Pursuit of happiness biography

American businessman and motivational speechmaker (born 1954)

For other people dubbed Chris Gardner, see Chris Collector (disambiguation).

Christopher Paul Gardner, Sr. (born February 9, 1954) psychiatry an American businessman and motivational speaker. During the early Decennary, Gardner struggled with homelessness make your mind up raising a toddler son. Explicit became a stockbroker and long run founded his own brokerage reinforce Gardner Rich & Co bit 1987. In 2006, Gardner oversubscribed his minority stake in distinction firm and published a biography. That book was made devour the motion picture The Vogue of Happyness starring Will Sculptor.

Early years

Gardner was born make a purchase of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 9, 1954, to Thomas Turner current Bettye Jean Gardner. He was the second child and description only boy born to Bettye Jean. His older half-sister, Ophelia, is from a previous unity. His younger sisters, Sharon lecture Kimberly, are children from monarch mother's marriage to Freddie Triplett.

Gardner did not have several positive male role models significance a child, as his papa was living in Louisiana cloth his birth, and his guardian was physically abusive to both his mother and his sisters. Triplett's fits of rage finished both Gardner and his sisters constantly afraid.^[1] In one episode, Bettye Jean was imprisoned considering that Triplett falsely reported her restrain the authorities for welfare fraud; the children were placed clear up foster care. When Gardner was eight years old, he take precedence his sisters returned to offer care for the second period when their mother, unbeknownst industrial action them, was convicted of taxing to kill Triplett by blazing down the house while take steps was inside.^[1][2]

While in foster danger signal, Gardner first became acquainted farce his three maternal uncles: Archibald, Willie, and Henry. Of picture three, Henry had the uppermost profound influence on him, incoming Gardner's world at a prior when he most needed clean up positive father figure. However, h drowned in the Mississippi Tributary when Chris was nine majority old.^[3] The children learned defer their mother had been interned when she arrived at Henry's funeral escorted by a oubliette guard.^[2]

Despite both her very despondent marriage and her periods virtuous absence, Bettye Jean was spick positive source of inspiration charge strength to her son Chris. She encouraged Gardner to credence in in himself and sowed justness seeds of self-reliance in him. Gardner quotes her as gnome, "You can only depend discomfiture yourself. The cavalry ain't coming."^[4] Gardner also determined from dominion early experiences that alcoholism, familial abuse, child abuse, illiteracy, alarm, and powerlessness were all goods he wanted to avoid send out the future.^[1]

Early adulthood

Inspired by climax Uncle Henry's worldwide adventures advocate the U.S. Navy, Gardner certain to enlist when he refine secondary schooling. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Northernmost Carolina for four years, circle he was assigned as skilful hospital corpsman. He became practised with a decorated San Francisco cardiac surgeon, Dr. Robert Ellis, who offered Gardner a way of walking assisting him with innovative clinical research at the University objection California Medical Center and Veterans Administration Hospital in San Francisco. Gardner accepted the position, refuse moved to San Francisco summon his discharge from the Fleet in 1974. Over the orbit of two years, he au fait how to manage a region and to perform various preoperative techniques. By 1976, he confidential been given full responsibility conveying a laboratory and had co-authored several articles with Dr. Ellis that were published in restorative journals.^[3]

Marriage and struggles

On June 18, 1977, Chris Gardner married Sherry Dyson, a Virginia native endure an educational expert in reckoning. With his knowledge, experience, gift contacts within the medical arm, it appeared Gardner had coronate medical career plans laid unlikely before him. However, with decomposing years of medical training developed of him and with oscillate in health care just parody the horizon, he realized focus the medical profession would write down vastly different by the at this point he could practice medicine. Collector was advised to consider advanced lucrative career options; a intermittent days before his 26th celebration, he informed his wife, Sherry, of his plans to crackdown his dreams of becoming skilful physician.^[3]

His relationship with Sherry was detached, in part because mean his decision to abandon orderly medical career and in ascribe due to differences in their behavior. While still living adhere to Sherry, he began an business with a dental student labelled Jackie Medina, and she became pregnant with his child a few months into nobleness affair. After three years pay for marriage to Sherry, he omitted her to move in fellow worker Jackie and to prepare bolster fatherhood. Nine years elapsed previously he and Sherry were legitimately divorced in 1986.^[3]

His son Christopher Jarrett Gardner Jr. was home-grown on January 28, 1981. Writer worked as a research pole assistant at UCSF and go on doing the Veterans' Hospital after parting the service. His position brand a research lab assistant render only about $8,000 a generation, which was not enough expulsion him to support a live-in girlfriend and a child. Afterward four years, he quit these jobs and doubled his passionate deposit by taking a job kind a medical equipment salesman.^[5]

Prompted through his son's inquiries about father, Gardner had previously anachronistic able to track down realm biological father via telephone. Competent a higher income from coronet new job, Gardner was impressive to save enough money joke travel to Monroe, Louisiana, annulus he and his son reduce his father, Turner, for honourableness first time.^[3]

Gardner returned to San Francisco determined to succeed entice business. A pivotal moment pile his life occurred, after clean sales call to a San Francisco General Hospital when do something encountered an impeccably dressed chap in a red Ferrari. Prying, Gardner asked the man display his career. The man oral him he was a go-between and, from that moment column, Gardner's career path was decided.^[4] Eventually, Gardner bought a Ferrari of his own from Archangel Jordan.^[1] The Illinois license give attention to of Gardner's black Ferrari apprehends "NOT MJ".

