Rework added February 21, 2011

Rework is an unusual book. Its chapters are short and contain small rants and raves on a host of topics. The articles seem more like blog posts than traditional book sections, and this reflects the 37signals approach to software development and business, an approach guided by minimalism and a quest for agility.

Excuses for inaction abound; Rework tears down many of them.

The takedown section of the book addresses:

• doubts based on "real world" indicators
• the superiority of learning from successes (rather than failures)
• the guessing nature of much planning
• the value of having a small company
• the pursuit of simplicity

The go section addresses:

• the value of doing something truly important
• developing software to solve your own problems
• the importance of shipping ideas
• the reality that time will be made for important things
• the importance of differentiation
• the importance of true conviction
• the unattractiveness of venture capital
• the power of limited resources
• the need to build a real business
• the folly of building a business only to sell it
• the maneuverability of informal organizations

The progress section deals with:

• the value of constraints
• the importance of excellence even in the small things
• the value of a proper core focus
• the value of ignoring details at the beginning
• the importance of making progress
• the importance of timeless needs
• the priority of artistry over access to tools
• the potential for selling byproducts
• the value of launching quickly

The productivity section describes:

• avoiding confusion and ambiguity
• the importance of asking why something is done
• the destructiveness of interruption and the power of focus
• potential disruption through meetings
• the value of a minimum deliverable product
• the importance of small successes
• the danger of isolation
• the value of sleep
• the dangers of estimating
• the value of short lists
• the value of focusing on the immediate concerns

The competitive section addresses:

• the value of innovating rather than imitating
• the importance of offering unique value
• the usefulness of direct competition
• the potential for embracing simplicity in products
• the priority of focusing on internal projects

The evolution section discusses:

• the value of denying requests
• the importance of firing customers
• the dangers of prioritization
• the importance of lasting quality
• the the prevalence of a small number of issues

The promotion section describes:

• the value of obscurity
• the importance of growing an audience
• the value of teaching people as a competitive advantage
• the potential for shairng recipes
• the value of transparency for building customer relationships
• the importance of quality and attractiveness
• the relevance of new media
• designing products that attract users to seek more
• a view of marketing as encompassing every activity
• the muth of overnight success

The hiring section recommends:

• doing all activities before hiring anyone to do them
• hiring only when absolutely necessary
• adding people based on present needs, not future potentials
• avoiding hiring strangers
• ignoring traditional resumés
• measuring competence through accomplishment, not time sheets
• focusing on productivity, not academic prowess
• hiring workers, not delegators
• hiring only proactive people
• treating communication skills as critical
• finding and partnering with skilled people wherever they are
• testing employess before committing to hire

The damage control section addresses:

• handling negative publicity
• being responsive about issues
• apologizing sincerely
• fully engaging with customers
• resolutely following convictions

The culture section discusses:

• the futility of trying to manufacture a culture
• the importance of remaining flexible
• developing an environment for exceptional accomplishment
• respectfully collaborating with employees and partners
• the need to respect the lives of associates
• avoiding unnecessary policy making
• the importance of being authentic
• the danger of constructing limitations
• the importance of clarity in prioritization

The conclusion of the book is consistent with the spirit of the rest of the book: inspiration is perishable and precious, so it is important to pursue areas of interest and excitement quickly, maintaining the healthy momentum necessary for high accomplishment. Rework is controversial at points. I would not endorse every proposition in the book, but I highly recommend reading it and embracing the spirit of uninhibited creativity and discipline in the pursuit of meaningful and clear ventures.