Here at AIMS we’re always looking for new ways to get ahead, so when we heard that Rework was a book we just HAD to read, we made our way down to our local public libraries and got on it (that’s right, the good ol’ library for these girls).
Written by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, Rework isn’t a get rich quick book, and it won’t offer you the same old advice you’ve heard time and again in the business world; in fact, the advice offered in Rework is almost entirely counterintuitive to traditional business models. And you know what? We dig it.
Rework advocates independent thought, autonomy and staying small. In a world that just wants you to grow, grow, grow; this book wants you to be happy with what you’ve got, at your current size. After all, the bigger you get, the more magnified your mistakes and the more scrutinized your flaws become.
The authors expound on their experience with the company they co-founded, 37signals (now BaseCamp), and riff on the importance of being really good at one or two things instead of mediocre at a bunch – which we 100% agree with. There will always be that temptation to do more, to provide more services, to make more money; what Rework does best is force you question whether or not that is really in the best interest of your business.
No doubt, every business wants to grow – we know we want to – but after reading Rework, we know that we have to grow on our terms. We can’t just say yes to everyone, and we can’t just give in when someone questions our practices or strategies. We have to stand by what we do and we have to produce a product that is worth paying for. Why half ass additional services when what we provide now is more than adequate for the clientele we market ourselves to?
If you’re a small business owner, you need to read Rework. Maybe you won’t agree with everything they say, but at the very least it will open your mind to new possibilities for growing (or not growing) your business. And hey, it might even give you ideas about having a life outside of work.
You can find Rework on Amazon or at your local library!
Image courtesy https://37signals.com/rework/