Tweet

Chris Gardner Bio

Article Overview: By now, most people are familiar with “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the Hollywood blockbuster starring Will Smith that brings the bio of millionaire entrepreneur Chris Gardner to the big screen. But, before there was all the glitz and glamour of a movie, the bio of Chris Gardner was a gritty story of struggle and determination in the fight for survival.

Chris Gardner Bio

By now, most people are familiar with “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the Hollywood blockbuster starring Will Smith that brings the bio of millionaire entrepreneur Chris Gardner to the big screen. But, before there was all the glitz and glamour of a movie, the bio of Chris Gardner was a gritty story of struggle and determination in the fight for survival.

Born on February 9, 1954, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this story begins as far away from the bright lights of Hollywood as possible. He never knew his father and when his poor albeit loving mother couldn’t afford to look after him and his siblings, he spent his childhood being shuffled between foster homes and other relatives.

Despite achieving academic success in high school, this story would continue to endure difficult detours as the young graduate struggled to find his way. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the hopes of traveling the world, but wound up never leaving the country. After being discharged, he was hired by a friend as a clinical research assistant in San Francisco, where he was making $7,400 a year. He later became a medical supply salesman, which bumped his annual salary up to $16,000.

However, Chris Gardner wanted more and it is precisely that ambition that turned his bio into a major motion picture. In fact, it was after meeting a man who drove a Ferrari and was making $80,000 per month that Chris Gardner’s bio would immediately take on a new direction. This man was a stockbroker; Chris Gardner decided that if he was going to have that kind of life as well, if he was going to one day drive a Ferrari, then he too needed to be a stock broker.

With a sense of determination that was characteristic of his entire life, the entrepreneur set out knocking on the doors of investment firms hoping to find one that would give him a chance. Instead of finding a job, he found himself in jail; a police officer had run his license plates and discovered the $1,200 of fines in unpaid parking tickets that he owed the city.

After ten days in jail, he went directly to a job interview with Dean Witter – dirty jeans and all. It was a bold move that would drastically alter the fate of his bio, turning it from a story of despair and disappointment into one of the greatest success stories in recent American history. The interviewer sympathized and hired him; finally, someone had given him a chance.

At last, he had a job and more importantly, he had hope. However, challenges would continue to arise in the bio of Chris Gardner. His ex-girlfriend had left him to raise their 18-month-old son alone, and now with a child in tow, Chris Gardner was kicked out of his home. While studying for his broker’s exam, the father and son lived in shelters and $10-a-night motels. It was only after he received his license that he began to gain the attention of senior executives at Bear Stearns, who promptly hired the eager young stock broker.

This story was now almost a complete success story. In 1987, he founded Gardner Rich, his own Chicago-based brokerage firm, which has continued to land major clients over the years. Today, Gardner is a millionaire and he is looking nowhere but forward.

Related Articles
  Chris Gardner Story
  Chris Gardner Book
  Chris Gardner Stock Broker
  Chris Gardner Pursuit of Happiness
  Lesson #4: Hold On – It’s Always A Bumpy Ride

Article Tags: academic success, annual salary, bright lights, chris gardner, clinical research assistant, finding a job, foster homes, gardners, glitz and glamour, hollywood blockbuster, investment firms, license plates, loving mother, medical supply, milwaukee wisconsin, new direction, parking tickets, stock broker, stockbroker, u s navy



Related Forum Posts
Re: Millionaire or Happyness? - [quote="mphcoach":2xpspnai]I recently watched the movie 'In Pursuit of Happyness' and was rather disappointed that the 'happiness' achieved was merely the accumulation of wealth.[/quote:2xpspnai] Hi Martin, I actually loved the movie, and interpret the "pursuit of happyness" as Chris Gardner setting a goal in life and then reaching it through the process of hard work and a fighting spirit. In fact, I once heard that people who work harder are actually happier than those who are talented. The logic behind this mindset is that people tend to enjoy their success more when they feel they've struggled to earn it. However, I still think a person is better off being rich and unhappy, rather than being poor and unhappy.
Re: Who to profile next? - Hi Evan, Because I'm an online marketer, My recommendations will be online marketers. I think Rosalind Gardner can be the best for adding to you site. She is making more than 1.000.000$ a year and is one of the best affiliates in the world and very successful woman. Also her picute is beautiful too. (her picture looks like the same Kim Castle which is one every page of the site). Also M. FIlsaeme and R. Brunson can be my recommendations. They are making 4.500.000$ in sales a year as a marketer.
Re: If you had a million dollars... - What do you do, Chris?
Business advice from Xerox - Thanks Chris - these are great!
Re: Hi - Welcome Chris! What does your business do?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Making the Most of Your Trade Show Experience

What Type of Business Should I Start?

Sales Courage and Resilience

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.