In this episode of the REWORK podcast, Kimberly Rhodes and Jason Fried discuss the practice of building products in public, focusing on Jason's approach with their new product, Fizzy. They explore the history of 37signals' transparency, dating back to Basecamp's early days, and how it has evolved into sharing work-in-progress videos on platforms like X and LinkedIn. Jason explains that while they value feedback, they prioritize insights from real users over initial impressions. He shares a past experience where premature announcements backfired and emphasizes the importance of sharing the development process, including design reviews and internal discussions, to provide a more authentic and engaging experience for their audience. The conversation also touches on the vulnerability of sharing unfinished work and the value of showing the "how" behind the final product. Jason also believes that anyone within a company can take on the role of sharing their work, as long as they have a true understanding of the product.
