They are the lint in a vicious spin-cycle that has washed out U.S. business. Smack in the middle is the petit bourgeois gathered in clamoring 10 to 20 person firms. What they have is a gimmick. Three Paths to Market Leadership, Four Fs, Five Forces, Six Sigma Quality, Seven Ss, Eight Maids A'Milking, Nein Das Ist Ein Schnitzelbank. For a look at the aristocrats I book a flight on the morning shuttle between Boston and New York.
Consultants occupy every seat in every row.
It's Friday, dress-down day. We find our way to an expensive-looking brasserie, where the maitre d' calls the VP by name and shows him to his table. My VP is a world-weary guy, with travel bags under his eyes dark enough to hide a Samsonite Pullman. There's the Status Symbol Factor. All the other CEOs at the club have high-priced consultants.