Episodes
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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 risk07:10 – The hidden costs of “whale-sized” clients12:35 – Things to consider when defining your ideal client17:02 – Knowing what types of clients you'll enjoy working with19:53 – How venture capital funding can make a difference when choosing your ideal clientsLinks and Resources:
"Don't have a biggest customer" from Jason Fried's HEY World"A Static Business is a Healthy Business" from Jason Fried's HEY WorldBooks by 37signals30-day free trial of HEYSign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.comHEY World | HEYThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X -
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 process05:24 – Self-directed work, bug fixes, and tying up loose ends08:22 – Using the downtime for forward thinking and planning12:43 – Viewing the year end as a shift to the next chapter rather than a fresh start
Links and Resources:30-day free trial of HEY
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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Episodes manquant?
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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 way02:31 – The difference between specifying the outcome and diagnosing the actual problem06:27 – The design meeting where the team got to the root of the problem08:32 – Why executive involvement early in the process adds value13:39 – Pivoting on an original idea while maintaining the original appetite16:04 – Creativity often comes when you've hit a roadblock20:07 – The power of Power Through New
Links and Resources:30-day free trial of HEY
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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 else is doing02:26 – Focusing on the things within your control06:58 – Analyzing your business' cash cows, dogs, and shooting stars11:21 – Budgeting doesn’t always mean being frugal12:24 – Weighing cost against value16:16 – What the company gained by letting go of a physical office space18:31 – Aesthetics of a well-run, profitable business21:06 – The biggest expenses entrepreneurs often overlookLinks and Resources:
"You only compete with one thing" from Jason Fried's HEY World
"Our cloud-exit savings will now top ten million over five years" from David Heinemeier Hansson's HEY World37signals' meet-up expenses
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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 cloud03:47 – How to prioritize work when managing multiple product lines11:33 – Deciding what problems to tackle first18:49 – The company's take on equity and the structure of their profit-sharing planLinks and Resources:
37signals' Employee Handbook
Basecamp classes with live Q&A
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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 challenges.
Key Takeaways:
00:40 - The habit of the present. What people are already doing?02:19 - A customer's alternative isn't always your direct competitor05:06 - 37signals competition now vs. when the company started06:29 - Being open to something new often requires breaking a habit12:13 - Considering what people are replacing when developing 37signals newest products14:00 - How dogfooding your product helps you figure out what it needs17:33 - Using free trials, 1:1 demos, and group classes to give potential customers experience with your product
Links and Resources:Jason's post about what your product replaces on X
Basecamp classes with live Q&A
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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.
00:37 - A single open-ended question can reveal a wealth of valuable insights05:51 - Listen for the language customers use in their feedback for possible marketing opportunities08:42 - Form questions and answer fields that allow customers to use their own words to express what they think14:18 - Focus on organic feedback rather than quantitative metrics
Key Takeaways:
Links and Resources:Customer feedback on basecamp.com
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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.
00:35 - The problem with imagined use cases07:21 - A trimmed down V1 gives you permission to focus on what's most important10:28 - The story of Highrise17:27 - “Dogfooding” to help identify and address product issues20:48 - Avoid the temptation to react too quickly to early customer feedback23:11 - Design breakthroughs come to life by creating innovative solutions
Key Takeaways:
Links and Resources:Version 1 is for you – Jason Fried's HEY World post
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com\
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X -
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 created02:39 - The write up serves as both an internal reminder and a practical manual for how communication is handled at 37signals06:36 - Why publishing doesn’t require perfection10:52 - Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings18:26 - How unclear communication can come across negatively23:03 - Why you shouldn't rush tough conversationsLinks and Resources:
The 37signals Guide to Internal Communication
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X -
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.
00:45 – Saying yes often comes with regret03:00 – Yes feels good until it’s time to fulfill the commitment07:58 – Adding features to products often results in layered complications14:53 – Saying no is more difficult when you have the capacity to say yes19:51 – The courage to say no creates space for simplicity29:30 – The best way to say to no to customer requests
Key Takeaways:Links and Resources:
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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.
00:50 - Jason shares the early history of 37signals' meet-ups02:18 - Why in-person conferences build deeper connections than online meetings06:57 - How the location and architecture of meeting spaces can elevate the experience15:30 - Weighing the financial cost of a meet-up against the value it delivers18:48 - Memories from the company's Atlanta gathering22:17 - An inside look at the meet-up agenda
Key Takeaways:Links and Resources:
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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 optionality03:19 - Ideas and decisions don’t have to be perfect when a company is run efficiently09:26 - 37signals history with buyout offers11:22 - When it was tempting to consider venture capital offers18:03 - Finding fulfillment in doing what you love rather than creating solely for profitLinks and Resources:
“Achieving Optionality” HEY World post by Jason Fried
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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.
