Rework by Jason Fried from 37Signals — Chapter Go
Make a dent in the universe
To do great work, you need to feel that you’re making a difference.
You want your customers to say, “This makes my life better.” You want to feel that if you stopped doing what you do , people would notice.
Don’t think it takes a huge team to make that difference either.
Craigslist
Drudge Report
Scratch your own itch (organic ideas)
Build something that you want to use.
- James Dyson – Dyson
- Vic Firth – The Perfect Pair (Drumsticks)
- Bill Bowerman – Nike
- Mary Kay Wagner – Mary Kay Cosmetics
When you build what you need, you can also assess the quality of what you make quickly and directly, instead of by proxy.
Start making something
Stanley Kubrick: “Get hold of a camera and some film and make a movie of any kind at all.”
Ideas are cheap and plentiful. The original pitch idea is such a small part of a business that it’s almost negligible. The real question is how well you execute.
No time is no excuse
When you want something bad enough, you make the time – regardless of your other obligations. The truth is most people just don’t want it bad enough. Then they protect their ego with the excuse of time.
Draw a line in the sand
Great business have a point of view, not just a product or service.
A strong stand is how you attract superfans.
Whole foods
Vinnie’s Sub Shop
Mission Statement Impossible
Truly stand for what you vow for: live it or leave it
Outside money is plan Z
We’re in a service economy now. Service businesses don’t require much to get going. If you’re running a business like that, avoid outside funding.
Spending other’s money has a noose attached:
- You give up control
- “Cashing out” begins to trump building a quality business
- Spending other people’s money is addictive
- It’s usually a bad deal
- Customers move down the totem pole
- Raising money is incredibly distracting
Start a business, not a startup
The problem with this magical place is it’s a fairy tale. The truth is every business, new or old, is goverened by the same set of market forces and economic rules. Revenue in, expenses out. Turn a profit or wind up gone.
You need a commitment strategy, not an exit strategy
A business without a path to profit isn’t a business, it’s a hobby.
Less mass
Mass is increased by:
- Long-term contracts
- Excess Staff
- Permanent decisions
- Meetings
- Thick process
- Inventory(Physical or mental)
- Hardware, software and technology lock-ins
- Long-term road maps
- Office politics
