ReWork

Unconventional Lessons for Building a Successful Business

by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

ReWork (2010) challenges the traditional ideas about running a business and offers fresh, unconventional advice on productivity, communication, and product development. These lessons come from the authors’ own journey in growing their company, which now earns millions of dollars in profit each year.

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You need less than you think to start – launch once the core is ready

Starting a business today is easier than ever, especially if you start small. You don’t need as much time or money as you might think.

Test your idea first—don’t quit your job or put in 100-hour weeks right away. Instead, find a few hours here and there to work on it. You don’t need to take on huge debt either—use what you already have, and avoid outside funding unless absolutely necessary. This way, you don’t lose control of your idea or waste time chasing investors. Often, all you need is a laptop and a clear vision.

Focus on building the core of your business first. For instance, the core of a hotdog stand is the hotdogs. Amazon’s core isn’t just books; it’s about fast shipping, low prices, and variety. These are things people will always want. Once the core of your business is solid, launch. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect—launch with what you’ve got and figure out the rest as you go. When 37signals launched Basecamp, they couldn’t even bill customers yet, but they had a month to fix it. Just get started.