Christopher Paul Gardner – Pursuit of Happiness

Christopher Paul Gardner is a self-made millionaire, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and philanthropist who, during the early 1980s, struggled with homelessness in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco California while raising his toddler son, Christopher. Gardner’s personal struggle of establishing himself as a stockbroker while managing fatherhood and homelessness is portrayed in the 2006 major motion picture The Pursuit of Happiness, starring actor Will Smith.

Christopher Gardner is the CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm, Gardner Rich, based in Chicago, Illinois where he resides when he is not living in New York City.

Christopher Gardner is the owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings and author of the autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, a New York Times and Washington Post #1 best-seller. Gardner is also the inspiration for the acclaimed movie The Pursuit of Happyness, for which Will Smith, starring as Gardner, received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award nominations for his performance.

Always hardworking and tenacious, a series of adverse circumstances in the early 1980’s left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dreams of success, Gardner climbed the financial industry ladder from the very bottom.

Surmounting acute obstacles throughout his life, Gardner is an avid motivational speaker, addressing the keys to self-empowerment, beating odds, and breaking cycles. Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist committed to many charitable organizations. He lives in Chicago and New York.

Breaking CyclesChristopher Gardner is the head of his own successful brokerage firm – but just 20 years ago, Gardner was homeless, carried all his possessions on his back, and lived-on occasion-in a bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland, California. A true testament to the perseverance it takes to make it from “rags-to-riches”, Gardner tells his story of overcoming obstacles, “breaking cycles”, and the motivation it takes to make your own success. Listen as he recounts his fears of failure, exhaustion of pursuit, and great appreciation to those that helped him. Gardner’s storytelling captures his audience completely, and his humor lights up the room.

Entrepreneurship and the American DreamListen as Christopher Gardner recounts the story of how a red Ferrari became the turning point of his career, and ultimately his life. In this presentation, Gardner takes audiences from his days in the military to the day he decided he would pursue his career dream and become a stockbroker. As a father first, and businessman second, his story is one of overcoming obstacles, facing the daunting task of balancing life responsibilities, and ultimately succeeding.

www.gardnerrich.com

Confucius:
BC 551-479, Chinese Ethical Teacher, Philosopher
“Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.”