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cover of episode Building to Flip is Building to Flop (replay)

Building to Flip is Building to Flop (replay)

2024/12/24
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REWORK
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D
David Heinemeier Hansson
J
Jason Fried
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Jason Fried: 为了快速出售而创建公司会对客户不诚实，并最终损害整个行业。将公司比作投机性房屋建设，为了快速出售而牺牲质量和长远发展。为了快速出售而建造的科技公司，其底层技术通常质量很差。建立公司应该像建造自己的房子一样，注重质量和长远发展，而不是为了快速出售而偷工减料。专注于短期利益的“投机性商业”模式会导致学习错误的经验教训，并最终导致痛苦。“快速出售”意味着走捷径，牺牲长期质量和客户满意度。为了快速出售而采取的捷径最终会损害买方利益，并导致不良决策的延续。为了快速出售而采取捷径的行为会影响人的性格和价值观。与其追求退出策略，不如专注于承诺策略，即对质量、员工、客户和产品保持长期承诺。承诺策略的核心是尽职尽责，关心所创造的产品，并致力于长期发展。长期的运营和高可用性是承诺策略的体现。 David Heinemeier Hansson: 即使采取捷径，建立真正有价值的企业仍然非常困难，并且可能找不到买家。并非所有企业都需要成为独角兽公司，许多中小企业同样重要且有价值。我们不需要只关注独角兽公司，也需要许多中小企业来支撑经济发展。应该为那些并非独角兽公司但同样重要的企业感到自豪。即使公司规模较小，只要经营良好，也能获得成就感和满足感。他本人并非追求快速致富和休闲生活的人，更倾向于持续经营和发展现有公司。与其重新开始，不如持续发展和转型现有公司。他更喜欢不断学习和迎接新的挑战，而不是重复之前的经验。单纯的物质财富并不能带来长久的幸福，而有意义的工作和积极的影响才能带来真正的满足感。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why does building a business to flip encourage mediocre output?

Building to flip prioritizes short-term gains over long-term quality, leading to shortcuts and a lack of commitment to the product or customers.

How does building to flip reflect on one's character?

It often involves taking shortcuts and making decisions that prioritize appearance over lasting quality, which can shape a person's character in a way that values quick gains over integrity.

What is a commitment strategy in business?

A commitment strategy involves dedicating oneself to quality, employees, and customers, ensuring the business is built to last rather than to sell quickly.

Why shouldn't all businesses aim to become unicorns?

Not all businesses need to be massive successes; smaller, sustainable businesses (like donkeys or mules) play a crucial role in the economy and can provide long-term satisfaction without the pressure of unrealistic growth targets.

What happens to people who sell their businesses and retire early?

Many find that early retirement lacks meaning and purpose, leading them to return to work or start new ventures, as the satisfaction of building and contributing to something meaningful is often more fulfilling than leisure.

How does building a business for the long term differ from building to flip?

Building for the long term involves creating a cohesive, high-quality product with a focus on stewardship and customer satisfaction, while building to flip prioritizes quick gains and shortcuts, often at the expense of quality and customer trust.

What are the consequences of taking shortcuts in business?

Shortcuts can lead to poor-quality products, dissatisfied customers, and long-term damage to the business's reputation, as well as perpetuating a culture of mediocrity and lack of commitment.

Why is it important to build a business with a sense of pride?

Building with pride ensures that the business is cohesive, high-quality, and sustainable, providing long-term satisfaction to both the creators and customers, and contributing positively to the economy.

Chapters
Building a business solely to sell it leads to shortcuts and compromises in quality, ultimately hurting customers and the industry. The analogy of spec houses highlights the lack of long-term commitment and the resulting uneven quality of the product. This approach is disingenuous to customers and reflects poorly on the company's character.
  • Building to flip is dismissive of customers.
  • Taking shortcuts is a reflection of one's character.
  • Spec houses analogy highlights the lack of long-term commitment.
  • Uneven quality in products built to flip.

Shownotes Transcript

In this episode (originally aired February 1, 2022), 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with Shaun Hildner to discuss the consequences of building a business solely with the intention to sell. They share their perspective on building a business for the long haul versus for an exit.

Key Takeaways:

  • 00:46 – Building a company to sell can encourage mediocre output
  • 07:14 – Taking shortcuts is a reflection of one's character
  • 09:41 – Why it's better to have a commitment strategy than an exit strategy
  • 11:21 – Not all businesses should become unicorns
  • 14:58 – What the founders would do if they had to begin again

Links and Resources:

  • Books by 37signals)
  • Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com)
  • The REWORK podcast)
  • The Rework Podcast on YouTube)
  • The 37signals Dev Blog)
  • 37signals on YouTube)
  • @37signals on X)