To smoke or not to smoke? To drink or not to drink?

Smoking. Who out there smokes? I don't. I know both my parents smoked when I was a child because it was the thing to do then. Also my grandparents smoked as well but I would say my generation and below have grown up with the fact that smoking is not the best thing to do with your health along with other people's health as well. Passive smoking. It's not cool.

But what about the social aspect of it?

Have a look at the following video from the hit comedy series of the 1990's and 2000's, Friends.

After watching that do you think that smokers get more opportunities than their non-smoking colleagues if their bosses are also smokers?

That's an interesting question isn't it? What if you don't drink alcohol? Does that mean you also miss out on the opportunities if you are not a raving alcoholic?

Well I have good news and bad news for you. The answer is yes or no.

Sure, you boss might overlook you if you don't go out drinking with him or her. They might do it out of spite or they might not even think of you because they talked about it with your colleague who did go out for a few. At the end of the day, do you really want to work for someone like that?

You do have the opportunity to prosper if you don't drink or smoke. You "just" have to work smarter and be indispensable to your team, your boss and your company, then it doesn't matter if you don't drink or smoke.

Don't do something just because you think it will get you ahead especially if you are compromising your values.