Jason Fried

June 2, 2025

Turning back can be getting ahead

When you encounter a simpler system, a simpler idea, or a simpler implementation, you have an opportunity.

You can say "it's not enough, it doesn't have, it wouldn't work". That’s the common reflexive response.

Or you can reflect. “What is it about how we work that prevents us from using such a simple, succinct system?” “How did we get so twisted, so tangled, so dependent on so much that we can’t seem to get anywhere otherwise?”

Depending on more can often mean being able to do less.

Turning back can be getting ahead.

Downshift.

-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.