Jason Fried: AI, Hiring, FOMO, Taste, Prioritizing, Writing & Growth

Jason Fried is the co-founder of ⁨37signals the company behind Basecamp and HEY, and a pioneer of calm company building. In this episode, Jason explains why he doesn’t chase trends like AI, how 2-person teams launch new products inside 37signals, and what it really means to build with taste, not speed.Topics we cover in this episode:- Why Basecamp hasn’t added AI, and why that’s not a problem- How Jason avoids FOMO, even as trends explode- Why 37signals builds multiple products with just 60 people- What “product taste” really means—and how to hire for it- The future of craftsmanship in a world of AI- Jason’s unstructured workdays and creative flow- How he’d build if he started from scratch in 2025- Why content ≠ content, and how writing built 37signals’ brand- When to ship vs. when to keep buildingDon't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing!Connect with Jason:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-fried/- Basecamp: https://basecamp.com/- Hey: https://www.hey.com/- Books: https://basecamp.com/books- REWORK Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwo5Hcps5IkBBAv1-_HPOMvC4Rn1p8lsQ&si=7tq91JJ-GS4pgY1vConnect with me:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ - Website: https://www.project33.io/ - Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH Chapters00:00 Why Basecamp hasn’t added AI, and how Jason thinks about it03:20 Avoiding FOMO and chasing trends05:50 What Jason would do if he had to start from scratch08:00 Making multiple products with just 60 people10:18 How 2-person teams launch new tools at 37signals12:00 The story of a product they killed—and why14:30 Does SaaS still have room for new ideas?16:15 The real opportunity: simpler software18:30 Why trades might be the most future-proof jobs20:05 The future of craftsmanship in an AI world22:10 Jason’s spontaneous workdays and unstructured flow24:45 What makes a good day at work26:15 When to ship vs. when to keep building30:00 How to make decisions without chasing competitors33:00 Why Jason hates the term “content”34:45 Writing, trust, and brand building the 37signals way37:00 Redesigning products without alienating your users39:30 Jason’s philosophy on culture: it emerges, not planned43:00 Taste, talent, and how 37signals hires designers49:00 What taste really means—and how to spot it51:30 Jason’s favorite products: from V-Drums to a 1978 Porsche54:00 Why legacy doesn’t matter (and ego does)56:30 What Jason would prioritize if building a village63:00 New book teaser: Make It Up As You GoPodcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFHLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/Website: https://www.project33.io/#linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.executivebrand.org