Ignoring the competition, the next wave of CEOs & other listener questions
In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson answer listener questions. They explain why keeping tabs on competitors isn’t part of their strategy, reflect on the changing face of leadership as younger CEOs step in, and talk about the energy that comes with fresh perspectives.Key Takeaways:00:22 – Why focusing on your customers matters more than watching competitors05:55 – A new wave of CEOs is bringing a fresh approach to leadership10:34 – Why you don’t always need a mentor—sometimes figuring it out is the best teacher17:38 – Jason and David’s different views on handling employee roadblocksLinks and Resources:Record or upload a video question for Jason and DavidGet Basecamp for free at Basecamp.comBooks by 37signalsHEY World | HEYREWORK podcast merchThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X
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24:24
By the Numbers
How much data do you really need to make good decisions? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about 37signals’ evolving relationship with analytics—from working with a full-time analyst to now focusing only on the numbers that truly matter. They share why gut feeling, curiosity, and margin often outweigh dashboards and reports—and how trimming the data obsession can lead to better, bolder decisions.Key Takeaways:00:09 – The shift from having a full-time data analyst to working without one02:25 – Just because you can’t measure it doesn’t mean it’s not important07:59 – Analytics don’t always drive product decisions10:15 – How financial margin fuels freedom to experiment13:42 – Don’t let data make you overly cautious15:26 – David’s take on cutting unnecessary costs19:48 – Weighing cost vs. value when making decisionsLinks and Resources:Record or upload a video question for Jason and DavidGet Basecamp for free at Basecamp.comBooks by 37signalsHEY World | HEYREWORK podcast merchThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X
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22:45
Rapid Fire Questions with Jason and David
In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes puts 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson in the hot seat with a round of rapid-fire questions — from favorite apps and founder skills to customer requests and what's coming next.Key Takeaways:00:11 – Favorite software that Jason and David use (that they haven't built)03:42 – Underrated skills every founder should develop06:26 – Times they’ve completely changed their minds on a decision14:05 – Customer feature requests that likely won’t ever happen15:36 – A new 37signals product is on the wayLinks and Resources:Screen Studio – https://screen.studio/Obsidian – https://obsidian.md/Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.comBooks by 37signalsHEY World | HEYREWORK podcast merchThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X
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21:18
Eat your own dog food
Before anything ships at 37signals, the team puts it to the test—by using it themselves. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about the importance of dogfooding, or using your own product before handing it off to customers. They share how this practice keeps them close to the real problems, and sometimes even kills off ideas that just don’t hold up.Key Takeaways:00:27 – Why every 37signals product is used internally before it ships07:15 – Who makes the final call after internal feedback comes in12:44 – The importance of building things you’ll actually use16:48 – Some products and features don’t make it past internal testingLinks and Resources:“Doing what you think, not what you thought” from Jason Fried’s HEY WorldGet Basecamp for free at Basecamp.comBooks by 37signalsHEY World | HEYREWORK podcast merchThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X
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21:14
Picking Priorities
How do you decide what to work on next, without relying on a long, stale to-do list? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about why they don’t rely on lengthy roadmaps to set priorities. Instead, they focus on what makes sense now, not what seemed like a good idea months ago. They explain how working in real time leads to better decisions and thinking that fits the moment.Key Takeaways:00:44 – Priorities aren’t permanent—they’re meant to shift as you learn03:20 – Ditch the roadmap mentality in favor of real-time decision-making07:20 – There’s a difference between winging it and planning as you go09:10 – Why 6-week cycles give you just enough structure without locking you inLinks and Resources:“Doing what you think, not what you thought” from Jason Fried’s HEY WorldGet Basecamp for free at Basecamp.comBooks by 37signalsHEY World | HEYREWORK podcast merchThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X
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.
South Africa