REWORK

Look Back Less

Dec 20, 2023

Jason Fried, co-founder of Basecamp and author, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the past. They explore the limitations of retrospective analysis, highlighting the power of personal stakes and gut instincts in decision-making. They also touch on the significance of admitting mistakes and learning through experience. Discover why continuous forward movement is key to sustained success.

27:26

Episode guests

Jason Fried

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Quick takeaways

Retrospective analysis does not yield significant lessons in software development, real learning comes from experience and doing.

Data and analytics provide insights into the past, but intuition and judgment are crucial for making innovative decisions.

Deep dives

Looking forward, not back

The podcast episode discusses the argument made by Jason in his blog post about the importance of focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the past. Jason emphasizes that retrospective analysis, particularly in the realm of software development, does not yield significant lessons due to the ever-changing nature of the work. He believes that the real learning happens through the experience of doing, not by analyzing past mistakes. Jason asserts that the value lies in the intuition and gut sense that professionals in product development possess, which cannot be fully articulated or measured through retrospective analysis.

Challenges of Drawing Lessons in Product Development

03:54

The Value of Experience in Executive Decision Making

01:00

Learning by Doing and Reflecting Forward

01:03

Introduction

3min

Limitations of Retrospectives and Post Mortems in Product Development

4min

The Role of Judgment Calls in Data-Driven Decision Making

9min

The Value of Experience, Judgment, and Reversible Decisions in Companies

6min

Learning Through Experience

6min

"If you're going to look back at all, you should glance back but not stare." – Jason Fried

In this episode of the Rework podcast, host, Kimberly Rhodes sits down with Jason Fried, and David Heinemeier Hansson, to dive into a compelling question: How much attention should businesses really give to the past?

Jason introduced this concept in his recent HEY World post called "Look Back Less," where he urged businesses to redirect their gaze toward the future, steering clear of excessive retrospective analysis.

Join Jason and David as they explore the limitations of retrospection, highlighting the power of personal stakes, gut instincts, and a readiness to take risks, all under the sway of the market's response.

Listen in as Jason and David navigate the intricacies of this business philosophy, touching on recent Twitter and YouTube comments that both echo and challenge their perspectives.

Tune in to discover why continuous forward movement may hold the key to sustained success.

Check out the full video episode on YouTube

Key Takeaways:

Judgment Calls vs. Data-Driven Decisions: challenge the conventional wisdom of relying solely on past analyses for predicting outcomes.
Discover the power of founder-led decision-making, where personal stakes and a willingness to take risks fuel faster decisions and a culture of experimentation.
Why the ability to admit mistakes is vital to maintaining agility and adaptability.
Uncover the significance of gut instincts and unarticulated wisdom in decision-making.
Explore the vital role of continuous forward movement in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of business.

Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website. Full video episodes are available on YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter).

If you have a question for Jason or David about a better way to work and run your business, leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email, and we might answer it on a future episode.

Links and Resources:

From Jason's HEY World: Look back less

Books by 37signals

HEY World | HEY

The REWORK podcast

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

The 37signals Dev Blog

37signals on YouTube

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

@37signals on X

37signals on LinkedIn