M, a former colleague, a client and a friend visited me a few weeks back. He is one of the best people I have worked with.

We worked with him in his role at a client over a number of projects. He has since gone to a global firm where he has worked on a number of projects with MBB.

We chatted for a long time and he talked about his recent experience. He told me that he has discovered that Global Advisors were on the top rung of intellect and work – followed by MBB who he had found underwhelming.

It meant a huge amount.

I am fortunate to get great feedback from clients, but feedback from consultants or former consultants means a huge amount. GA has been going for 19 years. Perhaps twice have I a received appreciation for work we have performed from former team members.

I made sure to give appreciative feedback to my former mentors after I left Gemini. I hope it meant as much to them as M’s feedback did to me. In my experience, appreciation is far too rare.