Why Planning Wastes Time

TL;DR

37signals focuses on immediate opportunities, creating products for themselves first, leading to successful ventures by following intuition over planning.

Transcript

we're very much a company that doesn't really think about big changes we just do stuff and hopefully that turns into big changes and big things for us but we're always focused on now I'm not a big idea I don't like the idea of planning I don't really believe in it I think it's kind of a waste of time most the time because you're just guessing I'd r... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 37signals prioritizes seizing immediate opportunities over long-term planning, leading to the creation of successful products like Basecamp and to-do list.
• 💦 The company's founders, initially in web design, came together to start 37signals based on shared interests and the desire to work with each other.
• 👤 By focusing on building products for themselves, 37signals ensures quality, user understanding, and successful ventures that resonate with users.
• 🥺 Embracing the philosophy that the best work is done for oneself, 37signals emphasizes developing products that cater to their own needs, leading to better user experiences.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does 37signals approach business opportunities?

37signals prioritizes immediate opportunities without extensive planning, focusing on creating products that they themselves need, which has resulted in successful ventures like Basecamp and to-do list.

Q: What led to the founding of 37signals?

The founders, initially in web design, collaborated due to shared interests in starting a small company, leading to the establishment of 37signals in 1999 and a shift towards software development.

Q: Why does 37signals emphasize building products for themselves?

By creating products for their own needs, 37signals ensures quality and a deep understanding of user requirements, following a philosophy that the best work is done for oneself.

Q: How does 37signals view successful companies like Apple and Ferrari?

37signals admires companies like Apple and Ferrari that build products for themselves first, believing that genuine passion in product creation leads to superior offerings that resonate with users.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• 37signals doesn't focus on big changes but acts on current opportunities, leading to the creation of products like Basecamp and to-do list.

• The founders started as a web design firm, transitioned to building software they needed, which led to the development of successful products.

• They believe in creating products for themselves first, ensuring quality and understanding user needs.