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Never eat alone, 3. CHAPTER 1 Becoming a Member of the Club

3. CHAPTER 1 Becoming a Member of the Club

As a kid, I caddied at the local country club for the homeowners and their children living in the wealthy town next to mine.

It made me think often and hard about those who succeed and those who don't. I made an observation in those days that would alter the way I viewed the world. During those long stretches on the links, as I carried their bags, I watched how the people who had reached professional heights unknown to my father and mother helped each other.

They found one another jobs, they invested time and money in one another's ideas, and they made sure their kids got help getting into the best schools, got the right internships, and ultimately got the best jobs. Before my eyes, I saw proof that success breeds success and, indeed, the rich do get richer.

Their web of friends and associates was the most potent club the people I caddied for had in their bags. Poverty, I realized, wasn't only a lack of financial resources; it was isolation from the kind of people that could help you make more of yourself. I came to believe that in some very specific ways life, like golf, is a game, and that the people who know the rules, and know them well, play it best and succeed.

And the rule in life that has unprecedented power is that the individual who knows the right people, for the right reasons, and utilizes the power of these relationships, can become a member of the "club," whether he started out as a caddie or not. This realization came with some empowering implications.

To achieve your goals in life, I realized, it matters less how smart you are, how much innate talent you're born with, or even, most eyeopening to me, where you came from and how much you started out with. Sure all these are important, but they mean little if you don't understand one thing: You can't get there alone. In fact, you can't get very far at all. Fortunately, I was hungry to make something of myself (and, frankly, even more terrified that I'd amount to nothing).

Otherwise, perhaps I would have just stood by and watched like my friends in the caddy yard. I first began to learn about the incredible power of relationships from Mrs. Poland.

Carol Poland was married to the owner of the big lumberyard in our town, and her son, Brett, who was my age, was my friend. They went to our church. At the time, I probably wanted to be Brett (great athlete, rich, all the girls falling over him). At the club, I was Mrs. Poland's caddie.

I was the only one who cared enough, ironically, to hide her cigarettes. I busted my behind to help her win every tournament. I'd walk the course the morning before to see where the tough pin placements were. I'd test the speed of the greens. Mrs. Poland started racking up wins left and right. Every ladies day, I did such a great job that she would brag about me to her friends. Soon, others requested me.

3. CHAPTER 1 Becoming a Member of the Club 3. 第一章 成为俱乐部会员

As a kid, I caddied at the local country club for the homeowners and their children living in the wealthy town next to mine. 子供の頃、私は地元のカントリークラブで、私の隣の裕福な町に住んでいる住宅所有者とその子供たちのためにキャディをしました。

It made me think often and hard about those who succeed and those who don’t. 成功した人とそうでない人について頻繁に、そして一生懸命考えました。 I made an observation in those days that would alter the way I viewed the world. 当時、私は世界の見方を変えるような観察をしました。 During those long stretches on the links, as I carried their bags, I watched how the people who had reached professional heights unknown to my father and mother helped each other. リンクの長いストレッチの間、私は彼らのバッグを運んでいたので、父と母が知らない職業の高さに達した人々が互いに助け合っているのを見ました。

They found one another jobs, they invested time and money in one another’s ideas, and they made sure their kids got help getting into the best schools, got the right internships, and ultimately got the best jobs. 彼らはお互いに仕事を見つけ、お互いのアイデアに時間とお金を投資し、子供たちが最高の学校に入るのを助け、適切なインターンシップを得て、最終的に最高の仕事を得たことを確認しました。 Before my eyes, I saw proof that success breeds success and, indeed, the rich do get richer. 私の目の前で、成功は成功を生み出し、実際、金持ちは金持ちになるという証拠を見ました。

Their web of friends and associates was the most potent club the people I caddied for had in their bags. 彼らの友人や仲間のウェブは、私がキャディをしていた人々がバッグに入れた中で最も強力なクラブでした。 Poverty, I realized, wasn’t only a lack of financial resources; it was isolation from the kind of people that could help you make more of yourself. 貧困は、財源の不足だけではないことに気づきました。それは、あなたがあなた自身をより多く作るのを助けることができる種類の人々からの隔離でした。 I came to believe that in some very specific ways life, like golf, is a game, and that the people who know the rules, and know them well, play it best and succeed. ゴルフのように人生は非常に特定の方法でゲームであり、ルールを知っており、ルールをよく知っていて、それを最高にプレイして成功する人々だと信じるようになりました。

And the rule in life that has unprecedented power is that the individual who knows the right people, for the right reasons, and utilizes the power of these relationships, can become a member of the "club," whether he started out as a caddie or not. そして、前例のない力を持っている人生のルールは、正しい理由で、正しい人を知っており、これらの関係の力を利用する個人は、キャディとして始めたとしても「クラブ」のメンバーになることができるありません。 This realization came with some empowering implications. この実現には、いくつかの力強い影響がありました。

To achieve your goals in life, I realized, it matters less how smart you are, how much innate talent you’re born with, or even, most eyeopening to me, where you came from and how much you started out with. 人生の目標を達成するために、私はあなたがどれだけ頭がいいか、生まれながらの才能がどれほど重要であるか、あるいは私に最も目を見張るものがあり、どこから来て、どのくらいで始めたのかは重要ではないことに気付きました。 Sure all these are important, but they mean little if you don’t understand one thing: You can’t get there alone. 確かにこれらはすべて重要ですが、1つのことを理解していなければ、ほとんど意味がありません。 In fact, you can’t get very far at all. 実際、あなたはあまり遠くまで行けません。 Fortunately, I was hungry to make something of myself (and, frankly, even more terrified that I’d amount to nothing). 幸いなことに、私は自分自身の何かを作りたいと切望していました（そして、率直に言って、私が何にもならないことをさらに恐れました）。

Otherwise, perhaps I would have just stood by and watched like my friends in the caddy yard. そうでなければ、キャディヤードで私の友人のようにただ傍観していたでしょう。 I first began to learn about the incredible power of relationships from Mrs. Poland.

Carol Poland was married to the owner of the big lumberyard in our town, and her son, Brett, who was my age, was my friend. キャロルポーランドは、私たちの町の大きな製材所の所有者と結婚しており、彼女の息子、私の年齢であったブレットは私の友人でした。 They went to our church. At the time, I probably wanted to be Brett (great athlete, rich, all the girls falling over him). 当時、私はおそらくブレットになりたかった（偉大なアスリート、金持ち、すべての女の子が彼の上に落ちた）。 At the club, I was Mrs. Poland’s caddie.

I was the only one who cared enough, ironically, to hide her cigarettes. 私は彼女のタバコを隠すのに十分な、皮肉なことに世話をした唯一の人でした。 I busted my behind to help her win every tournament. 彼女があらゆるトーナメントで勝つために、私は後ろを打ちました。 나는 그녀가 모든 토너먼트에서 이길 수 있도록 뒤를 파열시켰다. I’d walk the course the morning before to see where the tough pin placements were. 午前中にコースを歩いて、ピン配置が厳しい場所を確認しました。 I’d test the speed of the greens. Mrs. Poland started racking up wins left and right. ポーランド夫人は左右に勝ち始めました。 Every ladies day, I did such a great job that she would brag about me to her friends. 女性の日ごとに、私はとても素晴らしい仕事をしてくれたので、彼女は友達に私のことを自慢するでしょう。 Soon, others requested me. すぐに、他の人が私に要求しました。