Revisiting the good old days

In this episode of the REWORK podcast, Kimberly Rhodes and Jason Fried discuss the evolution of 37signals' product strategy, revisiting a chapter from their book "It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work" that advocated for focusing on a single product, Basecamp. Jason explains how the company initially expanded, then contracted to focus, and is now in a renewed expansion phase with new products like Hay, Fizzy, Campfire, and Writebook. They explore the factors enabling this expansion, such as small, efficient teams, dedicated infrastructure, and the use of open-source tools. Jason also shares insights on managing multiple projects, recognizing when the company is stretched too thin, and the approach to cataloging and prioritizing new ideas, emphasizing the importance of balancing new development with the maintenance and improvement of existing products. The conversation concludes with advice for small software developers considering expanding their product offerings, weighing the benefits of focus versus experimentation.