As I read through my current bit of coursework this morning, I came across a familiar word. Consulting. The article I read used it to define people's roles, relationships, jobs, and careers. I didn't think anything of this. Until, under an "expand your network" type heading, I found that an informal relationship where the two people helped each other was, actually, an "informal consulting relationship." Then I stopped. What is this thing that defines almost everything an MBA-holder does? Is consulting really such an essential and universal thing? Has anyone ever stopped before to ask: what is consulting and why does it matter?