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

• Record a video question for the podcast
• 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

37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson revisit how their approach to marketing began with a simple blog. They share why writing with authenticity matters, how patience pays off when building an audience, and why staying true to your own voice is important.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:12 – How 37signals' marketing started organically with a blog
• 02:53 – Authenticity is a must when writing
• 07:02 – Patience is key to growing an audience
• 08:18 – Don’t let algorithms dictate your content
• 13:08 – Make time to write while your ideas are fresh
• 16:21 – Marketing is simply transferring enthusiasm
• 22:22 – Audiences want to see behind the curtain

Links and Resources:

• Record a video question for the podcast
• 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

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to field a fresh round of listener questions. They share perspectives on when coding assistance makes sense, finding a co-founder to compliment your skills, business succession planning, and more.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:17 – When AI coding tools help vs. when they get in the way
• 05:44 – Does start-up success require a co-founder?
• 10:02 – Small business succession planning
• 15:46 – Honing the skill of coming up with new product ideas
• 21:41 – New ideas are often just solving existing problems

Links and Resources:

• Record a video question for the podcast
• 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