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REWORK

Shape Up Principle: Writing a Pitch

Aug 30, 2023
In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, discuss the delicate art of crafting a pitch for product development. They walk listeners through Shape Up's five-point compass for an effective pitch, highlighting the importance of avoiding extremes of over-specification or vague one-liners. They also explore the concept of rabbit holes and the significance of identifying and avoiding them. Additionally, they discuss different types of project pitches and approaches and emphasize the importance of dedicating time for exploration and making informed decisions.
26:48

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • A pitch in product development is not a detailed specification but a directional statement that outlines the problem and feedback from customers, providing necessary information and context for the team to understand their work's direction and purpose.
  • Identifying rabbit holes and avoiding science projects during the shaping process allows teams to prioritize essential aspects and prevent excessive time investment in unproductive pursuits, enabling more informed decisions and effective resource allocation.

Deep dives

The Concept of Writing a Pitch in ShapeUp

In this podcast episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemayer Hanson discuss the importance of writing a pitch in the context of ShapeUp, 37 Signals' philosophy around product development. They emphasize that a pitch is not a detailed specification, but rather a directional statement that outlines the idea, problem, and feedback from customers for a new feature or product. The pitch provides the necessary information and context for the team to understand the direction and purpose of the work they will be doing. While pitches are typically written by designated individuals, anyone can pitch an idea for consideration. The autonomy, mastery, and purpose associated with the pitching process contribute to employee satisfaction and the ability to deliver quality work within the allocated time.

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