Linda was a highly respected member of a large community of committed networkers and business owners back home in
Chicago. She was smart, hardworking and devoted to her staff and customers.
One night I attended an after-hours at a restaurant for some organization; I don’t remember. I do recall that Linda got blotto drunk and her rep never really recovered. It was almost as if people couldn’t help themselves when they were around her; something had changed – for the worse. We saw a side that wasn’t attractive, professional and consistent with who we thought she was.
Peter was managing partner of a client CPA firm. They brought me in to do a training program and took everyone out to dinner. Peter had a few too many, and embarrassed himself (and the firm) in front of a group of strangers.
I know the benefits of booze.
A little can relax you; it makes the whole social dynamic less dynamite. Our walls come down and marketing, networking, conferences, you name it, the effort can be a little more fun.
Or – you can cross the line and embarrass yourself. Why take the risk?
I know people who have never had a drink their entire lives. More often than not, they are highly successful despite not ever having imbibed. For the last 27 years I have not partaken of alcohol in public, in part due to the effect I saw it had on others. Often I am the only one sipping a diet coke.
I have to work a little harder to relax, be friendly and open (it’s not my nature). But I will NEVER embarrass myself in public or make the people with me uncomfortable because I made a booze-related mistake.
Just say no.
Allan S. Boress, CPA is the author of 12 published books on marketing, selling and managing the business development process for CPAs. The "I-Hate-Selling" Book is available at: www.ihateselling.com
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Well Said!
Couldn't agree with you more. I have never had a drink - doesn't appeal to me. I am perfectly fine at a social/business function drinking my water. When asked what I would like to drink and I say water, the eye brows go up, as if I am recovering from an addiction. I simply say I don't drink.....I don't like it, doesn't appeal to me. I see too many people lose control and pretty much make an a$$ of themselves. No thanks! Just say no is right!
I agree!
At a dinner once someone said "How can you drink that stuff?" when my diet Coke arrived, but as a cocktail waitress told me once at another event, you can not guess how few people now choose to drink alcoholic beverages in a business setting.
The things people have told me when they were "drinking" at a conference are just the things I do not need to hear as another professional in the field. I can always say I can't drink because of medicine I take, and if that makes me a sissy, then who cares?