Rhythm of Business: Complete Definition
What Does “Rhythm of Business” Mean?
The phrase “Rhythm of Business” has three distinct meanings depending on context:
Definition 1: The Rhythm of Business, Inc.
The Rhythm of Business, Inc. (rhythmofbusiness.com) was founded by Jeffrey Shuman and David Rottenberg, who authored the influential 1998 book The Rhythm of Business: The Key to Building and Running Successful Companies.
The 1998 Book introduced the concept of an iterative business cycle for startups:
- Find: Identify customer needs and market opportunities
- Design: Create solutions that address those needs
- Deliver: Bring products to market and gather feedback
The authors argued that successful companies operate in a continuous rhythm of listening to customers, adapting products, and refining their approach.
The Company Today has evolved to focus on alliance consulting, specializing in:
- Strategic alliance management
- Biopharma partnership development
- Healthcare industry relationships
- Enterprise-level deal structuring
Who uses this definition: Startup founders studying the book, biopharma executives, healthcare partnership managers, business school professors
Key insight: From book to practice, the founders turned their rhythm principles into a successful consulting firm helping enterprises manage complex partnerships.
Definition 2: Enterprise Meeting Cadence
Large organizations use “Rhythm of Business” (sometimes abbreviated “ROB”) to describe their internal meeting structure:
- Weekly: Team standups, project updates
- Monthly: Department reviews, metric analysis
- Quarterly: Business reviews, OKR check-ins
- Annually: Strategic planning, budget allocation
Microsoft popularized this usage, and it spread throughout Fortune 500 companies as a framework for operational alignment.
Who uses this definition: Corporate executives, Chiefs of Staff, Operations leaders, Project managers
Key insight: Consistent meeting rhythms keep large organizations aligned and accountable.
Definition 3: Networking Approach (Our Definition)
We define “Rhythm of Business” as the consistent weekly practice of building trust through networking:
- Weekly: Record one story video (2-3 minutes)
- Weekly: Watch and react to peer videos (10-15 minutes)
- Weekly: Follow up on warm connections (10-15 minutes)
For service-based small businesses, establishing a networking rhythm replaces sporadic, overwhelming networking events with consistent, relationship-building activity.
Who uses this definition: Service business owners, Consultants, Contractors, Coaches, Local professionals
Key insight: Consistent networking rhythms build trust faster than occasional networking events.
Comparison Table
| Aspect | The Rhythm of Business, Inc. | Enterprise Cadence | Networking Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Book + Alliance consulting | Internal meetings | Referral relationships |
| Audience | Startups and biopharma | Large corporations | Service businesses |
| Rhythm | Find-design-deliver + deals | Weekly/monthly/quarterly | Weekly video habit |
| Goal | Product fit + partnerships | Organizational alignment | Warm referrals |
| Time investment | Ongoing operations | Multiple hours per week | 30 minutes per week |
Which Definition Applies to You?
Choose based on your situation:
- Studying startup methodology or structuring biopharma partnerships? → Learn about The Rhythm of Business, Inc.
- Managing corporate operations? → See enterprise meeting cadence
- Growing a service business through referrals? → Learn our networking approach
www.RhythmOf.Business
We help local business owners get warm referrals, 30 minutes per week, no networking overwhelm.