Rework

By: Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From the founders of the trailblazing software company 37signals, here is a different kind of business book one that explores a new reality. Today, anyone can be in business. Tools that used to be out of reach are now easily accessible. Technology that cost thousands is now just a few bucks or even free. Stuff that was impossible just a few years ago is now simple.That means anyone can start a business. And you can do it without working miserable 80-hour weeks or depleting your life savings. You can start it on the side while your day job provides all the cash flow you need. Forget about business plans, meetings, office space - you don't need them.

With its straightforward language and easy-is-better approach, Rework is the perfect playbook for anyone who's ever dreamed of doing it on their own. Hardcore entrepreneurs, small-business owners, people stuck in day jobs who want to get out, and artists who don't want to starve anymore will all find valuable inspiration and guidance in these pages. It's time to rework work.

©2010 Jason Fried (P)2010 Random House

You cant go wrong with this one...

At first look ReWork may appear to be too simple. Don't be fooled, as the book goes on you start to realize a series of things you should (or shouldn't) be doing right now.
Highly recommended for anyone that is starting his own business and for those who are already consolidated it. Trust me... it's a wonderful time.

How We Work

The first book that I'm going to give to my learning and technology team is Rework, by the guys from 37Signals.

288 concise pages - or less than 3 hours in unabridged audio format. We need more books to be this good and this short.

37Signals is best known for its simple, cloud based project management tool Basecamp.

I'm a Basecamp client, and have been using the tool productively for a few years now. If you have ever had to do a project with MS Project, or solely by e-mail and spreadsheets, than you will appreciate the simplicity, elegance, and flexibility of Basecamp.

The founders of 37Signals developed Basecamp to manage their own internal projects, only then realizing they had a service on their hands that other small teams would find useful. Basecamp requires no support from your central IT organization, no local hardware, and no expertise in project management. You can be up and running with a free 30 day trial in 60 seconds. Plans start at $24 a month.

Basecamp is not just a product but also a philosophy. Less features well done are better than many features that complicate a product. Offer services that are lightweight and agile, and resist the urge to meet the needs of every customer. Let your customer outgrow your product. Basecamp is the physical (or digital?) manifestation of the philosophy of work that 37Signals is selling in Rework. The company prides itself on keeping operations lean, costs down, working arrangements flexible, and paid marketing to a minimum. If you work for 37Signals you don't attend many meetings, don't write many strategic plans, and don't give many internal presentations. You are expected and encouraged to carve out quiet time for productive work, to share your work product early and often, and to be open to criticism.

What you are not expected to do is work insane hours, sacrifice family or sleep time, or set unrealistic deadlines or goals.

It could be that 37Signals got lucky with Basecamp, and are falling into the fallacy of assuming that their work culture is an optimal culture because it produced Basecamp. The other products from 37Signals, Highrise (contact tracking), Backpack (Intranet), and Campfire (code sharing) have not enjoyed nearly the same level of success as Basecamp.
We know from Leonard Mlodinow's book, The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives, that we all under-estimate the role of chance in our successes and failures. Nor is the advice in Rework particularly original. Experts like James O'Toole have long been recommending more flexible and less hierarchal workplaces.

What is different about Rework is that the founders of 37Signals are pitching their ideas at a level that can work with small teams on the sorts of projects and tasks that we all do. Anyone in charge of rolling out and supporting new learning technology services will benefit from reading Rework. You don't need a top-down re-org or permission from your leadership to make our products and team interactions more like those of 37Signals. We are all in some measure complacent in meeting cultures , reliances on committees, and the putting off of "shipping" new services until that mythical time the platform meets everyone's needs.

Rework should provoke a good discussion of how your team does things differently from how the team at 37Signals approaches tasks. In the end you may not decide to adopt all of the recommendations in Rework, but I guarantee that this book cause you to take a hard look at how your group operates.

Any Basecamp users want to jump in on the service? What do you think about the idea of writing a short book like Rework that spells out your work culture philosophy and the thinking behind the services you offer?

On point and relevant with what I wanted.

Great book for anyone wanting to improve their mindset. I liked the voice of the narrator and was extremely enthusiastic.

Refreshing and honest reality check

Nice reality check and suggestions for anyone trying to start a business. Read's with an honest and engaging format.

A must read for anyone starting a business

the book is short and straight with real life examples. the author give clear directions on what to do and what not to do as well on how to avoid common pitfalls when starting a business. very recommended read to anyone starting any kind of business but specially these self called Startups. the narration is also quite good.

For REAL business people

If you are serious about getting SHIT done RIGHT then this book is for you! Read this book, then read it AGAIN and put the principles into immediate practice.

Change your Business lens

If you could sum up Rework in three words, what would they be?

To-the-point

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rework?

Launch, get feedback, rework, Launch, get feedback, rework, Launch...

What about Mike Chamberlain’s performance did you like?

Mr. Chamberlain is my favorite reader. He is clear, emphatic when needed, and always smooth.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Create.

Great book, challenges outdated business assumptio

Didn't agree with everything but super great book to get you thinking. challenges a lot of standard business assumptions. very well written. plus Marc Cuban recommended it over an MBA.

Was hoping for more

Maybe if I read this book physically I wouldn't have felt this way but by listening to it - I felt like the author was overly negative and dismissive. Some really good points but I ended up tuning out because the negativity was overwhelming.

Real advice for real business

This book will help you lessen your distractions, focus on what's important and alter the way you think about your love and business. Every person who reads this will take away at least 5 key items to improve their business or daily life. A worthwhile book with plenty of direct substance.