' approach to helping customers, the value of ongoing training, and how AI can fit into support strategy without sacrificing the personal connection. Key Takeaways: 00:37 – Chase Clemons, Head of S...
Wondering when it’s the right time to grow your team? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson chat about their “hire when it hurts” approach as described in their book REWORK . They cover why you shouldn’t rush into bringing someone on board, how to know when there's a critical business need, and how to seize the moment when the right people show up. Key Takeaways: 00:38 – Try tackling projects with the team you already ha...
How does 37signals decide when software is ready to ship? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss the company's Seven Shipping Principles . They dive into when a product update is good enough to ship and the importance of making updates to solve actual problems. Key Takeaways: 00:11 – We only ship good work. 03:36 – The problem with MVPs 04:41 – We ship when we're confident. 10:08 – We own the issues after we ship....
In this episode (originally aired February 1, 2022), 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with Shaun Hildner to discuss the consequences of building a business solely with the intention to sell. They share their perspective on building a business for the long haul versus for an exit. Key Takeaways: 00:46 – Building a company to sell can encourage mediocre output 07:14 – Taking shortcuts is a reflection of one's character 09:41 – Why it's better to ha...
Bigger isn't always better. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share the drawbacks of chasing high-profile, enterprise deals. The two founders explain why they prefer their business model that's built around serving smaller clients. Key Takeaways: 00:35 – The biggest clients can quickly become the biggest burden and the biggest risk 07:10 – The hidden costs of “whale-sized” clients 12:35 – Things to consider when defi...
As the year winds down, 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson join host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about the company's end-of-year routine. They explain their process for the last few weeks of the year that aren't part of a formal six-week cycle, and they share what they gain from this transitional period of "wandering." Key Takeaways: 00:43 – The informal end of year process 05:24 – Self-directed work, bug fixes, and tying up loose ends 08:22 – Using t...
Before introducing a new product feature, it’s essential to first understand the problem you're trying to fix. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share a recent experience designing a new feature in HEY. During the process, the team pivoted and changed direction, resulting in a better design. Key Takeaways: 00:44 – The original product design plan and what changed along the way 02:31 – The difference between specifying the...
Remaining profitable in business is a simple equation — sales revenue exceeding operating costs. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson explain why controlling costs should be a bigger focus than what your competition is doing. They share some simple strategies for analyzing costs and share why operating without a formal office space might be worth considering. Key Takeaways: 00:37 – Why you should stop worrying about what everyone...
Every week, we invite listeners to send in their questions for 37signals’ co-founders, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. In this episode, they tackle a fresh set of asks, covering topics from managing multiple product lines, the company’s bonus structure, and their thoughts on incorporating AI into their tools. Key Takeaways: 00:37 – How 37signals' looks at AI and using AI while exiting the cloud 03:47 – How to prioritize work when managing multiple product lines 11:33 – Deciding wh...
When it comes to business, it’s important to consider not only what customers would gain by using your product or service, but also what they're giving up. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, chat about understanding your customer's needs and motivations. They highlight that your competition isn't always who you think it is, and they discuss ways to position your product to address the customer's actual ch...
Ever filled out a customer survey? For this conversation, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, share their approach to gathering customer feedback. They discuss the timing and frequency of feedback requests, the power of open-ended questions, and how to transform customer language into effective marketing. Key Takeaways: 00:37 - A single open-ended question can reveal a wealth of valuable insights 05:51 - Listen for the language customers use in their feedback for ...
In this week's episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share their approach to product design, explaining why the first version of a product (V1) is always built for the company's internal use case. They discuss responding to user feedback and the importance of actively using their own products to uncover issues. They also dive into the challenges they've faced when building software for someone else's needs vs. their own...
37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share insights from their write-up, The 37signals Guide to Internal Communication . They discuss effective communication strategies within the company and with the public, offering practical advice to consider when conveying messages. Key Takeaways: 00:41 - The backstory of how the guide was created 02:39 - The write up serves as both an internal reminder and a practical manual for how communication is handled at 37signals 06:36 - W...
In their book REWORK, 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson write about the power of saying no. This week on the podcast, they revisit that idea, diving into the hidden costs of saying yes and the burden of commitments that often come with it. They also discuss how saying no preserves simplicity and helps maintain focus. Key Takeaways: 00:45 – Saying yes often comes with regret 03:00 – Yes feels good until it’s time to fulfill the commitment 07:58 – Adding features to p...
Twice a year, 37signals brings the entire team together for a company meet-up. In this week’s episode of The REWORK Podcast , co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson reflect on how these meet-ups began and how they've evolved over time. They also discuss how they prepare for the meet-ups and the importance of the venue selection. Key Takeaways: 00:50 - Jason shares the early history of 37signals' meet-ups 02:18 - Why in-person conferences build deeper connections than onli...
37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson explore the many benefits of having full control over their business. They talk about the importance of taking measured profits and running an efficient operation, which allows freedom to create without constraints. This approach gives them room for trial and error and plenty of flexibility for expanded opportunities. Key Takeaways: 00:41 - The launch of Writebook confirmed 37signals' achievement of optionality 03:19 - Ideas an...
It's been reported that up to 75% of the population has a fear of public speaking . This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, recount some of their previous speaking engagements and share a few tips for building the skill. They discuss the styles of successful speakers and their thoughts on being over prepared. Key Takeaways: 00:47 - Jason recalls his first speaking gig 02:30 - David shares his preferred style of delivering a talk 06:48 - Preparing for t...
37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss their unique approach of operating without full-time managers. They reflect on the company's experience with full-time managers and share why they've moved to a flatter organization. Key Takeaways: 00:54 - The before and after of 37signals' experience with full-time managers 08:34 - The founders thoughts on being directly involved in the business 10:36 - Why the company's management hierarchy works b...
This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, examine why it's advantageous to keep things simple — in both products and business. They challenge the idea that complex or bespoke tools are the best way to go and lean into not overcomplicating things. Key Takeaways: 00:34 - The power of keeping things simple 10:55 - Why small businesses don't need to act like big businesses 12:04 - The beauty of embracing what you don’t know when starting something new 1...
37signals works in 6-week cycles, which begin with a Kickoff and wrap up with a Heartbeat. In this week’s REWORK podcast, co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson break down the purpose and benefits of the Kickoff and Heartbeat documents and share tips for implementing this process across an organization. Key Takeaways 00:40 - When 37signals started using Kickoffs and Heartbeats 02:13 - Details of the Kickoff write-up process 07:34 - How much input Jason and David have in the Kickoff...
