Welcome back! We're kicking off the new year with an episode full of practical advice about onboarding new employees. Ashley Bowe from Basecamp's customer support team talks about how they welcome and train new colleagues, and leadership coach Karen Catlin of Better Allies shares advice and examples of what companies can do to build more inclusive cultures. Show Notes Basecamp's Support team - 00:47 The Better Allies Approach to Hiring by Karen Catlin - 1:03 "Hire When It Hurts," our episode about hiring - 2:51 Entry in Basecamp's handbook about summer hours - 6:44 "I've never had a goal" (Signal v. Noise) - 7:36 Shaun talks about not eating lunch for a week in "Workaholics Aren't Heroes" - 9:03 Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson write about the joy of missing out in this Quartz essay - 14:39 Karen Catlin on Twitter | her website | Better Allies on Twitter | Better Allies website - 19:28 The Uber leather jacket debacle was chronicled by Susan J. Fowler in her now-famous essay about working at Uber - 22:43

Welcome Aboard

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.

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Management

"Consensus is cozy, but broad agreement is not our aim. The right decision is. Which is why we take the time to think, debate, persuade, listen and reconsider and then, someone, decides. If you disagree, that’s fine, but once the decision is made, it’s time to commit and support it completely."

Tune in as Kimberly leads a chat with Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, about the concept of Disagree and Commit. Once a decision is made, everyone should be in 100% — no looking back.

 Key Takeaways: 01:01 - Breaking down how Disagree and Commit operates

02:17 - Identifying the most suitable person to make the final decision based on the circumstance

07:40 - Embracing the "manager of one" concept, empowering individuals to decide independently with reasonable supervision

09:33 - Acknowledging that delegating decisions doesn't compromise the emphasis on quality

14:04 - Always keeping the door open to revisit and tweak things

15:44 - Granting capable individuals the freedom to make mistakes, alongside providing guidance for improvement

20:35 - Viewing hiring not just as an evaluation of current abilities but also considering potential growth opportunities. 
Links and Resources: Jeff Bezos 2016 Letter to Amazon Shareholders There’s No Speed Limit by Derek Sivers –  https://sive.rs/kimo  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

Disagree and Commit

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founders of 37signals, dive into their book REWORK and discuss the essay “Strangers at a Cocktail Party” with Rework host, Kimberly Rhodes. From their experience, hiring too many people at once can throw off the balance and continuity of a company's culture. They talk about the importance of gradual assimilation and how culture is implicit, not always written down. They share insights on the value of fresh perspectives and the excitement of facing challenges head-on.

 Key Takeaways: 00:30 - Gradually integrating new hires is important for upholding an organization's established norms and values.

02:30 - Company culture is nurtured through the daily interactions and collective experiences shared within an organization.

05:34 - New hires inject new perspectives and innovative ideas into the mix.

07:14 - Embracing crises and novel challenges is part of the excitement of running a business.

12:19 - Reflecting on the hiring patterns at 37signals.

14:23 - While change is essential for adjusting the company's culture and strategy, it's vital to implement it carefully and minimize disruptions.

 Links and Resources: The Half-Life of Facts by Samuel Arbesman All About Atlas - Boston Dynamics Robot 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

Strangers at a Cocktail Party

This episode of REWORK delves into an essay from the book "It Doesn't Have To Be Crazy At Work," co-authored by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, advocating for the use of asynchronous communication for work projects. During the discussion, they explore the downside of chat and suggest it be reserved for informal discussions and social interactions.

Key Takeaways:

00:36 - Different communication methods in the workplace – chat vs. asynchronous 

02:22 - The benefits of centralized communication for project management and how chat can hinder productivity

09:20 - Managing multiple conversations for a single project

11:28 - How project management tools reduce the need for frequent meetings, check-ins, and follow-ups

20:05 - Data retention practices for both formal and informal communication

Links and Resources:

Once. com – https://once.com/
Campfire – https://once.com/campfire
Books by 37signals – https://37signals.com/books
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
HEY – https://www.hey.com/
The REWORK podcast – https://37signals.com/podcast/

Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website. Full video episodes are available on YouTube and X.

If you have a question for Jason or David about a better way to work and run your business, leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email, and we might answer it on a future episode.

The Wrong Time for Real Time

In this episode of REWORK, host Kimberly Rhodes sits down with the co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, to provide an update on their latest product — Campfire, under the Once umbrella — just about one month after its initial launch. Once introduces a new software paradigm where users pay just once and own it forever, departing from the conventional subscription model. The discussion delves into their pricing strategy, their emphasis on long-term profitability over immediate gains, and offers insights into what lies ahead for Once. Key Takeaways:

00:32 - Initial Reflections: Once, 30 Days In 

02:03 - Setting Benchmarks: Unveiling Novel Concepts for Long-Term Success 

09:58 - Embracing the Journey: Finding Joy in the Process 

13:39 - Looking Forward: The Future Trajectory of Once 

15:53 - Taking Risks: Navigating the Gambles of Product Launches 

23:24 - Pricing Puzzles: Deciphering the Right Value

Links and Resources: Once. com and Campfire
Books by 37signals
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
 HEY.com
The REWORK podcast
The Rework Podcast on YouTube
The 37signals Dev Blog
37signals on YouTube
@37signals on X 

More Than a Month of Once

37signals is hiring! However, the traditional resume and formal education credentials don’t rank as high as you might think in their hiring process.

In this episode of The Rework Podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about reviewing potential job candidates. You’ll hear them discuss why a personalized cover letter can tell a lot more about a potential hire than chronological work history, and why AI isn’t always a dependable author for those details. Key Takeaways: 00:45 - Resumes are basically piles of lies 02:27 - Cover letters should explain why you want the job 05:07 - Test driving final candidates 11:05 - Jason and David’s involvement in the hiring process 18:59 - Finding employees that are the right cultural fit

Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website. Full video episodes are available on YouTube and X. If you have a question for Jason or David about a better way to work and run your business, leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email rework@37signals.com, and we might answer it on a future episode.  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 

Welcome Aboard

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