Chris Gardner: The Millionaire's Story and Biography

Chris Gardner - philanthropist, millionaire, businessman - a man who staunchly transferred dozens of the strongest blows of fate. In the end, he achieved everything he dreamed of. Gardner's life formed the basis of the famous painting "In the pursuit of happiness." This article will present his brief biography.

Childhood

Chris Gardner was born in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) in 1954. Unfortunately, the boy did not have worthy examples to follow. A native father lived at that time in Louisiana, and his stepfather regularly beat both children and his wife. In the end, Chris's mother named Betty could not stand the abuse and tried to kill her new wife. For this, she was put in prison, and social services were engaged in the Gardner family. Just then Chris and met with Betty's brothers. One of them - Henry - replaced the boy's father. When the hero of this article was nine, his uncle drowned. Only at the funeral Chris found out about the real reason for his mother's arrest. But, despite this, she was forever a source of inspiration and inner motivation for Gardner.

Only thanks to the mother, the boy was able to believe in his own strength and was accustomed to rely only on himself. And the best gift was the following Betty phrase, which forever crashed Chris into memory: "Son, earning a million dollars is very easy. The main thing is to want it! ". It is worth noting that the hard childhood did not embitter Gardner. On the contrary, when he got rich, he did everything possible so that other children would not go through like that.

Youth

When Uncle Henry looked after the little Chris, he told him a lot about his adventures in the Navy. Therefore it is not surprising that after graduating from school the young man went to the Navy. During the service, Chris Gardner worked as a hospital attendant at the hospital. An industrious young man was immediately noted by cardiac surgeon Robert Ellis. He offered the hero of this article the position of his assistant. Christopher helped the doctor in the hospital for the care of veterans and in clinical innovation research. In this position, Gardner worked until leaving the Navy (1974). The next two years, Chris was in charge of laboratory management and performed various surgical procedures. In 1976, co-authored with Dr. Ellis, the future millionaire wrote many articles that were published in various medical journals.

Personal life

In June 1977, Chris Gardner took in wives Sherry Dyson, who worked in Virginia as a teacher of mathematics. The knowledge, experience and connections of a young man in the medical field predicated him on the brilliant career of a doctor. However, changes in the health care system led him to the conclusion that soon the profession of the doctor would become unnecessary. Chris gave up the dream of being a doctor. He told Sherry about this shortly before his 26th birthday. Because of this decision, the couple's relationship became strained. The final discord, according to Chris, occurred because of the lack of passion in sex. Nevertheless, Gardner continued to live with Sherry, but started a novel on the side. A female dentist, Jackie Medina, became the chosen doctor of the failed doctor. Soon the girl became pregnant. To prepare for fatherhood, Gardner decided to move to her. With Sherry, the future millionaire finally got divorced only nine years later.

Chris Gardner Jr. was born in January 1981. During the first twelve months after the birth of his son, the hero of this article literally made ends meet. He worked in the hospital, taking care of veterans, and replenished his own budget in other jobs. Soon Gardner became a sales representative of CMS, which was engaged in the maintenance and supply of medical equipment. Chris was offered an annual income of $ 30,000. But after a while the future philanthropist moved to Van Waters and Rogers for a more paid position on sales.

Chris Gardner: the pursuit of happiness

Soon the hero of this article decided at all costs to achieve success in business. The impetus for this was Christopher's meeting with a wealthy entrepreneur who rode the stylish red Ferrari. Gardner asked him about the way he earned money. He replied that he was working as a stockbroker. After that, the future philanthropist decided to pursue a career in securities sales.

Broker on the "Ferrari" was Bob Bridges, who became for Chris a kind of leader and mentor. It was he who organized Gardner meeting with managers of the divisions of the largest companies in the sphere of stock exchange, offering training programs. His final choice Christopher stopped at the company "Hatton". But when he came to the office, he found out that the manager who hired him was fired a week ago.

At the same time, the relationship between Chris and Jackie seriously deteriorated. She blamed the future broker for the beatings (Gardner denied this until now). Also, the young man was sentenced to ten days in prison for non-payment of parking fines of $ 1,200. Gardner returned to the empty dwelling. His son and girlfriend disappeared along with all the property (including business clothes, shoes and suits of a young man).

Work as a trainee

Without connections, education, experience and clothes, Gardner was still able to obtain the place of a broker under the training program at Dean Witter Reynolds. He was paid a monthly scholarship of $ 1,000, but it was not enough to exist.

Chris got out of his way to become the best trainee of the firm. He came to the office before everyone else and stayed late, calling up potential customers. The goal of the future millionaire was 200 calls a day (other employees were limited to only 20-30 contacts). Gardner's perseverance was rewarded. In 1982, the young man passed the certification exam the first time and moved to a permanent job in the company "Bear Stearns" (San Francisco).

Vagrancy

Four months after leaving, Jackie returned and left her son Christopher. By this time, the future philanthropist was located in the doss house. He took full custody of his son, but it was forbidden to live in furnished rooms with children. Therefore, Gardner with the child had to wander. This continued even when Chris began to earn well. He just wanted to go to California as soon as possible and put aside the money for a rented house.

During the year, none of the broker's colleagues even suspected that Chris Gardner and his son (photo above) were wandering. They had to sleep in parks, doss houses, the firm's office and even in the toilet at the metro station. Struggling for the existence and health of his son, the broker asked the orphanage in the church for homeless women. Priest Cecil Williams did not deny him a request.

My business

Soon Chris's hard work brought fruit - his financial situation was improving. In 1987, the hero of this article founded his own company - Gardner Rich & Co. He showed everyone that he had mastered the trading of shares no worse than at one time medicine. Ten thousand dollars - this is the amount invested in his firm Chris Gardner. The state he made in 2006 after selling it amounted to several million dollars.

Secret of success

The hero of this article possesses charisma and oratorical talent, which is absent in many professionals of big business. What is the secret of his success? The businessman himself says that he found a favorite thing. Chris Gardner (books of a businessman, for example, such as "Pursuit of happiness", "Start with what is", are now sold around the world) always look forward to the next working day. Those who want to change life and career for the better, the entrepreneur advises to find a business, to which a real passion will arise. Not the fact that this will be the main specialty or profession by diploma. You need to be brave and just find a job to your liking.

Charity

The main direction of Gardner's charity work is the fight against housing shortage. The broker started her in San Francisco, allocating finances for a job placement program and building cheap houses for the poor. Also Chris Gardner, whose biography is presented above, regularly organizes collections of shoes, clothes and money. He perfectly remembered his own misadventures, so he helped other people with renewed vigor. A millionaire spends a lot of effort helping children - Gardner is a member of the council of the National Father Initiative. In 2002, for his achievements in philanthropy, the philanthropist was awarded the "Father of the Year" prize.