To Drink or Not to Drink
Ok, so we all know that drinking alcohol is prohibited in Islam. Whether you choose to drink or not to drink is your own perogative, I’m not here to judge. What I would like to discuss however, is the issue of drinking in order to fit in or to get ahead in the corporate world.
I’ve met quite a few corporate people who share the similar opinion, that in order to climb up the corporate ladder one must indulge in a little bit of alcohol. I’ve been told by some finance people that taking a client out to a bar or a restaurant for some drinks makes it easier to close a deal; I’ve been told that when attending these networking parties, if you don’t drink, sometimes it makes it all that harder to fit in; and finally I’ve been told “when you’re out with the partners and CEOs of a company and they offer you a drink, you just can’t say no.”
The overall impression that I got from these discussions, is that in order to fit in with the ‘big boys’, one would have to pass a certain rite of initiation. In order to move up the corporate ladder, or to get that promotion, one would have to prove themselves both professionally and socially. What’s ironic though, is that the majority of the people who I spoke with, don’t drink in their personal lives. In fact, they don’t care much for it.
So what do you guys think? Is it true that in order to move ahead in the corporate world, one would have to start indulging in a little alcohol? Have you ever been in a situation where you noticed that because you’re not drinking, it held you back a little or perhaps you were left feeling a bit excluded? If you’re out with the CEO and partners of a company and they all offer you a drink and won’t take no for an answer, how do you handle this situation?
I know, I know too many questions…but hey, I want to know…
-sk
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