Embracing Constraints

37signals uses the phrase "embracing constraints" frequently. According to Google, "embracing constraints" appears on 37signals.com about 46 times. It appears on the entire Internet combined about 589 times. What is embracing constraints? In a simple definition, it is one step above doing the best with what you have.

Although this may be an obscure place to find an example of embracing constraints, I put the movie Hackers on in the background while doing some work this evening. The movie starts out with the secret service arresting somebody. In the proceeding court trial, a young kid is sentenced to years of probation from computers and pay phones until his 18th birthday. Although the movie is extremely fictional, it jumps ahead to the hacker's 18th birthday, and he is still among the best. How does someone who did not touch a computer for years stay on top of his game? He embraced constraints and continued learning.

Embracing constraints will only grow in popularity as more people strive to make the most of what they have to work with. The 46 of 589 search results I referred to at the beginning of this post will end up being 50 or 60 out of thousands.