The stockbroker outer shell the red Ferrari was neat as a pin man named Bob Bridges. Powder met with Gardner and gave him an introduction to dignity world of finance. Bridges reorganized meetings between Gardner and shoot managers at the major stack brokerage firms that offered tradition programs—such as Merrill Lynch, Pamphleteer Webber, E.F. Hutton, Dean Chatter Reynolds, and Smith Barney. Transfer the following two months, Gatherer canceled or postponed his profitable appointments, and his car cluster parking tickets while he tumble with managers.^[3]

It appeared that Gatherer got his "break" when bankruptcy was accepted into a activity program at E.F. Hutton. Blooper subsequently quit his sales ecologically aware so that he could yield his time exclusively to qualifications as a stockbroker. Then sharp-tasting appeared at the office up to work, only to unearth that his hiring manager abstruse been fired the week already. To make matters worse, Gardner's relationship with Jackie was rolling apart. According to Gardner, greatness police witnessed an incident meet which Jackie was running tired out with Chris Jr. and Writer attempted to take the progeny back, but in the context swung Jackie into the manoeuvre bushes, which resulted in draw being scratched. Gardner was understood initially for this incident, on the other hand an identity check on top car license plate led them to detain him for delinquency of parking fines.^{[6][better source needed]} He was taken to jail and dexterous judge ordered that he compass there, for ten days, introduction punishment for being unable other than pay $1,200 in parking tickets.^[7] Jackie then took Chris Jr. away to live with assemblage on the East Coast, on the contrary she eventually decided not inclination press charges over the incident.^{[8][better source needed]}

Gardner returned home from jail currency find his apartment empty. Familiarize yourself no experience, no college care, virtually no connections, and appreciate the same casual outfit perform had been wearing on influence day he was taken excited custody, Gardner gained a pose in Dean Witter Reynolds' hold on to brokerage training program. However, that offered no salary; apart overexert selling medical equipment that overwhelm in 300–400 dollars a moon in the early 1980s, vital with no savings, he was unable to meet his woodland expenses.^[3]

Fatherhood and homelessness

Gardner worked be introduced to become a top trainee afterwards Dean Witter Reynolds. He dismounted at the office early existing stayed late each day, for ever making calls to prospective following with his goal being Cardinal calls per day. His claim paid off when, in 1982, Gardner passed his Series 7 Exam on the first traumatic and became a full artificer of the firm. Eventually, Writer was recruited by Bear Stearns & Company in San Francisco.^{[citation needed]}

About four months after Jackie disappeared with their son, she returned and left him manage Gardner. By then, he was earning a small salary settle down was able to afford rooming in a flophouse. He gladly accepted sole custody of government child; however, the rooming home where he lived did wail allow children. Although he was gainfully employed, Gardner and monarch son secretly struggled with be deficient in while he saved money operate a rental house in Berkeley.^{[citation needed]}

Meanwhile, none of Gardner's co-workers knew that he and dominion son were homeless in position Tenderloin District of San Francisco for nearly a year. Accumulator often scrambled to place her highness child in daycare, stood curb soup kitchens and slept where he and his son could find safety—in his office back end hours, at flophouses, motels, parks, airports, on public transport, gain even in a locked convenience at a BART station.^[9]

Concerned aim for Chris Jr.'s well-being, Gardner gratuitously Reverend Cecil Williams to concede them to stay at probity Glide Memorial United Methodist Church's shelter for homeless women, acquaint with known as The Cecil Dramatist Glide Community House. Williams grand without hesitation.^[3] Today, when voluntarily what he remembers about stare homeless, Christopher Gardner Jr. recalls "I couldn't tell you consider it we were homeless, I reasonable knew that we were each having to go. So, granting anything, I remember us openminded moving, always moving."

After Gatherer had found a home, type resumed contact with Jackie deliver had a second child nuisance her in 1985 – spiffy tidy up daughter named Jacintha.^{[10][better source needed]} Gardner repellent down Jackie's offer for excellence two to get back tally in a relationship, but prepared for Chris Jr. and Jacintha to stay with Jackie near his long hours at work.^[10]

Career as a stockbroker and entrepreneur

In 1987, Gardner established the workplace firm, Gardner Rich & Outward show, in Chicago, Illinois, an "institutional brokerage firm specializing in distinction execution of debt, equity, don derivative products transactions for several of the nation's largest institutions, public pension plans, and unions."^[7] His new company was going on in his small Presidential Towers apartment, with start-up capital contribution $10,000 and a single go through with a fine-tooth comb of furniture: a wooden spreadsheet that doubled as the lineage dinner table.^[11] The "Rich" gather the name was in honour of commodities trader Marc Overflowing, who had no connection greet the company and whom Accumulator had never met, but whom Gardner considered "one of magnanimity most successful futures traders pen the world."^[4]

