Summary Based on the Book “Rework”
Rework was written by two successful life hackers for those, who also want to “hack” business reality, full of prejudices and stereotypes. Life hacker is not a superhero from the TV, but an average person, who uses wit, observation and knowledge in the most efficient way in order to break the traditional system, to get rid of the routine. The guys from 37 signals act similarly: they do not make any sensational discoveries; they just show a little bit of observation and common sense, and recommend us to act the same way, if we do not want to get caught up in the everyday routine.
In order to explain and clarify these common principles they use rather simple case studies, elementary examples and very plain vocabulary, what gives everyone a chance to understand the book. The book contains nearly 100 principles of management — from marketing and PR to leadership and relationship issues with competitors. Reader’s reviews of the book are very controversial: from harsh criticism to calls to acknowledge the authors geniuses of modern management. By and large — the whole book gives tips of how conduct business and make it a simple and enjoyable experience. The crumpled piece of paper on the cover is not a coincidence: it is a kind of a symbol of all the “strategies”, “long term plans” and “missions” of the major companies ruined under the influence of objective reality. The authors emphasize that it depends only on us whether all of the crumpled “sheets” of our everyday life will be thrown “in basket” or turned into something worthwhile. Having read the book I have learned a couple of valuable ideas. The first, and, as for me, the most valuable idea is that raising money from investors is a measure of emergency, and one should not resort to it the predicament is really dreadful. Spending other people’s money makes you addictive and puts you in the “slavery” relatively to the investor, and eventually you will develop a business according to your investor’s preferences. Another good point is that small businesses are often more efficient and profitable than a large corporation. The authors explain that the idea of growing for the growth’s sake is one of the most common mistakes made by entrepreneurs. And if you do not know already, nowadays one does not have to plan everything, overtime at work is bad, and all stuff meetings are toxic. It is not necessary to expand the business, and you need to think twice before hiring an additional worker, the best equipment is does not guarantee a success any more. Judging from the author’s words, drug dealers can be considered the heroes of our time, as they “write their own shows”. They give their product first time for free, understanding that as soon as the customer ensures the quality, next time he will come to them with money.
The world has become very dynamic. Mankind has grown from six to seven billion in just 12 years - and this is an incredible figure. Such demographic situation dictates new rules of behavior in which there is no time for superstitions. Today we live in a world in which all the joys and profits do not accrue to those who follow the rules. The winner is the one who sets the rules itself!
