REWORK

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 ships
• 07:15 – Who makes the final call after internal feedback comes in
• 12:44 – The importance of building things you’ll actually use
• 16:48 – Some products and features don’t make it past internal testing

Links and Resources:

• “Doing what you think, not what you thought” from Jason Fried’s HEY World
• Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• HEY World | HEY
• REWORK podcast merch
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

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 learn
• 03:20 – Ditch the roadmap mentality in favor of real-time decision-making
• 07:20 – There’s a difference between winging it and planning as you go
• 09:10 – Why 6-week cycles give you just enough structure without locking you in

Links and Resources:

• “Doing what you think, not what you thought” from Jason Fried’s HEY World
• Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• HEY World | HEY
• REWORK podcast merch
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

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 about balancing consulting with product building
• 01:01 – Why it’s easier than ever to build something—but harder than ever to get noticed
• 05:48 – The barrier to entry is low, but staying in the game is the hard part
• 08:05 – There’s no formula for what will take off and what won’t
• 13:08 – Aim for more than just small wins—set bold goals
• 16:04 – You have to be fully invested if you want your idea to stand a chance

Links and Resources:

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

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
• 11:35 – Striking the right balance between ego and humility
• 15:00 – Profitability isn’t guaranteed forever
• 18:27 – Well-managed profits create reliability for customers

Links and Resources:

• Why We Choose Profit
• 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

Can you build a company that thrives even when you’re not in the room? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about the jobs they've created for themselves and how they're able to step away without progress coming to a halt. They discuss the fine line between being involved and letting the team run things without them.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:14 – The importance of creating a job for yourself that you enjoy
• 02:45 – The tragedy of owning a business you don't love
• 06:56 – Staying relevant in your business and knowing when to step in
• 15:14 – Knowing when to step back so your team can grow
• 17:51 – Maintaining a life outside of your business and having work/life balance
• 20:36 – The parts of the business that require the founders' involvement
• 23:33 – Jason and David's stance of not being serial entrepreneurs

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

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