Rework in Summary: A Small Company Can Be a Great Goal
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Collected in Robin Shen’s Field Notes · Content type and attribution are shown above
English translation of the Chinese post originally published 2021-09-12. Translated 2026-10-28 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文
Reading guide
Four concluding points from Rework. Culture: plans, meetings, workaholism, and rules may look useful yet kill productivity; judge them by whether they help the company make money. Scale: a company need not become large to matter. Smallness can itself be a great goal, and limited resources spur creativity. If the business performs and earns money, remaining small and efficient can be a manager’s ambition. People: control headcount, slow hiring, and add nobody unless absolutely necessary. Degrees and experience should not determine suitability; doing the work well makes someone a good employee. Finally, maintain your judgment. Do not copy competitors or let customer demands dictate your direction. Keep doing your own core work well.
Key points
- Keep plans, meetings, and rules only if they help make money.
- Small and excellent can be a great goal.
- Do not add people unless absolutely necessary.
- Do not copy competitors or revolve around customers.

Full text — English translation
These articles are personal notes, book excerpts, and collected reprints. Figures and events reflect the time of the original publication, are not current information, and do not constitute investment advice.
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