The Importance of Quick and Dirty
A business needs to be able to move at two speeds: fast and slow. So what happens when you've lost your get-up-and-go? Read more
Get Real
Jason Fried
Recent Get Real Articles
Why More Is Not Always Better
More is not necessarily better--even when you're talking about profits. Inc.'s Jason Fried explains. Read more
When Good Ideas Bear Fruit
How is a business like an apple tree? Sharpen your pruning shears and find out. Read more
Lessons in Learning How to Program
Here's one way to be a better communicator: Start treating people more like computers. Read more
Start-up Investing: Head Versus Heart
Over the years, we've had lots of chances to invest in other businesses. But it never felt right. Until now. Read more
Jason Fried on Walking Away From a Product
In 2009, 37signals launched Sortfolio. Co-founder Jason Fried says it earns the company $200,000 a year. Now, it plans to retire it. Is that nuts? Read more
Big Customers? Who Needs 'Em!
Some companies spend all their time chasing huge accounts. But big customers make me nervous. Here's why. Read more
How to Avoid the Upgrade Backlash
Sure, you can upgrade your product, but can you make your current customers actually like it? Turns out, it's a bit trickier than we thought. Read more
Is Your Product Ready for Its Close-up?
How do you know when to stop the tweaking and release a product? The short answer: You don't. Read more
Out of Sight, Top of Mind
How to keep a business on track when its top performers are scattered across the map. Read more
Starting Over
Sometimes, the best way to improve something is to begin again from scratch. Even if it's your top-selling product. Read more
This Holiday Season, Rethink the Cash Bonus
Every end-of-year gesture says something different. Last year, I chose to give a gift that honors the craft of tool building. Read more
Telling Your Company's Story in Video
We just hired a full-time filmmaker to document our every move. Perhaps you should too. Read more
Want to Know What Your Employees Really Think?
Consider staging a Comedy Central-style celebrity roast of your top-selling product. Read more
How to Get Creative: Stop Trying
Creativity can come out of nowhere. The trick is to sense it—and ride it to the end. Read more
Don't Exaggerate Your Size
Nearly every entrepreneur exaggerates his or her company's size to impress clients. Jason Fried says such behavior is silly—and unnecessary. Read more
How to Hire an Assistant
For the first time in 11 years, I needed an assistant. But was I really ready to let go? Read more
Why I Run a Flat Company
I've always kept hierarchy to a minimum. Then an employee said, "Promote me," and I was forced to reevaluate my organizational structure. Read more
How to Turn Disaster Into Gold
When one of our products malfunctioned, thousands of stranded customers erupted in fury. Yet we came out of the crisis more credible than ever. Here’s what... Read more
How to Kill a Bad Idea
Jason Fried tells us why no is the most important word an entrepreneur can learn. Read more
Go Ahead, Raise Your Business's Prices
Sure, some customers will complain, and others might take their business elsewhere. But there’s a good chance you don’t want those kinds of customers, an... Read more
The Truth About Real Estate
Our new office cost a fortune, but I still think it is the best investment we’ve ever made. Read more
Managing Conflict
At a fast-growing company, arguing is inevitable. But it needn't be harmful. Read more
Never Read Another Resume
37signals co-founder Jason Fried shares his tips for hiring great employees. Read more
Why Is Business Writing So Awful?
Nearly every company relies on the written word to woo customers. So why is most business writing so numbingly banal? Read more
Driven to Distraction
Are your business problems making you insane? In his debut column, 37signals co-founder Jason Fried argues that one of the keys to success is to let your laz... Read more
