Hard to find the time to read? We got you covered.

Sometimes it's hard to find the time to read. Life gets in the way bla bla bla...

Although I belive that finding the time to read - non fiction I mean - can actually save you a lot of time in the future AND I am a fan of the line: 'You are what you read', I decided to still share my thoughts on some of the readings I've been doing.

What I always do is write down the major points discussed on every interesting reading I find in a way that I can quickly get back to it whenever I feel the need. And I'm going to start sharing these summaries here on the Starting Port website under Articles. Please feel free to read, share and make the most of it... You're welcome!

The first of these is this one: REWORK by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson - Basecamp and 37 signals’ Founders

I believe this book shares some of the main things about running a company. So, if you are an entrepreneur, I am sure you will find this tremendously useful.

Here's the review from Seth Godin you can find on Amazon:

“This book will make you uncomfortable.

Depending on what you do all day, it might make you extremely uncomfortable.

That's a very good thing, because you deserve it. We all do.

Jason and David have broken all the rules and won. Again and again they've demonstrated that the regular way isn't necessarily the right way. They just don't say it, they do it. And they do it better than just about anyone has any right to expect.

This book is short, fast, sharp and ready to make a difference. It takes no prisoners, spares no quarter, and gives you no place to hide, all at the same time.

There, my review is almost as long as the first chapter of the book. I can't imagine what possible excuse you can dream up for not buying this book for every single person you work with, right now.”

Without further delay, here it is:

[if !supportLists]1. [endif]Do something people will miss if you stop it

[if !supportLists]2. [endif]Make something you want to use

[if !supportLists]3. [endif]Constantly look to remove, simplify - be a museum curator. Then do it again

[if !supportLists]4. [endif]Look for and sell your by-products (what else do you produce or can produce with your current resources)

[if !supportLists]5. [endif]Test it with 1:1 models or live real 'test'

[if !supportLists]6. [endif]Why are you doing this?

Is this useful?

Are you adding value

Will this change behaviour?

Is there an easier way?

What could you be doing instead?

Is it worth it?

[if !supportLists]7. [endif]Meetings:

Set a timer. When it rings, meeting’s over. Period.

Invite as few people as possible.

Always have a clear agenda.

Begin with a specific problem.

Meet at the site of the problem instead of a conference room.

Point to real things and suggest real changes.

End with a solution and make someone responsible for implementing it.

[if !supportLists]8. [endif]Get it done - Find a judo solution, one that delivers maximum efficiency with minimum effort.

[if !supportLists]9. [endif]Momentum fuels motivation - get small quick wins all the time. If it is a long project, think: what can we get done and out there in 2 weeks?

[if !supportLists]10. [endif]If a project takes more time than expected re-evaluate and make sure it's worth it. If not quit and move on - do not waste time.

[if !supportLists]11. [endif]If a project requires more than 2 weeks, get feedback from others.

[if !supportLists]12. [endif]Get proper sleep

12a. Workout (this one is mine... not in the book)

[if !supportLists]13. [endif]Estimations: break into small things. You're still going to be wrong but a lot less than with a big project.

Eg: a 12 week project into 12 1 week projects

[if !supportLists]14. [endif]Do the same for to-do lists and place the most important thing at the top

This works on getting the job done and feeling satisfied - productivity + motivation

[if !supportLists]15. [endif]Same for goals and decisions - it is possible to make it to the big goal by adding small decisions that are easy to change

[if !supportLists]16. [endif]Decisions are temporary - keep that in mind and try it out. And don't make up problems you don't have yet

[if !supportLists]17. [endif]Forget the competition - be yourself and deliver a simple unique product

[if !supportLists]18. [endif]Don't spend it all on adds - build an audience/fans. Deliver value and they will become followers

Teaching does this - builds confidence and potential buyers who will be listening

[if !supportLists]19. [endif]Share what you know - what would show up in a reality show about your business?

[if !supportLists]20. [endif]When you want to spread the word, Reach out for niche bloggers, not for mainstream media - it's easier and efficient

[if !supportLists]21. [endif]Emulate drug dealers: give something out for free as they will be back to buy your/other products

[if !supportLists]22. [endif]There is no marketing department - everything is marketing

[if !supportLists]23. [endif]Overnight success takes years of hard work

[if !supportLists]24. [endif]Try to do it yourself before you hire someone else - it makes you understand what you need and also a better manager afterwards

[if !supportLists]25. [endif]Only hire when it hurts or when the quality is dropping

[if !supportLists]26. [endif]When hiring remember: intelligence, personality and dedication beats experience and academic success or major league universities' diplomas - you want doers.

Note: good clear writers show clear thinking

[if !supportLists]27. [endif]Hire for mini projects first - see how they work for real

[if !supportLists]28. [endif]Build an environment where everyone feels safe enough to be honest when things get tough

[if !supportLists]29. [endif]Give your workers privacy, workspace and the tools they need. Treat them like children and you get child's work

[if !supportLists]30. [endif]If/when you screw up, own it and be the first to tell your customers what happened and how you're going to solve it. And then deliver

[if !supportLists]31. [endif]Don't react hastily to negative reactions to something you've changed. Give it some time to settle in and remember negative reactions are always louder than positive ones

[if !supportLists]32. [endif]A company culture isn't imposed. It happens through consistent behaviour. Reward trust, treat customers right,..., and that will become your culture

[if !supportLists]33. [endif]Be personal when you communicate - don't sound like a big company

[if !supportLists]34. [endif]Never use: need, must, can't, easy, just, only, fast, never, always. Assumptions kill communication

[if !supportLists]35. [endif]An emergency is something where there are direct measurable consequences for inaction so there is rarely an emergency. Chill out

[if !supportLists]36. [endif]When inspired, get it done - it drives you and has an expiration date.

Hope you find this as useful as I do.

Cheers,

Jorge