What Jason Fried Learned from 26 Years of Building Great Products

Overview

Jason Fried reflects on 26 years of building products at 37signals, emphasizing the importance of creating cohesive, soulful products inspired by architecture, watches, and cars. He discusses the role of AI in product development, the value of staying true to oneself in business, and the lessons learned from embracing luck and wholeness in his career.

Notable Quotes

- Running a business is not that interesting to me. I really fancy myself more as someone who makes products. – Jason Fried, on his true passion.

- The further you break away from who you are, the less stable the whole thing becomes. – Jason Fried, on staying authentic in business.

- When you run into stuff like that, it is a spiritual experience. – Jason Fried, on encountering products or spaces that feel like complete, cohesive ideas.

🕰️ Inspiration from Design and Craftsmanship

- Jason draws inspiration for his products from non-software fields like architecture, watches, and cars.

- He admires how watches, despite being fundamentally similar, showcase endless design variations, and how cars reflect thoughtful ergonomics and tactile details.

- Architecture, particularly Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, resonates deeply with Jason due to its wholeness—where every element feels intentional and irreplaceable.

- He strives to replicate this sense of completeness in his software products, even within the constraints of digital design.

🤖 AI’s Role in Product Development

- Jason acknowledges AI’s potential for personal tool creation but remains skeptical about its ability to produce polished, scalable products for others.

- He highlights the challenge of addressing edge cases and user diversity when building for broader audiences.

- Dan Shipper shares how AI has transformed his team’s workflow, enabling rapid prototyping and empowering non-technical team members to contribute to product development.

- Jason questions the lack of groundbreaking, second-order products emerging from AI, despite the hype around its capabilities.

🎲 The Role of Luck in Success

- Jason reflects on how luck and timing have significantly shaped his career, from discovering computers as a teenager to entering the workforce during the internet boom.

- He credits chance encounters, like meeting his business partner David Heinemeier Hansson, as pivotal moments in his journey.

- He admits his younger self underestimated the role of luck, now recognizing it as a major factor in success.

🏗️ Building Products—and Companies—as Wholes

- Jason emphasizes the importance of creating products and companies that feel like cohesive, singular ideas.

- He compares this to architecture, where altering even a small detail can disrupt the integrity of a design.

- For Jason, a company’s culture, processes, and products should all align with its core identity, resisting the temptation to conform to external expectations.

🧭 Staying True to Yourself in Business

- Jason advises Dan to embrace his unique approach to running Every, rather than trying to emulate traditional business norms.

- He warns against making decisions based on what others think is “right,” as this often leads to instability and dissatisfaction.

- Jason shares his own missteps, like hiring COOs to separate business and creative responsibilities, which ultimately disrupted the holistic nature of his company.

- His advice: “Wrap yourself around yourself and don’t let go.”