1. EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE. Marketing is multi-disciplinary. Most marketers have deep expertise in just one or two disciplines. Don’t be afraid to dip your toe into new areas.

Partners weighed in on how to deal with clients and differentiate yourself from your peers at the biggest consulting firms.

For wood, look for splits, cracks, chips, and loose rungs or steps. Because they can cause the ladder to suddenly fail, any of these problems signals the need for a new ladder.