The other day, I was talking to an acquaintance who said that he went to college, got his degree, and he ever joined a college fraternity. It was his contention that if he were to join a college fraternity that he wouldn't take his studies seriously, he would be busy screwing off, and that would be a sure sign of the wrong attitude going forward in his life. Still, I wonder if his perception meets the real world when it comes to future success in life. Let's go ahead and talk about this for second shall we?

You see, sometimes in life it is whom you know, not what you know, thus, the justification for joining a fraternity, however with that said, the party attitude or lack of seriousness is very unnerving and unacceptable, it's the same piss-poor screw-off attitude which causes a lack of performance in the real world. The social skills perhaps are of value, but the time commitment and often authoritative false-leadership involved in "rushing" as it is so disrespectful of the individual, that anyone who is strong willed and has any self-esteem at all, should tell them where to go. If it means giving up self to join the group only a fool would join a group like that which would have you as a member.

Still, there are benefits to joining a college fraternity, as long as you are not one of the kids that can't separate hard work and academic performance from all the partying and socialization. If you belong to a fraternity, still have a job, I hope you do all your schoolwork you might have your mind scattered into many different directions. It might be good practice to learn all the socialization because you will be involved in primate politics if you ever do work for a corporation, as there is a lot of office politics involved in climbing the corporate ladder.

It might also serve you well to have friends in high places, members of the same fraternity who might give you a leg up or the advantage in the hiring process, or with promotions within your company, or the next company that you work for. Still, nothing brings success faster than a strong intellect, and a will to succeed along with the hard work ethic it takes to get there. If you have those other attributes you don't need a fraternity, and yes it might be good to have solid friendships in high places, and no one can deny that either. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on the Future of Education. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net