Editor's Note: Up at Night

For the past three years, one of my primary concerns here at the magazine has been the Best Firms to Work For survey. It clings to me for six months out of the year, keeping me up at all hours of the night. I sort through the responses written by consultants who write about supportive employers, congenial coworkers and interesting work, and those who feel more disheartened.
For the last three years, every time we've asked for your opinion, we have gotten it. This year, the project was larger than ever before. We received 5,457 submissions from consultants who work at 50 firms.
You have often told us how mentoring is one of your chosen profession's most valued career offerings. We are hopeful that you and your consulting peers may find this issue a worthy addition to your mentoring toolbox.
You have also routinely told us about how the demanding nature of both consulting work and home life often requires sacrifices. We hope that this issue better exposes those firms committed to putting forth creative solutions for consultants eager to achieve a greater balance between work and home.
This year, we added a question on objectivity and independence — it's a subject we also hold dear here at the magazine. Rest assured, we do not play favorites and are as surprised by the results of the list as anyone else. We, too, want to say that we have pride in our work and have a positive impact on our thousands of "clients" — you, our readers.
As any professional consultant would take painstaking measures to be as accurate as possible, we too have thus toiled. This, of course, is not a scientific study, and our numbers are only as good as what our respondents tell us.
Last November, as you read who topped the 2002 list (reprinted below) my daughter, Veronica, was born, and I joined those of you who each day seek to master a delicate balance.
As I write, it's 2 a.m. on a night — or should I say "morning"? — in October. My daughter wakes up, but she doesn't have to cry for long. Her mom is already awake. I've been up double-checking the numbers on charts and trying to come up with clever phrases for the cover story.
This year, I have some company as I stare into the wee hours of the morning.