In their book, It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson stress the importance of narrowing the scope as a project unfolds, emphasizing, "After the initial dust settles, the work required to finish a project should be dwindling over time, not expanding."

But navigating this challenge is not always easy.

In this week's episode of Rework, Kimberly Rhodes sits down with Jason and David to explore the challenges and benefits of narrowing focus, particularly in the context of developing a new product.

Jason and David delve into the significance of clear deadlines, effective strategies for managing a constant influx of ideas, and the importance of adhering to the principle of "done is better than perfect" so you can ship.

Check out the full video episode on YouTube

Key Takeaways:

Why clear deadlines are crucial for honing, editing, and chiseling features to ensure a focused, timely delivery.
How to avoid feature "pile-up" as a project progresses in order to prevent last-minute chaos and ensure a smoother path to completion.
Start new product development with novel ideas to create a distinguishing factor for an audience seeking innovative solutions.
Not every idea can be integrated without compromising a project's scope—be prepared to make decisions on what to include and what to postpone.
Use the role of working memory to focus on what truly matters without being overwhelmed by an endless list of ideas.
Resist the temptation to hoard ideas; instead, focus on a few key ideas that align with the project's goals.
Done is better than perfect: small companies have the advantage of focusing on the perfect ratio between effort and value.

Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website. Full video episodes are available on YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter).

If you have a question for Jason or David about a better way to work and run your business, leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email, and we might answer it on a future episode.

Links and Resources:

It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work

Books by 37signals

Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com

HEY World | HEY

The REWORK podcast

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

The 37signals Dev Blog

37signals on YouTube

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

@37signals on X

37signals on LinkedIn

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Narrow As You Go