How do you do more without growing your team substantially? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how they’re expanding their product lineup while keeping their team lean. They reflect on how their approach to building software has evolved, and how pushing into the unknown makes the work more exciting. 

Key Takeaways

• 00:28 – How 37signals’ product lineup has evolved over time
• 08:00 – Why the company is adding a product designer to the team
• 15:07 – Finding the “fun” in creating new products
• 18:50 – Challenging yourself by stepping into the unknown
• 23:16 – Using real products as a way to do research and development

Links and Resources:

• We're hiring a Product Designer!
• Find out about future job openings at 37signals
• Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

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 – Deciding on a business structure

Links and Resources:

• We're hiring a Product Designer!
• Find out about future job openings at 37signals
• Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• 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 are back to talk about the ins and outs of offering a product for free. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, they break down why they decided to reintroduce a free Basecamp plan, how offering free access can actually drive sales, and balancing analytics with instincts.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:45 – The original philosophy behind Basecamp’s free plan
• 03:14 – Going beyond the free trial
• 07:36 – Tracking analytics without getting lost in the numbers
• 12:48 – The true cost of offering something for free
• 19:13 – Pricing strategies for new products 37signals is building

Links and Resources:

• Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

There are no full-time managers at 37signals, but that doesn't mean the company is void of mentorship. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with Principal Programmer Jeffrey Hardy as he breaks down the company’s focus on peer-to-peer mentorship. They discuss hiring practices that allow for less management and what mentorship looks like amongst the team.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:42 – Meet Jeffrey Hardy, Principal Programmer
• 02:09 – The evolution of 37signals' management structure
• 05:19 – Replacing managers with mentors
• 10:53 – How hiring impacts the ability to operate without managers
• 13:35 – The power of seeking entrepreneurial experience
• 15:10 – A day in the life of a mentor
• 17:40 – Tips for being a better mentor

Links and Resources:

• Books by 37signals
• 30-day free trial of HEY
• 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

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 topics are decided
• 05:09 – Benefits of writing on the blog and sharing content with the public
• 07:40 – What to consider when starting a company blog
• 09:43 – Sharing code isn’t as revealing as you might think
• 11:28 – Secondary benefits of sharing your content
• 13:30 – What’s next for the blog?

Links and Resources:

• The 37signals Dev Blog
• Books by 37signals
• 30-day free trial of HEY
• 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

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 Takeaways:

• 00:40 – Meet Merissa and Ashley from Basecamp Support
• 01:54 – The Basecamp Community origin story
• 05:03 – The Community as a place for sharing and collaboration
• 07:20 – The 37signals team role within the Community
• 09:08 – Starting a community without fear of failure
• 13:27 – Tips for starting your own community of users and fans

Links and Resources:

• Join the Basecamp Community
• "Launch: 37signals Answers" from Signal v. Noise
• How Decent Espresso uses multiple tools in a single Basecamp project
• Books by 37signals
• 30-day free trial of HEY
• 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

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 Support at 37signals
• 02:12 – Customer Support is a feature, not a cost center.
• 04:09 – Support should focus on the customer experience
• 06:36 – Using case studies to train your support team
• 07:49 – Team members are trusted to use good judgment
• 09:58 – Maintaining a friendly, conversational tone with customers
• 11:27 – Measuring success in Customer Support
• 14:12 – AI vs. the human element in Support
• 17:25 – Encourage customers to reach out

Links and Resources:

• Books by 37signals
• 30-day free trial of HEY
• 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

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 have before hiring
• 02:43 – Some roles don’t call for a full-time position
• 07:33 – Knowing the difference between an actual staffing shortage vs. just being busy
• 09:48 – A workload spike doesn’t always mean it’s time to expand
• 12:33 – Snagging available talent early if you’re already planning to hire soon
• 15:35 – One open position can become multiple hires when the talent pool is just right

Links and Resources:

• Books by 37signals
• 30-day free trial of HEY
• 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

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.
• 13:41 – We don’t ship if it isn’t right.
• 17:11 –  Making sure your solution tackles a real problem
• 20:00 – We ship to our appetite.

Links and Resources:

• “Seven Shipping Principles” from the 37signals website
• Books by 37signals
• 30-day free trial of HEY
• 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 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 have a commitment strategy than an exit strategy
• 11:21 – Not all businesses should become unicorns
• 14:58 – What the founders would do if they had to begin again

Links and Resources:

• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X