Suitor

October 5, 1945, the great citizens of the United States are ablaze to witness the glorious victory of the Second World War. America is in a state of celebration and economic growth. Jerry Gold is the most successful man in America, his life is overwhelmingly bombarded with money, beautiful people and luxurious opportunities. He is an inspiration to all and the picture of a successful, post-war American Dreamer.

To the people of New York, Gold was known as the “Suitor of Manhattan” and America’s greatest mystery. Nobody knew the secret to his success. Some believed he stole his fortune from the deep pockets of investors, others claimed he got lucky in a poker match. But those were simply rumours. Gold did not make his fortune by befriending stuck-up investors or getting a lucky hand in poker. His success was planned long before Jerry Gold existed.

After the victory of the American Revolution in 1783, the country was a blank canvas waiting for the world's most triumphant entrepreneur to define “success” for Americans. William J. Suitor was sharp, clever and extremely bright, and unlike most people, he understood his potential. When William was eighteen years old his father died when he unexpectedly came down with a high fever. His dying wish was for William to make something of himself. He told William everyday, ”do not do what is expected, employ yourself in your own original thought.” The last thing William’s father gave to him was a brand new little black notebook to sculpt his ideas and cherish long-term thinking.

William stared at that notebook for months. Multiple layers of dust accumulated across the leather cover. A year had gone by before William finally had the courage to pick up the notebook. He held it in his hands for a few minutes; gliding his fingers across the black leather making small designs through the dust. He opened the notebook to the first page. William dipped his writing implement in a jar of ink and began to write, “Suitor's Guide to Success.” The first and only chapter included a step by step guide he would follow to the T in order to fulfill his fathers wishes of an original life. William slowly wrote his plans for success, being sure to make each and every word legible. He began, “step one: disregard your entire name and only answer to Suitor.” William was not interested in using his first name, as far as he was concerned he was making a legacy for his father and the last name “Suitor” was all he had left of him. From that day forward, William was no longer “William.” He spent weeks introducing himself as “Suitor” to each and everyone of his acquaintances. While introducing himself to every new face, Suitor noticed an opportunity to become a roaring success in the state of New York. The British were no longer willing to trade molasses with the Americans, therefore, whisky had become everybody's favourite new companion. Unlike brandy or gin, America was producing it and Suitor did not have to pay importing taxes. “Step 2: build a whisky empire.” By January of 1786, Suitor had been personally selling and delivering “Suitor’s Whisky” to the most powerful men in America, including President George Washington. With a whisky in one hand and a pen in the other, he continued, “step 3: franchise outside of New York.” Suitor spent three years personally sharing his whisky with all thirteen colonies. New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, all made deals with Suitor. Almost every whisky bottle in America had a “Suitor's Whisky” label slapped on the face. “Step 4: cutoff ties with distractions.” Suitor dedicated his entire life to his whisky empire and his guide to success. Suitor lived his life with the mentality that friends were unnecessary, a wife was a distraction and children were a hassle. As far as Suitor was concerned, his whisky empire gave him everything he could ever need. “Step 5: put aside $20,000 and store it away for a rainy day.” Suitor’s whisky empire had made more than enough money for a lifetime of wealth and luxury. As the years went by and Suitor grew older, he still had no desire to distract himself with a family, but he knew he needed someone young to help him with deliveries. Reluctantly, Suitor hired Gilbert Gold, a young man who had been working in one of his grain fields. Gilbert Gold was sixteen years old and looked up to Suitor as if he were a god. Suitor, however, kept Gilbert Gold at arms length at all times. It was not until Suitor learned that Gilbert Gold was an orphan. He had no parents, brothers or sisters. He was alone, just like Suitor. After four strenuous years of Gilbert Gold working for Suitor, he realized that he was not some foolish, ill-advised kid anymore. Aside from Suitor’s empire and fortune, Gilbert Gold was all he had.

As the years past, it was no secret to either Suitor or Gilbert Gold that his days were numbered. Suitor barley left his bed, and when he did, Gilbert Gold was right next to him pulling him up by his frail arms. Gilbert Gold became less of a friend to Suitor and more like a son.

Suitor had never taken favours from anyone until he met Gilbert Gold, and this time he had one last request. Suitor instructed Gilbert Gold to walk over to his desk and pull open the top drawer where he kept one single item. Gilbert Gold reached for Suitor’s little black notebook. He handed the book to Suitor along with a pen he had dipped in ink. Suitor’s hand slowly brought the pen down to the blank page and wrote, “final step: Gilbert Gold.” Gilbert Gold looked at the page and then moved his eyes over to Suitor who remained in poker face. Suitor blew on the wet ink and closed the notebook. He took Gilbert Gold’s hand and placed the notebook in it. “Gold, this is not a journal or a diary, this is a lifestyle... The lifestyle. Take this notebook and everything it has to offer.” he said. Gilbert Gold accepted the little black notebook with no hesitation and tucked it away in his jacket pocket. Suitor slowly took his last deep breath and closed his eyes. The room was silent and Gilbert Gold was alone for the first time since he was sixteen.

That very night, Gilbert opened Suitor’s little black notebook. The first page was titled, “Suitor’s Guide to Success.” Next, six steps were listed with detailed descriptions and exact instructions. All except the final sixth step, which independently stated, “final step: Gilbert Gold.” The rest of the notebook was filled with blank pages. Gilbert lay on his back and stared at the chandelier that hung from the ceiling of Suitor’s estate. He held the notebook up to his direct line of sight to read it once more, but this time the blank pages were no longer blank. The light revealed a cheque sealed between two pages of paper made out to Gilbert Gold for $20,000. Gilbert flipped to the next page, holding the notebook even closer to light, and out shone estate papers, leaving Gilbert Gold the Suitor estate, fortune and whisky empire.

Gold followed Suitor’s inventive guide in that little black notebook, and so did generations after him, including his great-grandson Jerry Gold, the 1945 Suitor of Manhattan.