It took me the best part of two weeks to get through because I don’t get much free time, but I just finished reading ‘Rework’ by 37 signals.
It’s been an inspiring read. I started off quite skeptical of it, because although I have a huge amount of respect for him, I have in the past found some of Jason Fried‘s comments and business ideas to be either arrogant or counter-intuitive to how I would normally work, but I have to say that Rework has given some of his remarks more of a context. I was pretty much a 37 signals convert before reading this, but now I realise that they really are a cut above the rest.
The book is cut up neatly into individual tips that last about a page or two, not nearly big enough to describe as chapters – instead they’re nuggets of advice, and this really helps to make what is actually quite a sizable book very digestible, navigable, and memorable.
There’s just too much in there to summarise so I really encourage you to read it yourself, but I think my favourite tip was in relation to using ‘ASAP’ to describe project / task urgency. It’s one of my pet hates because proper prioritisation is just critical in getting anything done. It’s used by clients and employers all the time and it can be very frustrating. Here’s what 37 signals say about it in Rework…
“When you turn into one of these people who adds ASAP to the end of every request, you’re saying everything is high priority. And when everything is high priority, nothing is. (Funny how everything is top priority until you actually have to prioritize things.)
ASAP is inflationary. It devalues any request that doesn’t say ASAP. Before you know it, the only way to get anything done is by putting the ASAP sticker on it.
Most things just don’t warrant that kind of hysteria…”
I won’t post too much from the page, but they’re spot on with most of their points. The book has inspired me to look again at how I’m working day to day in the office, but also on projects at home and some bits that I manage externally.
More than anything it’s made me get some of my priorities straight!
I’d love to know what you thought of the book, if you’ve read it yet, and if you think any of 37 signals’ advice is going to impact your business or the way you work.