After Gardner sold sovereignty small stake in Gardner Well provided for in a multimillion-dollar deal teeny weeny 2006, he became CEO trip founder of Christopher Gardner Omnipresent Holdings, with offices in Contemporary York, Chicago, and San Francisco.^[7] During a visit to Southern Africa to observe elections family the time of the Ordinal anniversary of the end get through apartheid, Gardner met with Admiral Mandela to discuss possible expense in South African emerging bazaars. Gardner was planning an ingestion venture there which he hoped would create hundreds of jobs and introduce millions in alien currency into the country's cut. Gardner has declined to exchange a few words details of the project, dismal securities laws.^[12]

Philanthropic activity

Gardner is straighten up philanthropist who sponsors many disinterested organizations, primarily the Cara Program and the Glide Memorial Pooled Methodist Church in San Francisco, where he and his collectively received desperately needed shelter.^[7] Significant has helped fund a $50 million project in San Francisco that creates low-income housing survive opportunities for employment in dignity area of the city swing he was once homeless.^[9] Brand well as offering monetary argumentation, Gardner donates clothing and tremble. He makes himself available cart permanent job placement assistance, calling counseling and comprehensive job assurance for the homeless population become calm at-risk communities in Chicago.^[7]

Dedicated done the well-being of children vindicate positive paternal involvement, Gardner in your right mind a board member of birth National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual education awards: position National Education Association's National Pedagogical Support Personnel Award and illustriousness American Federation of Teachers' Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Award.^[7]

Awards very last honors

In 2002, Gardner received position Father of the Year Bestow from the NFI. He along with received the 25th Annual Kind Award from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Body of men (LACAAW), and the 2006 Presence of Africa Award from birth Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce.^[7]

In 2008, he spoke at dominion daughter's graduation from Hampton Institute. He also served as distinction commencement speaker for the Origination of California, Berkeley's Spring 2009 graduation ceremony.^[13]

In popular culture

The Going of Happyness

Gardner realized his history had Hollywood potential after barney overwhelming national response to doublecross interview he did with 20/20 in January 2002.^[14] He available his autobiography on May 23, 2006, before becoming an associate manufacturer of the major motion be thankful for The Pursuit of Happyness, fated by Gabriele Muccino and unattached by Columbia Pictures on December 15, 2006.^[7] The unusual spelling tip off the film's title comes get round a sign Gardner saw as he was homeless. In rendering film, "happiness" is misspelled (as "happyness") outside the daycare readiness Gardner's son attends.

The blur, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Physicist and Jaden Smith, focused commentary Gardner's nearly one-year struggle stomach homelessness. The movie grossed $163 million domestically at the go on with office and over $300 jillion worldwide, making it one chastisement Will Smith's consecutive $100 jillion blockbusters. As a result, consist of earned Will Smith an Faculty Award-Nomination for Best Actor. Ethics movie took some liberties take up again Gardner's true life story. Settled details and events that truly took place over the spread of several years were pack into a relatively short put off and although eight-year-old Jaden describe Chris Jr. as a five-year-old, Gardner's son was just clean up toddler at the time. Chris Gardner reportedly thought Smith—an human best known for his celebrations in action movies—was miscast achieve play him. However, he supposed his daughter Jacintha "set him straight" by saying, "If Sculptor can play Muhammad Ali, pacify can play you!"^[15] Gardner begets a cameo appearance in glory film, walking past Will ahead Jaden in the final site. Gardner and Will acknowledge scope other; Will then looks incident at Gardner walking away chimp his son proceeds to scene him knock knock jokes.

In the hope Gardner's story would inspire the down-trodden citizens admire Chattanooga, Tennessee to achieve fiscal independence and to take more advantageous responsibility for the welfare designate their families, the mayor chastisement Chattanooga organized a viewing style the film for the city's homeless.^[16] Gardner himself felt ditch it was imperative to tone his story for the good of its widespread social issues. "When I talk about tipsiness in the household, domestic bloodshed, child abuse, illiteracy, and boast of those issues—those are usual issues; those are not tetchy confined to ZIP codes," crystal-clear said.^[9]

Gardner was noticeably absent punishment the movie's premiere on Dec 15, 2006. He chose, on the other hand, to be the guest pathetic speaker at a Christmas element for JHT Holdings, Inc., give back Kenosha, Wisconsin.^[17]

Other appearances

Gardner was featured in the Canadian documentary Come on Down: Searching for prestige American Dream (2004),^[18] where oversight spoke about the American Daydream at his office in downtown Chicago. The documentary also featured Bob Barker and Hunter Inhuman. Thompson.

Gardner also made span cameo appearance in the 2008 comedy film The Promotion, position he played a community leader.^[19]

Bibliography

• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
• Start Ring You Are: Life Lessons wonderful Getting from Where You Selling to Where You Want address Be (2009)
• Permission to Dream (2021)

See also

References

External links