Rhythm of Business FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
This page answers common questions about the phrase “Rhythm of Business” across all its meanings.
General Questions
What does “Rhythm of Business” mean?
“Rhythm of Business” has three distinct meanings depending on context:
- The Rhythm of Business, Inc. (rhythmofbusiness.com), founded by the authors of the influential 1998 book, now specializing in biopharma alliance consulting
- Enterprise meeting cadence used by Microsoft and Fortune 500 companies for internal alignment
- Our networking approach for service-based small businesses seeking referrals
Why are there multiple meanings?
The phrase has evolved over nearly 30 years. Different organizations adopted it for different purposes. The core concept (consistent, rhythmic business activity) applies to product development, internal operations, partnerships, and networking differently.
Which meaning is correct?
All three meanings are valid in their respective contexts. The “correct” meaning depends on your situation and what you’re trying to accomplish.
The Rhythm of Business, Inc.
Who founded The Rhythm of Business, Inc.?
Jeffrey Shuman and David Rottenberg founded the company and co-authored The Rhythm of Business: The Key to Building and Running Successful Companies (1998). The book introduced the find-design-deliver cycle for iterative product development.
What is the 1998 Rhythm of Business book about?
The Rhythm of Business: The Key to Building and Running Successful Companies focuses on product-market fit for startups. It introduced the find-design-deliver cycle for iterative product development, a precursor to lean startup methodologies.
Is the 1998 book still relevant?
The principles remain relevant for product-based startups. The concepts of customer discovery and iterative development influenced later methodologies like lean startup. However, the book focuses on products, not services or networking.
What does The Rhythm of Business, Inc. do today?
The company evolved from startup methodology consulting to specialize in alliance management, particularly for biopharma and healthcare organizations. They help large enterprises manage complex strategic partnerships.
Learn more about The Rhythm of Business, Inc. →
Are you affiliated with rhythmofbusiness.com?
No. We’re a separate company with a different focus. They provide enterprise alliance consulting for biopharma. We provide a networking platform for local service businesses.
Enterprise Meeting Cadence
What is enterprise Rhythm of Business (ROB)?
Large corporations use “Rhythm of Business” or “ROB” to describe their structured meeting cadence: weekly team meetings, monthly department reviews, quarterly business reviews, and annual planning cycles.
Does your platform provide enterprise meeting tools?
No. We serve service-based small businesses for external referral networking. If you need enterprise meeting cadence tools, resources like Microsoft Learn, Asana, or Monday.com are more appropriate.
Learn more about enterprise usage →
What is Microsoft’s Rhythm of Business?
Microsoft uses “Rhythm of Business” to describe their internal meeting cadence for organizational alignment, including OKR tracking, quarterly reviews, and strategic planning cycles.
Our Networking Approach
What is your definition of Rhythm of Business?
We define “Rhythm of Business” as the consistent weekly practice of building trust through video-based networking. Service business owners invest 30 minutes per week watching, recording, and responding to story videos from non-competing professionals.
Who is your platform for?
We serve service-based small businesses where referrals drive growth: consultants, contractors, coaches, professional service providers, real estate professionals, and similar businesses.
Learn more about our approach →
How much time does it take?
30 minutes per week:
- Watch peer videos (10-15 minutes)
- Record your story video (5-10 minutes)
- React and follow up (10-15 minutes)
How is this different from BNI or other networking groups?
Traditional networking groups require 2+ hours per week plus travel for in-person meetings. Our approach is asynchronous (no mandatory meeting times), video-based (watch and record when convenient), and requires only 30 minutes per week.
Do I need to be on camera?
Yes. Video creates trust faster than text or audio alone. We provide guidance on creating effective video stories, and most members become comfortable quickly.
Getting Started
How do I join?
Visit our How It Works page to learn about the platform, or check Pricing for subscription options.
Is there a free trial?
Contact us for current trial and promotional offers.
What if my industry is not listed?
If your business grows through referrals and word-of-mouth, our approach likely applies. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Technical Questions
What is the difference between rhythmof.business and rhythmofbusiness.com?
- rhythmof.business (us): Networking platform for service businesses
- rhythmofbusiness.com (them): Founded by the 1998 book authors, now focused on alliance consulting for biopharma
Different companies, different services, different domains.
Why the .business domain?
The .business top-level domain is a newer extension that clearly signals business focus. It allowed us to create a distinctive domain while the .com was already established by The Rhythm of Business, Inc. for their alliance consulting practice.
Still Have Questions?
Contact us at support@rhythmof.business or explore our Blog for more resources.
www.RhythmOf.Business
We help local business owners get warm referrals, 30 minutes per week, no networking overwhelm.