37signals has a book called "Getting Real." The foundation of the book is built about how in many scenarios companies become overwhelmed and consumed by features and functionality that simply don't matter and how to manage this problem so that everyone is happy. They have their entire book available online now for free. Below is an excerpt from their chapter called "It Just Doesn't Matter."
[Referencing a long list of feature requests they've receieved on a project called campfire]
"Would these things be nice to have? Sure. But are they essential? Do they really matter? Nope. And that's why we left them out. The best designers and the best programmers aren't the ones with the best skills, or the nimblest fingers, or the ones who can rock and roll with Photoshop or their environment of choice, they are the ones that can determine what just doesn't matter. That's where the real gains are made. Most of the time you spend is wasted on things that just don't matter. If you can cut out the work and thinking that just don't matter, you'll achieve productivity you've never imagined."
Whether it's programming or business processes or personal matters, sometimes we all need to "get real" and figure out what matters and what doesn't.
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