Rapid Fire Questions with Jason and David

Key takeaways

Choosing the right software can improve workflow; noteworthy options include Screen Studio and Obsidian.
Good writing is an essential yet underrated skill for founders that can amplify their ideas.
Trusting your gut is crucial; certainty in decision-making is often elusive.
It's important to test new ideas against existing principles rather than change them based on market pressures.
Innovating on established products while keeping user familiarity is a complex but rewarding challenge.

Summary

Apps They Can't Live Without

In this fun round of rapid-fire questions, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share their favorite software that they cannot live without. Jason highlights Screen Studio, a well-crafted screencast recording software that balances complexity and usability, emphasizing its single purchase model. David contrasts this by mentioning Obsidian, an open-source note-taking app he discovered after moving off Apple. He appreciates its structured storage format and versatility, making it a valuable tool in his workflow.

Underrated Skills for Founders

The conversation shifts to discussing underrated skills for founders. David spontaneously emphasizes the importance of good writing, acknowledging how influential and vast a reach it provides for a founder’s ideas. Jason builds on this by noting that trusting one's gut feeling is crucial, as many founders often seek an unrealistic certainty in decisions, which can hinder their confidence and decision-making prowess.

Changing Perspectives

When asked about moments they’ve changed their minds, both co-founders reflect on their company’s growth trajectory and management strategies. Jason outlines their fluctuating sentiments regarding the pressure to 'go big,' ultimately realizing the value in staying true to their identity and growth pace. David offers insight on the introduction of management roles, emphasizing the necessity of testing ideas against their core values, and how the five core principles they built their company on continue to be validated through both successes and experiments.

Ignoring Customer Requests

In a candid moment, Jason acknowledges enduring customer requests, namely for Gantt charts, emphasizing that despite their utility in certain projects, they won't integrate them into Basecamp as they don't align with their approach to project management. He reflects on the importance of staying true to their company's vision rather than changing it based on market demands or customer requests.

Exciting New Developments

The episode wraps up as they touch on upcoming projects, such as a new product called 'Fizzy' aimed at improving bug tracking, alongside significant updates to Basecamp. Jason shares excitement for the challenge of innovating established products while maintaining user familiarity, while David anticipates pushing technical boundaries, particularly in terms of distribution optimization.

Show notes

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 develop
06:26 – Times they’ve completely changed their minds on a decision
14:05 – Customer feature requests that likely won’t ever happen
15:36 – A new 37signals product is on the way

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