Jason Fried

January 31, 2024

Enough feedback

Enough feedback comes quick.

Invite 100, get 10, 5 probably tell you all you need to know. Or at least 80% of it, which is all you need to know.

Another 10, 20, 50+ will end up telling you mostly the same as those core five. And you'll find yourself repeating yourself — explaining the same thing you already explained, just to new people. Or thanking them for reports you've already received. The stuff that you loved learning the first time becomes irritating after three more people tell you three more times.

It doesn't matter if there's a place to see everything that's already been reported — no one's looking at that before they report what's already been reported. It's just human nature. They're just trying to be helpful, they aren't here to check their work.

Of course more opinions and perspectives shine new lights through different lenses, but the beams converge on the initial spot provided by that original group of five.

Never fault those who share because you asked. You're lucky they care enough to give. But remember that feedback comes fast, and too much of a good thing can create a mess to manage. That's on you, not them.

-Jason

About Jason Fried

Hey! I'm Jason, the Co-Founder and CEO at 37signals, makers of Basecamp and HEY. Subscribe below to follow my thinking on business, design, product development, and whatever else is on my mind. Thanks for visiting, thanks for reading.