The 1998 Rhythm of Business Book: Why It Doesn't Apply to Local Service Businesses

You’ve heard someone mention “Rhythm of Business” and wondered if there’s a book you should read. There is, but if you run an established local service business, it genuinely doesn’t apply to you.

Before “lean startup” existed, before “agile” became a buzzword, there was The Rhythm of Business by Jeffrey Shuman and David Rottenberg (1998). This book shaped how a generation thought about building companies. The authors didn’t just write about rhythm, they founded The Rhythm of Business, Inc., which has since evolved, using their own agile techniques, into an alliance consulting firm for biopharma and healthcare.