This is a real life story that I have been missing all along. I stumbled across this story on 20/20 and then came to realize it is the story the movie Pursuit of Happyness is all about. Now I've got to go see the movie.The story is about Christopher Gardner who came from a tough background and challenging childhood. He joined the Navy and once he completed his four years, began working as a medical supply salesman in San Francisco. He was married and had an infant son. He then met a man in a red Ferrari who was looking for a parking space. Gardner gave up his parking spot in return for two questions. 1) What do you do? and 2) How do you do that? Turned out the man was a stockbrocker and Christopher Gardner decided that was what he was meant to be.
He began to knock on doors and make phone calls and continue to reach out until he finally found a position as a trainee. Unfortunately, the man who had given him the trainee position was later fired. Gardner was back looking to learn. At some point Gardner was faced with $1200 in parking fines and couldn't pay. He was placed in jail. His wife left him. And he was starting over. (Sidenote: isn't it interesting that parking a car brought both the best and the worst to Gardner's life?)
After spending his time in jail, his ex-wife brought Chris Jr. to him. Gardner had decided earlier in his life that he would always be there for his kids, so he kept Chris Jr., even though the boardinghouse where he was living would not allow kids. Now he was united with his son, but they had no place to stay. They were homeless.
Gardner was receiving a small stipend as an intern with a new company, but like many who receive minimal pay, Gardner could not afford all that they needed. He struggled to find daycare, and often they had to decide between food and a cheap hotel. Gardner remembers how some of the local "ladies of the night" would give his baby boy a $5 bill as he pushed the stroller along. He remembers how those few dollars were often the only way they could afford dinner.
Gardner and Chris Jr. used the train bathroom to clean up, and at times could lock the door if they needed time. While waiting in a food line, Gardner met Rev. Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. Rev. Williams was setting up a shelter for young mothers. Gardner asked to be considered for the program, and Rev. Williams found a way to give him support.
In 1981 Gardner passed his stockbrocker's exam on the first try, and his career took off. They eventually found an apartment and Gardner became the top producer of his company. He moved to another company and also became the top producer there before he broke away and began his own firm. Now Gardner is a multimillionaire with offices in three cities...and a book and a movie about his life.
He remembers his mother telling him he could be a millionaire, and Gardner believed it. That is the power we have as grown ups. Remember that if you talk to a kid today, say something that will inspire. Everything we ever say to children should only bring hope and courage. And in this case, the words Gardner's mother spoke fueled the fire that kept him going. Sometimes all it takes is one person to believe in you, and then you can believe too. We all have the power to be anything we want, if we truly want it. The key is to believe.
Check out the written transcript of the 20/20 story here.
Check out the 20/20 video with Gardner himself filmed with part 1 here and part 2 here.
Another great bio can be found here.
(Image found at this location: http://www.csw.edu/files/images/hws%20and%20dls/gardner_Resized_228x289.jpg)
