By the Numbers

How much data do you really need to make good decisions? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about 37signals’ evolving relationship with analytics—from working with a full-time analyst to now focusing only on the numbers that truly matter. They share why gut feeling, curiosity, and margin often outweigh dashboards and reports—and how trimming the data obsession can lead to better, bolder decisions. Key Takeaways:00:09 – The shift from having a full-time data analyst to working without one02:25 – Just because you can’t measure it doesn’t mean it’s not important07:59 – Analytics don’t always drive product decisions10:15 – How financial margin fuels freedom to experiment13:42 – Don’t let data make you overly cautious15:26 – David’s take on cutting unnecessary costs19:48 – Weighing cost vs. value when making decisions Links and Resources:Record or upload a video question for Jason and DavidGet Basecamp for free at Basecamp.comBooks by 37signalsHEY World | HEYREWORK podcast merchThe REWORK podcastThe Rework Podcast on YouTubeThe 37signals Dev Blog37signals on YouTube@37signals on X