00:47 - Jason recalls his first speaking gig02:30 - David shares his preferred style of delivering a talk 06:48 - Preparing for talks, podcasts, and Q&A sessions08:15 - Preparing for keynote speeches and speaking with authenticity13:05 - Examples of great public speakers who are authentically themselves on stage14:43 - Being comfortable improvising a bit on stage
Key Takeaways:Links and Resources:
Books by 37signalsSign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.comHEY World | HEYThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X -
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.
00:54 - The before and after of 37signals' experience with full-time managers08:34 - The founders thoughts on being directly involved in the business10:36 - Why the company's management hierarchy works best for the founders17:17 - 37signals' career ladder doesn't necessarily mean people leadership20:03 - What company size makes sense for having more management layers
Key Takeaways:Links and Resources:
HEY World post – We once more have no full-time managers at 37signalsBooks by 37signalsSign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.comHEY World | HEYThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X -
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 simple10:55 - Why small businesses don't need to act like big businesses12:04 - The beauty of embracing what you don’t know when starting something new18:01 - Building products with depth versus surface area23:09 - Knowing when to listen to customers for product input and ideasLinks and Resources:
Merchants of Complexity Post by David Heinemeier Hansson
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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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 process07:34 - How much input Jason and David have in the Kickoff13:43 - What Kickoffs & Heartbeats look like for departments with ongoing work17:37 - The Heartbeats as an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the work of individual employees and team22:50 - The benefits of writing up work summaries for institutional historyLinks and Resources
Shape UpBooks by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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This week on the REWORK podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson answer another round listener questions. Jason and David talk about the ups and downs of their long-running business partnership and friendship, tackle a critical question about Basecamp, and share their thoughts on starting a new company. Plus, they reveal the inspiration behind their Campfire software.
Key Takeaways
00:34 – How Jason and David's partnership has stood the test of time
09:21 – A listener's opinion on Basecamp's shortcomings
14:56 – Advice for building a new company from the ground up.
25:35 – Creating products out of a need versus seeing a business opportunity
Links and Resources
Is group chat making you sweat?Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY World | HEY
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X
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In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, return from a summer hiatus to answer a new set of listener questions. They dive into topics like the role of A.I. in writing and their updated thoughts on staying Facebook-free. REWORK host, Kimberly Rhodes also gets in a question of her own.
Key Takeaways
00:38 - Emphasizing the importance of using your own voice in writing rather than relying on AI
05:50 - Discussing how targeted advertising can be beneficial for some but not for everyone
08:50 - One disagreement with a company or person shouldn't lead to complete condemnation
19:28 - David shares his reflections on taking a summer break from X (formerly Twitter)
Links & ResourcesGoogle pulls Dear Sydney ad
Google - Dear Sydney Ad
ONCE.com
Jobs at 37signals
Books by 37signals
HEY World
The REWORK Podcast
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
37signals on X
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In their book REWORK, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson write about the benefits of building products and services that you use yourself. "The easiest, most straightforward way to create a great product or service is to make something you want to use." In this episode, originally aired November 2, 2021, Jason and David sit down with Shaun Hildner to discuss creating products that scratch your own itch.
Key Takeaways
00:43 – The origins of Basecamp and how it fulfilled an internal need04:38 – Building to solve your own problems vs. someone else's06:27 – The evolution of HEY and how it was created to solve their own frustrations with email09:50 – How building for yourself leads to better quality control 14:25 – The problem with creating MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) and building based on customer feedback aloneLinks and Resources
Books by 37signalsSign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.comHEY World | HEYOnce | CampfireThe REWORK podcastThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X -
In this episode of the Rework podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with Eron Nicholson from 37signals' operations team. He shares insight on his role and the department's various functions. The conversation covers details on the ops team structure, system reliability, global expansion projects and more.
Key Takeaways
00:38 - Meet Eron02:17 - The structure of the “ops” team05:15 - On-call coverage and schedule08:40 - Managing data center outages13:25 - Balancing project cycles with system administration16:56 - A sneak peek into the Amsterdam projectLinks & Resources
37signals developers blogOptimizing Site Performance via Anycast RoutingJobs at 37signalsONCE.comBooks by 37signalsHEY WorldThe REWORK PodcastThe REWORK Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube37signals on XSign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
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