Every week, we invite listeners to send in their questions for 37signals’ co-founders, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. In this episode, they tackle a fresh set of asks, covering topics from managing multiple product lines, the company’s bonus structure, and their thoughts on incorporating AI into their tools.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:37 – How 37signals' looks at AI and using AI while exiting the cloud
• 03:47 – How to prioritize work when managing multiple product lines
• 11:33 – Deciding what problems to tackle first
• 18:49 – The company's take on equity and the structure of their profit-sharing plan

Links and Resources:

37signals' Employee Handbook

Basecamp classes with live Q&A

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

When it comes to business, it’s important to consider not only what customers would gain by using your product or service, but also what they're giving up. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, chat about understanding your customer's needs and motivations. They highlight that your competition isn't always who you think it is, and they discuss ways to position your product to address the customer's actual challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:40 - The habit of the present. What people are already doing?
• 02:19 - A customer's alternative isn't always your direct competitor
• 05:06 - 37signals competition now vs. when the company started
• 06:29 - Being open to something new often requires breaking a habit
• 12:13 - Considering what people are replacing when developing 37signals newest products
• 14:00 - How dogfooding your product helps you figure out what it needs
• 17:33 - Using free trials, 1:1 demos, and group classes to give potential customers experience with your product

Links and Resources:

Jason's post about what your product replaces on X

Basecamp classes with live Q&A

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

Ever filled out a customer survey? For this conversation, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, share their approach to gathering customer feedback. They discuss the timing and frequency of feedback requests, the power of open-ended questions, and how to transform customer language into effective marketing.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:37 - A single open-ended question can reveal a wealth of valuable insights
• 05:51 - Listen for the language customers use in their feedback for possible marketing opportunities
• 08:42 - Form questions and answer fields that allow customers to use their own words to express what they think
• 14:18 - Focus on organic feedback rather than quantitative metrics

Links and Resources:

Customer feedback on basecamp.com

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