The Founder-Led Marketing Show

DHH: How to Make F*ck You Money, Writing, US vs EU, Building Basecamp, 37signals & Ruby on Rails

Oct 2, 2025
David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founder of Basecamp and creator of Ruby on Rails, shares insights on achieving wealth without following Silicon Valley trends. He discusses the true meaning of 'fuck you money' and why it's often misunderstood. DHH emphasizes the importance of authenticity and consistency over luck and advocates for early pursuit of passions. He critiques the label 'content creator' and encourages genuine craftsmanship. Plus, he highlights cultural differences between Europe and the U.S. regarding work and entrepreneurship.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Mindset Trumps Formula

  • The "fuck you money" mindset often precedes the money and is primarily an attitude of pursuing the best ideas without seeking approval.
  • DHH says that authenticity and persistence matter more than a replicable formula for wealth.
INSIGHT

Enthusiasm Is The Best Marketing

  • Transfer of enthusiasm is a repeatable marketing pattern: be personal and care about the subject.
  • Authentic passion attracts an audience more than engineered content tactics.
ADVICE

Build With Side Projects And Consulting

  • Start by selling your skills as consulting or employment if you need immediate income.
  • Parallelize progress with a side project invested with 10–15 hours weekly to build long-term leverage.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app