Chris Gardner

Date of Birth: February 9, 1954

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Biography

Christopher Paul Gardner, born on February 9, 1954, is an American businessman, motivational speaker, and author. Gardner’s life story is one of remarkable resilience, determination, and ultimate success. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and faced a challenging childhood marked by poverty, domestic violence, and an absent father. Despite these hardships, Gardner’s mother, Bettye Jean, instilled in him the belief that he could achieve anything he set his mind to. In the early 1980s, Gardner found himself homeless and struggling to care for his young son, Christopher Jr., while pursuing an unpaid internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm. Gardner’s tenacity and hard work paid off when he secured a position as a stockbroker at Dean Witter Reynolds, and later at Bear Stearns & Company. In 1987, he founded his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., in Chicago. Gardner’s incredible journey from homelessness to financial success was chronicled in his autobiography, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which was later adapted into a major motion picture starring Will Smith. Today, Gardner is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, sharing his story of perseverance and hope with audiences around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Chris Gardner

1. Gardner served in the U.S. Navy before embarking on his career in finance.

2. His autobiography, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a film in 2006.

3. Gardner’s brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., was started with just $10,000 and later sold in a multi-million-dollar deal.

4. He has been honored with several awards for his work, including the Father of the Year Award from the National Fatherhood Initiative.

5. Gardner is a philanthropist and has been involved in various charitable activities, including supporting initiatives to combat homelessness.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Chris Gardner

1. “The world is your oyster. It’s up to you to find the pearls.”

2. “Baby steps count, as long as you’re going forward.”

3. “If you want something, go get it. Period.”

4. “The future was uncertain, absolutely, and there were many hurdles, twists, and turns to come, but as long as I kept moving forward, one foot in front of the other, the voice of fear and shame, the message from those who wanted me to believe that I wasn’t good enough, would be stilled.”

5. “The cavalry ain’t coming. You’ve got to do this yourself.”