There are many ways to run a business. For the vast majority of workers, it’s crazy. Working late, working too much, being overwhelmed — it’s normal and expected. If work life is a bit crazy, something is wrong. Hate that type of culture. It’s toxic for everyone.
I don’t work this way and neither does my company. I’m calm. My company is calm. And I expect (hope?) my clients are as well. Here are 13 points from the book “It Doesn’t Have To Be Crazy @ Work” from 37signals:
Calm is profitability.
Calm is protecting people’s time and attention.
Calm is reasonable expectations.
Calm is about 40 hours of work a week.
Calm is ample time off.
Calm is smaller.
Calm is a visible horizon.
Calm is meetings as a last resort.
Calm is contextual communication.
Calm is asynchronous first, real-time second.
Calm is more independence, less interdependence.
Calm is about sustainable practices that can run for the long-term.
I live by these thirteen items. I’ve been more effective and helped more people with their website by writing more in Basecamp instead of having endless meetings that end up taking an hour and no action items are assigned.
Anyway - I talk too much. Try reading the book and have your friends read it as well. Feel free to email me back and let me know your thoughts 👍