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Homeless But Not Hopeless: Millionaire Chris Gardner’s Early Years
Article Overview: Chris Gardner wears a $10,000 watch on each wrist. On the right hand is a Cartier set to Chicago time, and on the left is a Roger Dubuis set to South African time. “I was late once and it cost me $50,000,” explains Gardner. “I figure it was cheaper to wear two watches.” For a man who not too long ago had only two suits to his name and could not even afford to pay rent, Gardner has come a long way. From living on the streets and bathing in public restrooms to owning a successful multi-million dollar stock brokerage firm, Gardner is living out the American dream.
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Free Download - Chris Gardner Bio By Chris Gardner |
Homeless But Not Hopeless: Millionaire Chris Gardner’s Early Years
Chris Gardner wears a $10,000 watch on each wrist. On the right hand is a Cartier set to Chicago time, and on the left is a Roger Dubuis set to South African time. “I was late once and it cost me $50,000,” explains Gardner. “I figure it was cheaper to wear two watches.” For a man who not too long ago had only two suits to his name and could not even afford to pay rent, Gardner has come a long way. From living on the streets and bathing in public restrooms to owning a successful multi-million dollar stock brokerage firm, Gardner is living out the American dream.
Born on February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Gardner’s first few years were filled with nothing but difficulty and uncertainty. He was the only son in a family of twelve children. His single mother was trained as a schoolteacher, but wound up taking on numerous part-time jobs in order to provide for her family. “She was probably her happiest when she was teaching my sisters and me,” recalls Gardner. “She was our professor, our Socrates.” The absence of a father is something that would come to profoundly affect Gardner’s life.
Gardner and his siblings were transferred back and forth between relatives and foster homes. His mother had been imprisoned twice; once, for allegedly receiving welfare while working, and the second time for attempting to burn down the house of Gardner’s abusive stepfather. “I’m sorry she didn’t succeed,” says Gardner of the incident. “Until I went to the U.S. military, the worst violence I ever saw in my life was in my home.”
Gardner was a smart student, but had little interest in academics. He studied trumpet for nine years, wanting to be the next Miles Davis. Eventually, Gardner realized, “I had the attitude, but I didn’t have the talent. Besides, there was only one Miles Davis and he already had that job.”
After dropping out of high school, Gardner lied about his age and joined the U.S. Navy. He had hoped to become a medic and travel the world, but never got any farther than North Carolina. However, the experience did introduce Gardner to a cardiac surgeon, who would later hire Gardner as his clinical research assistant at the University of California Medical Centre in San Francisco after both were discharged. Gardner enjoyed the work, but was only making $7,400 a year and he wanted more.
Gardner toyed with the idea of becoming a doctor, but decided that years of paying off medical loans were not for him. Instead, he became a medical supply salesman, earning $16,000 a year. It was in loading equipment into his car one day that Gardner’s life would forever change. He caught sight of a bright red Ferrari and was immediately in love with it and all that it represented. “I asked the guy two questions,” Gardner recalls. “One was, ‘What do you do?’ The second was, ‘How do you do that?’”
As fate would have it, the driver of the Ferrari was a stockbroker. When Gardner heard that the man was earning over $80,000 a month, he decided that his future lied in investment. He had no education, no experience, and no connections, but that was not about to stop Gardner from achieving his new dream.
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Re: Dropped Out Of School To Startup!
- Micheal Dell also dropped out of university. I have ordered for a book titled Millionaire Dropouts by Woodward.
Read the Synopsis
Millionaire Dropouts started as a list who's who of dropouts. Over the years and seven books later it as developed into an extensive list of great men and women who have overcame their obstacles and beat the odds of success. Some of the greatest companies and most profound inventions were founded and invented by people with very little education. How can someone without a degree and sometimes with very little money go onto build empires? It is the age old question, what drives one person to success while another stops at failure? This book list bullet bios of some of the greatest dropouts in history. Millionaire Dropouts will inspire and entertain. Not only are there over 50 biographies there is a master list of over 900 people who have dropped out and gone on to great success. Enjoy this inspiring work and share it with others.
Books for Women Entrepreneurs
- There's a thread for good books in the Resources folder, but it doesn't target books for businesswomen particularly, so I figured I'd start such a thread here.
It doesn't matter how successful you are in your business - it's always possible to learn something new.
In subsequent posts I give Table of Contents and brief descriptions for various titles - most of them devoted to the businesswoman - and sometimes a review. If anyone else has read a review, or has read the book and found it useful, please comment!
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Happy New Years!
- Happy Belated New Years!
Out of curiosity what are your new years resolutions for your business? Did anyone manage to honour their past resolutions?
My Holiday
- I'm taking a trip to India for 3.5wks. haven't seen my grandma in 15years and there's also going to be a wedding. Can't wait.
Oh and I'll be spending New Years in Goa... Anyone been there? That's the place my grandparents are from but I've never visited as they moved to Mumbai a while ago.
Does anyone have recommendations of Hotels they've been to?
Will be checking out TripAdvisor...
Re: Best Internet Marketing Strategies
- I would honestly say, don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
Years ago I was so proud to say that I could 'sell' to anyone in any industry. Over time I realized that certain industries were much more lucrative in terms of commissions and order quantity.
I think the same idea definitely exists in internet advertising - if you are looking to one or two single sources of online marketing, you aren't seeing the whole picture.
Keep with it, and try and make some kind of consistant effort.
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