Summary. Getting Real is a book by 37signals that outlines and defines a more effective, efficient, and enjoyable way to live through simplicity.
The book is available for purchase in PDF or print on the 37signals website.
The entire book is also available for free in HTML format on their website here.
Below are some excerpts from the book…
Conventional wisdom says that to beat your competitors you need to one-up them. If they have four features, you need five (or 15, or 25). If they’re spending x, you need to spend xx. If they have 20, you need 30.
This sort of one-upping Cold War mentality is a dead-end. It’s an expensive, defensive, and paranoid way of building products. Defensive, paranoid companies can’t think ahead, they can only think behind. They don’t lead, they follow.
A lot of small companies make the mistake of trying to act big. It’s as if they perceive their size as a weakness that needs to be covered up. Too bad. Being small can actually be a huge advantage, especially when it comes to communication.
Small companies enjoy fewer formalities, less bureaucracy, and more freedom.