Chris Gardener - A homeless man who became a millionaire
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chris Gardner never knew his father. He was raised in poverty by his mother Bettye Jean and a physically abusive and alcoholic stepfather. He even spent a chunk of childhood growing up in foster homes. Despite the troubled childhood, his mum was a huge inspiration.
After graduating from school he spent 4 years in the US Navy. After an honourable discharge in 1974, Gardener moved to San Francisco where he started selling medical equipment. His life literally changed one day when he saw a man park his swanky red Ferrari and unable to contain his curiosity, Gardner asked him ‘What he did for a living?’ The man was a stock broker. Gardener expressed a strong desire to join the industry. The stock broker somehow managed to get him an interview for an internship. However, in days leading up to the interview, Gardener was arrested due to a domestic dispute and later held in jail for non-payment of parking tickets. He barely made it to the interview, but in clothes he was wearing at the time he was arrested, basically trainers and a vest. Despite the scruffy attire, his sense of drive and enthusiasm was enough to land him the job.
This was back in early 1980s, Gardner, then aged 27, with his toddler son were homeless for a year in San Francisco. Enrolled as a low-paid intern at a stock brokerage firm, he didn't have enough money for the deposit to rent an apartment. Father and son duo slept wherever they could. If they missed the church shelter cut-off, they bunked in park benches, railway station toilets and even under his desk at work after everyone had gone home. They ate in soup kitchens and whatever little money he had, he spent on putting his son in day nursery so he could go to work. Despite the adversity, Gardner thrived in his job, a natural at selling stocks and shares. At the end of his training period, Dean Witter Reynolds, made him a full-time employee. He was finally able to rent a home for the two of them. His career made rapid strides and soon reached highest echelons of success. In 1987, he opened his own investment firm, Gardner Rich & Co. His dramatic story was captured in a book, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ which soon followed into a namesake Hollywood movie played by Will Smith and his son. As of 2021, Gardener has a net worth of USD 70+ million and now travels the world as a motivational speaker and a philanthropist who sponsors multiple charities.
The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Work is the key to success and hard work can help you accomplish anything.
― Vince Lombardi
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