What’s the worst that could happen?

Many entrepreneurs spend more time worrying about what could go wrong than actually finding out. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson detail how 37signals approaches experimentation, why lowering the stakes on most decisions leads to better ones, and how letting go of outcomes is both a mental discipline and a business strategy.

Key Takeaways

• 00:10 – Where the willingness to just try things comes from
• 02:40 – The freedom that comes with not having to cover your bases before every decision
• 08:51 – Nobody can predict how customers will react
• 13:04 – How long do you give something before moving on?
• 18:01 – Things don't always pan out
• 21:29 – Anything you build can roll forward into the next product idea

Links and Resources

• Jeff Bezos explains one-way door decisions and two-way door decisions
• Record a video question for the podcast
• Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube
• Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com
• HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com
• Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do
• Books by 37signals
• Jason Fried on X
• David Heinemeier Hansson on X