At that peak of my career, I was a consultant for an auto industry manufacturer. Our new General Manager made significant innovative changes in the business which led the company back to profitability. As a reward, the board of directors and upper-management threw a company-wide Gala to celebrate our new found success.

The awards ceremony and lavish banquet was followed by a reggae band and several open bars; everyone was encouraged to “drink - be mary - don't hold back - This is our time to celebrate”!

The GM (General Manager), who I know very well, noticed that I was not imbibing, so he brought me a 50/50 Jack and Coke, my favorite at the time, to prime the pump. I downed it quickly, then offered to get him his favorite drink, only when I came back, mine was “Jack and Coke” “Hold the Jack!”, a strategy that really paid dividends.

Before long, the Chairman of the Board was Slaloming through the crowds like a water skier with rubbery legs, unable to walk a straight line, the GM talked like his tongue swelled to four times it size and was stuck to the back of his throat, gagging him on every word, and a VP sat motionless at the table, not speaking or even blinking. I thought she was comatose until she hoisted her glass, then asked me to get her another. The whole room was “stupid drunk”. I don't know for the life of me how anyone got home safe.

After the Gala, the President got this idea that all of management should meet at the corner bar to finish off the evening. I was invited to ride in the limo with the Board and Upper-management. Good thing too because the GM and Chairman needed my help to stay upright, whilst I carried the VP. When we got into the limo, I quickly noticed that the limo driver was “drunk off his behind” too. So I pushed him over to the passenger seat, grabbed his keys, and took the wheel.

If the Gala experience wasn't bizarre enough, what happened next in the limo really blew me away. When the limo doors closed, everyone instantly sobered up. The slaloming Chairman, the Gagging GM, the comatose VP... They weren't drunk at all; they were faking it.

What is worse is that it became apparent that this was a premeditated plan to gather Intel on lower-management and select consultants. Careers were made and destroyed based on the Intel gathered from this Gala, and other events that followed over the next couple of years.

My decision to stay straight and in control endeared me to Upper-management and the Board. I became involved in many decision made at all levels of the business. Later, I moved to three other major manufacturers, and found that the same scenario played over and over again.

Bottom line: Keep your senses. Be watchful, Stay in control, “Hold the Jack”.