Jason Fried

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Build Less Intentionally

  Strategy

  A company should intentionally offer fewer features than competitors to ensure the product remains simple, intuitive, and easy to use.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 01.2 About Basecamp  (opens in a new tab)

• Follow the revenue signal

  Decisions

  When a side project generates more revenue than the core business, pivot entirely to the more successful model.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Basecamp Turns 20 A34c88e1  (opens in a new tab)

• Practice Defensive Design

  Product

  Anticipate inevitable breakdowns and design specific solutions for when users encounter errors or confusion.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 09.5 Get Defensive  (opens in a new tab)

• Question human intangibles in AI

  Technology

  Consider whether machines can truly grasp the essential human qualities and intangibles that make art or products appealing.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Heard Something, Read Something, Saw Something [#8]  (opens in a new tab)

• Strategic Technology Spotlighting

  Product

  Highlight the use of new or noteworthy technologies in the product to gain attention, but avoid adding obscure tech solely for notice.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 13.6 Feature Food  (opens in a new tab)

• Reject Presence Indicators

  Management

  Eliminate green or red status dots in work tools to remove the pressure of being 'available' and the stigma of being 'away'.

  Supporting quotes

  • “If you're constantly pulling people into things, then yeah, where they are right now matters.”

    “Truth is, there are hardly any good reasons to know if someone's available or away at any given moment.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Lower the cost of change

  Strategy

  Maintaining a smaller codebase allows a team to adapt quickly and change their minds without rewriting massive amounts of software.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 10.1 Less Software  (opens in a new tab)

• Maintain a direct pulse

  Leadership

  A leader should stay in touch with the audience and customers directly to understand the reality of the business.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source No Assistant C81fb5e4  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize accessibility over administrative ease

  Focus

  If time is tight, cut other tasks instead of delegating personal communication and availability.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source No Assistant C81fb5e4  (opens in a new tab)

• Build for General Concepts

  Product

  Create software that addresses broad needs rather than specific edge cases to maintain maximum flexibility for the user.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source 05.6 Human Solutions  (opens in a new tab)

• Underdo your competition

  Strategy

  Instead of trying to outdo competitors with more features, win by doing less and focusing on solving simple problems exceptionally well.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 02.1 Build Less  (opens in a new tab)

• Lower the Bar to Enjoyment

  Decisions

  Do not expect a purchase or a project to make you happy; instead, ask if you will enjoy the process or the use of it.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Objects (and experiences) don't make you anything, you have to enjoy them . Enjoying something is plenty.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Avoid input shortcuts

  Product

  Manually type in data instead of pasting or using gibberish to experience the same friction and effort as the customers.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source 11.4 Use Real Words  (opens in a new tab)

• Design for readability not shapes

  Product

  Treat text as valuable information to be read rather than a visual design element or a shape to fill space.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source 11.4 Use Real Words  (opens in a new tab)

• Promote Through Education

  Marketing

  Instead of using traditional ads, share knowledge and teach others to build trust and visibility for the product.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 13.5 Promote Through Education  (opens in a new tab)

• Know where to stop

  Product

  A great product is defined by what is left out as much as what is included. Avoid over-engineering and focus on durability and simplicity.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Read more  (opens in a new tab)

• Seek nuance over general praise

  Hiring

  Instead of looking for simple validation, ask questions that reveal how a person handles conflict, changes their mind, or interacts with different roles.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Questions I Ask When Checking References 454e5e8d  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Meaning Over Precision

  Productivity

  A vague but honest human estimate like 'next Tuesday' is more useful than a precise but arbitrary percentage like '63 percent'.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The quest for knowing exactly has preoccupied entire industries with impossible answers, and pushed entire categories of tools towards the wrong trends.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Slow growth protects culture

  Management

  Rapidly expanding a team makes it impossible to maintain a coherent culture and leads to personality clashes and directionless work.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 08.1 Hire Less And Hire Later  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Continuous Progress Over Milestones

  Mindset

  Focus on making things better every day rather than aiming for fixed targets that disappear once achieved.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source I Ve Never Had A Goal A0c80e44  (opens in a new tab)