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What's your productivity style? For one entrepreneur, less is less

It's like being a fly on the wall at some of the most creative entrepreneur's offices--we use that term loosely. Inc. talked to Jason Fried of 37Signals, a Chicago-based company that provides web-based apps to get things done, about his productivity style.

Here's an excerpt from the article: (you can read the rest here)

You could sum up Jason Fried's philosophy as "less is more." Except that he hates that expression, because, he says, it still "implies that more is better." Fried prefers "less is less." It's a core principle of 37Signals, the Chicago-based company he launched in 1999 with Ernest Kim and Carlos Segura. The company started as a Web design firm. Then, in 2003, Fried hired David Heinemeier Hansson, a Danish programmer, to write software to keep the company's design projects organized. Soon, clients began requesting the program, and by 2005, software development eclipsed design in both revenue and focus. Today, 37Signals, which is run by Fried and Hansson, has a staff of 16 and more than three million customers who use the company's Web-based applications, such as Basecamp and Campfire, to collaborate and manage projects. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, is the company's only investor. Fried, 35, isn't afraid to do things differently or to express his opinions. He condemns traditional corporate office culture, with its 40-hour workweeks and constant meetings, and shoots down many of his customers' suggestions. And he's not opposed to a little goofing off in the afternoon.

Best industries to start a new business

Each year, we're inspired by Inc. magazine's top 30 entrepreneurs under 30. They're young, savvy and many are on their way to fabulous success. There's no doubt that reading the list will make you go "Why didn't I think of that?" at least once. If they've inspired you to start your own business, no matter what your age, you'll want to take a look at the magazine's list of the best industries to start a new business.

Take a look and decide if you agree with Inc.'s list:

1. Energy - Have a science background? From solar energy to alternative fuels, the energy industry is growing due to consumer demands for savings. Plus, economic stimulus funds for energy projects is about $43 billion.

2. Government Services - From 2007 to 2008, the total revenue for companies in this category nearly doubled, from $678 million to $1.2 billion, and the median four-year growth rate for companies on the 2008 list came in at nearly 1,300 percent.

3. Self-Improvement - We agree with this one. You see, the recession has forced a lot of people to look at their skill sets and decide what they need to remain competitive.  Americans spend more than $11 billion each year on self-improvement products and services, including motivational-speaker seminars, networking and wealth-building instructional DVDs, and spiritual guidance books, according to Marketdata Enterprises, a Tampa-based research firm.

4. Repairs - Business is up 2.4 percent at auto repair shops and 4.6 for electricians and plumbers in the past year, according to statistics compiled by Sageworks. Other lucrative sectors include shoe repair shops, many of which have seen business more than double since the start of the recession, as well as personal electronics repair shops. The repair business is also hospitable for fledgling ventures: businesses can often be run from home and sustained on the founder’s knowhow and sweat equity.

5. Accounting Services - Accounting work is a function that companies routinely outsource, especially when they are seeking to cut costs during a recession, which opens up opportunities for start-ups. Profit margins can be especially high for solo entrepreneurs or those who run their businesses from home. According to recent data from Sageworks, private accounting firms have seen a 20.9 percent growth in profit over the last 12 months. 

If ever there were a time in which people are searching for self-improvement, it's now. Americans spend more than $11 billion each year on self-improvement products and services, including motivational-speaker seminars, networking and wealth-building instructional DVDs, and spiritual guidance books, according to Marketdata Enterprises, a Tampa-based research firm. Over the next three years, while many industries contract, self-help is expected to grow 6.2 percent annually.

The energy industry is full of start-up opportunities, so it's no surprise that it was the fastest-growing category among privately-held companies on the 2008 Inc. 500 | 5000 list -- with a median four-year growth rate of 287.5 percent among 79 companies on the list. These companies run the gamut from dealing in solar energy to alternative fuels. Due to growing consumer demand to save on energy costs, companies that install efficient lighting systems or cut down on heating costs by installing solar panels are well positioned for future growth. In addition, economic stimulus funds for energy projects nationwide amount to $43 billion, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs with a scientific background to break into areas such as biofuel and wind power. -- Jason Del Rey and Tamara Schweitzer