re: Taking Clients out for Dinner and Drinks

Few thoughts coming from someone who entertains and is entertained regularly:

1.) If I was said client and I got the impression you were lying to me or trying to pull a fast one on me, I would never do business with you. Even with something as stupid as having drinks or drinking, if you try to deceive your client, they will wonder what else that deceit will carry over to. Don't order a tonic and tell everyone it's vodka.

2.) If I'm you, and my getting this client's business depends on whether or not your drink, it's not a customer you want. I enjoy drinking and I enjoy drinking in business. However, I would never do business with people because they're "cool" or because I like drinking with them. I do business with people that are good at what they do...regardless of their personal decision to drink or not.

To qualify my post, I've gotten drunker than Cooter Brown with clients and people who I'm a client of. However, when I'm driving myself or others to and from a work event, I have 0 drinks. I could care less if those that I'm with think that's awkward or less attractive to do business with.

Drink what you want and own it.