The folks at 37 Signals are one of a kind! They started a web design firm and turned it into a web application company. They designed the official Meetup.com site, but they are most famous for developing Basecamp. Originally intended for internal use only, it satisified a need and became a commercial product and has been very successful as a project management tool.

37 Signals is about 10 years old, but they have managed to stay small and vibrant. They truly believe in investing in their customers, dishing up great customer service, creating intuitive software, and keeping things simple.

My colleagues and I really admire their business style, management, and how they’ve kept it simple over their years of growth. Jason Fried and David Hansson, the founders of 37 Signals, recently published a book “ReWork” that contains small essays of advice that can carried their company and helped it survive. Here’s some my favorites:

Nobody Likes Plastic Flowers
Don’t be a stiff boring professional. Show our flaws and personalities. Don’t hide behind a mask!

Out-Teach Your Competition
You can outspend, outsell, or out-sponsor your competition, but are they teaching their clients as well? Big Companies can’t afford to teach, but you can.

Long Lists Don’t Get Done
I could really use this tip – I’m so guilty of writing long to-do lists. Many times I get overwhelmed and can’t finish any of it. Long lists are like guilt trips and can easily stress you out. Instead prioritize visually. Write down the most important item first, keep it at top. Numbering and lettering doesn’t really work. Just keep it simple.

Meeting are Toxic
Yes, Meetings can seem evil, especially when there’s no clear picture or agenda. Sometimes you are in a room where there’s quite a few peeps who like to hear themselves talk. Here’s some suggestions: Invite as few people as possible-Always have a clear agenda-Time it, if you have to, bring in a timer so you won’t spend more time than needed

Making the Call is Making Progress
Decide and move forward. Don’t put off a decision and “think about it”. Don’t look for the perfect answer. You are likely to make a great call today as you are tomorrow or next week. Long projects zap moral!

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