Inspiration is Perishable

"Ideas are immortal. They last forever. What doesn't last forever is inspiration. Inspiration is like fresh fruit or milk: it has an expiration date,” - from Rework, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

On this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the Co-founders of 37signals, sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to share their perspective on the fleeting nature of inspiration with insights from the chapter called "Inspiration is Perishable" in their book, Rework.

Listen in to discover why Jason and David liken inspiration to rocket fuel and offer advice to prevent smothering your best ideas with unnecessary tasks. They also explore team motivation and share the secret behind their enduring 20+ year working relationship. 

Tune in to learn how to seize the moment when inspiration strikes, make the most of it, and avoid wasting its potential. 

Check out the full video episode on YouTube

Show Notes: 

[00:00] - Kimberly introduces the topic of the show today, from the book, Rework, the conversation is about the chapter called, "Inspiration is Perishable." 

[00:31] - Jason shares how to filter out which ideas are truly worthwhile and which ones are not. 

[01:48] - Inspiration is kind of like rocket fuel. David shares why he feels it’s important to act during the inspiration phase and which factors make inspiration perish most quickly. 

[04:37] - New projects need intense inspiration and a sprint mindset. 

[05:43] – How not to suffocate your inspiration right at the start. Jason shares why you should jump into action. 

[06:37] - Many successful ideas started as imperfect ones. David shares the key to making them successful. 

[07:33] - Inspiration ebbs and flows, Jason shares the key to knowing when a project is over and some advice from a piece he wrote called Faith in Eventually. 

[09:38] - Motivation is a valuable driver of success. David shares his philosophy on why you should prioritize the idea that excites you the most (even if it looks worse on paper).

[10:37] - Don’t squander motivation on doubt—the importance of following your gut. 

[12:48] - Kimberly asks how David and Jason get the team excited and fired up for their new ideas. 

[13:13] - Everyone doesn’t have to be rah-rah fired up all the time. Jason shares his advice on what to focus on to keep a project progressing.

[15:02] - Not everyone needs to be a visionary; there's a division of labor. David shares the need for a clear direction and decision-makers in every project.

[17:11] - Kimberly asks if David and Jason tend to share inspiration simultaneously or have alternating phases of inspiration. 

[17:29] - Jason highlights where he and David have different areas of focus and the crucial areas where they come together in alignment. 

[18:29] - The balance between individual creativity and a unified vision. David shares what has helped them maintain their 20+ year working relationship and where they come together to collaborate.  

[19:44] - Tune in next week for the special guest episode with the person chosen to share their underdog story.  Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website. Full video episodes are available on YouTube and X [formerly known as Twitter). If you have a question for Jason or David about a better way to work and run your business, leave