4 ms·

When we developed Basecamp, I had only met Jason and Ryan once. We met zero times during the development phase. I agree that face-to-face is great, but I also

by dhh 15y ago

When we developed Basecamp, I had only met Jason and Ryan once. We met zero times during the development phase. I agree that face-to-face is great, but I also believe that it's vastly overrated as a necessity for "magic" to appear. Tons of remote teams crank out magic all the time.

drumdance 15y ago
For me it's as much about not liking working at home as wanting face to face. I'm too easily distracted at home.
- christkv 15y ago
  I think that raises the most important point. People are different. I prefer the quiet at home because I can concentrate (I like to talk to people A LOT :) so I spend to much time talking to people at an office). Heading into a 100% remote situation myself I'm still conscious about grabbing a desk in a co-working space for at least 1-2 days a week to socialize a bit and not turn into a hermit. I do think remote teams can work very well but it has to be built with people who love to work remotely from the start. If you have a mix of people who can't work from home and need social interactions to be productive and combine it with people who want the opposite you are probably going to have problems. I think it comes down to hiring for one concept or the other.
- elviejo 15y ago
  Then a coworking space could provide you with the separation between home/office that some of us need.
  - MartinCron 15y ago
    Yes! If I were to be a remote worker, I would make a co-working space a requirement.
- cunac 15y ago
  I worked 15 months for startup company in California (I am in Toronto Canada) one week on site one week off site so 50% telecommute and that worked exceptionally well product was done and company is highly successful in own field. Sure you have to make boundaries and it helps if you have office so you can close door and isolate from rest. Nowdays I try to teach my customers that I will work at least 1-2 days from home. Most times it works but some are not equipped for remote work at all. It also takes discipline not to slack but that goes for on site worker as well or even more because they get more benefit of doubt being "seen to work"

by dhh 15y ago

drumdance 15y ago

For me it's as much about not liking working at home as wanting face to face. I'm too easily distracted at home.

christkv 15y ago
I think that raises the most important point. People are different. I prefer the quiet at home because I can concentrate (I like to talk to people A LOT :) so I spend to much time talking to people at an office). Heading into a 100% remote situation myself I'm still conscious about grabbing a desk in a co-working space for at least 1-2 days a week to socialize a bit and not turn into a hermit. I do think remote teams can work very well but it has to be built with people who love to work remotely from the start. If you have a mix of people who can't work from home and need social interactions to be productive and combine it with people who want the opposite you are probably going to have problems. I think it comes down to hiring for one concept or the other.
elviejo 15y ago
Then a coworking space could provide you with the separation between home/office that some of us need.
- MartinCron 15y ago
  Yes! If I were to be a remote worker, I would make a co-working space a requirement.
cunac 15y ago
I worked 15 months for startup company in California (I am in Toronto Canada) one week on site one week off site so 50% telecommute and that worked exceptionally well product was done and company is highly successful in own field. Sure you have to make boundaries and it helps if you have office so you can close door and isolate from rest. Nowdays I try to teach my customers that I will work at least 1-2 days from home. Most times it works but some are not equipped for remote work at all. It also takes discipline not to slack but that goes for on site worker as well or even more because they get more benefit of doubt being "seen to work"