REWORK Refining before release
Oct 1, 2025
Jason Fried, Co-founder and CEO of 37signals, shares insights as they near the launch of their product, Fizzy. He delves into the intense 11th-hour preparations and the trade-offs of setting internal deadlines. Jason emphasizes the necessity of a smooth onboarding experience and the company’s creative marketing approach, focusing on simplicity and user feedback. He also talks about the strategic decisions behind feature rollouts and the importance of refining processes through beta testers. A fascinating look into launching a product!
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The 11th Hour Clarifies Priorities
- Getting close to launch forces clarity and reveals what truly matters for the product.
- The team focuses on finishing essential items rather than endless exploration.
Prefer Simpler Authentication
- Simplify authentication with magic links and optional passkeys instead of passwords.
- Choose approaches that reduce friction for both users and the team when possible.
Set A Realistic 1.0 Cutoff
- Draw a firm line for 1.0 when the product feels ready and dialed in.
- Avoid extending work past that point because more time can create more unfinished complexity.