Total transparency

Key takeaways

Transparency fosters trust and engagement within a business.
Every piece of information shared can be an opportunity for marketing.
Sharing work in progress invites users to be part of the journey and encourages collaboration.
Timing is crucial in deciding what to share and when, especially with established products.
Overcoming fear about sharing insights can lead to greater community engagement and innovation.

Summary

The Power of Transparency

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss why transparency is a core value at 37signals. They emphasize the benefits of sharing information openly, noting that it fosters a culture of honesty and engagement. Instead of hiding information, they advocate for a candid approach that includes sharing company announcements and decisions. They liken their openness to chefs sharing recipes, arguing that sharing knowledge can attract customers rather than scare off competitors.

Everything is Marketing

The co-founders delve into the idea that anything shared publicly can be viewed as marketing. By sharing behind-the-scenes insights, personal experiences, and unfinished work, they create interest and draw attention. Fried notes that in today’s fast-paced environment, maintaining visibility is crucial for keeping an audience engaged, which means showing up regularly and being part of the ongoing conversation.

The Art of Sharing Work in Progress

Both hosts express a desire to showcase ongoing projects as a way to connect with their audience. They believe sharing unfinished work allows followers to see the development process, fostering a sense of involvement. Through discussions about the product development cycle at 37signals, Fried points out the thrill of tackling unknowns in real time and invites others to join them on the journey.

Timing and Selective Sharing

The episode also addresses the importance of timing when it comes to sharing information publicly. While being transparent is essential, they discuss instances where the timing of disclosures could lead to misunderstandings or anxiety among users. Finding the right moment to share is crucial, especially for established products like Basecamp. They caution against sharing too much too early if it could create undue concern among existing users.

Dealing with Fear Around Sharing

The podcast highlights a fear present in businesses when it comes to sharing insights and internal workings. David mentions that many organizations hesitate to reveal the real code or workings of their products due to fears of competition and security. However, they argue that this fear is often unfounded and that the benefits of transparency outweigh the supposed risks.

Show notes

37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share more about their business than many founders. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, they chat with host Kimberly Rhodes about why transparency is important to them. They talk about how sharing openly can double as marketing, the upside of showing work that's still in progress, and why timing matters when deciding what to put out to the public.

Key Takeaways

00:13 – Why transparency matters at 37signals
03:07 – Everything is marketing
09:22 – Letting people follow along while the work is happening
12:43 – Knowing when and what to share

Links and Resources