REWORK

Working with a Business Partner

Dec 27, 2023

Join the hosts as they discuss their experience with business partnerships, the challenges of collaboration remotely, transitioning to new opportunities, and the secrets to their successful partnership. Explore the reasons behind their successful partnership, including shared vision, respecting expertise, and power-sharing agreements. Learn about their contrasting approaches to idea generation and decision-making and the importance of productive discussions.

26:28

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Quick takeaways

Explicit power-sharing agreements and trust enable each partner to take the lead in their own domain.

Mutual admiration, respect, and a shared commitment to vision and values contribute to a successful partnership.

Deep dives

The Origin Story and Collaboration Beginnings

The podcast episode explores the start of the partnership between Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37 Signals. It reveals how they initially connected through a coding challenge and began working on a project together called Single File in 2001. Despite being geographically apart, with Jason in Chicago and David in Copenhagen, they managed to collaborate effectively through online communication tools. This early collaboration laid the foundation for their long-lasting partnership.

Introduction

3min

Collaborating Remotely and Building a Strong Working Relationship

9min

Starting a business with co-founders, transitioning to a new opportunity, and the secrets to their success

3min

Building a Successful Partnership

8min

Different Dispositions and the Importance of Engagement

4min

In this week's episode of Rework, host Kimberly Rhodes sits down with Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson to share the essential elements that foster a thriving partnership.

Witness firsthand the enduring stability of their collaboration as Jason and David explore how explicit power-sharing agreements and trust enable each partner to take the lead in their own domain.

Tune in for a vibrant behind-the-scenes look at how mutual admiration and a shared commitment to vision and values has paved the way for Jason and David’s long standing partnership at 37signals.

Check out the full video episode on YouTube

Key Takeaways:

Jason and David share their origin story—from “Apple” pay to the pivotal transition into a partnership after the Basecamp launch.
Mutual admiration, respect, and the other factors that contribute to a successful partnership that allow Jason and David to make decisions based on their vision and values.
The explicit power-sharing agreements that allow each partner to take the lead in their domain—Jason spearheading design and David steering programming.
The value of embracing distinct dispositions in idea generation and differences in decision-making.
The importance of engaging in productive—sometimes intense—discussions about product features and ideas.
How the enduring longevity and stability of their partnership helps Jason and David to consistently reach mutually beneficial decisions.

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.

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:

Books by 37signals

HEY World | HEY

The REWORK podcast

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

The 37signals Dev Blog

37signals on YouTube

@37signals on X

37signals on LinkedIn