Chris Gardner
Chris Gardner
Christopher Paul "Chris" Gardneris an American entrepreneur, investor, stockbroker, motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist who, during the early 1980s, struggled with homelessness while raising his toddler son, Christopher Gardner, Jr. Gardner's book of memoirs, The Pursuit of Happyness, was published in May 2006. As of 2012, he is CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co, based in Chicago, Illinois, where he resides when he is not living in Toronto. Gardner credits his tenacity and success to the...
ProfessionEntrepreneur
Date of Birth9 February 1954
CityMilwaukee, WI
Chris Gardner quotes about
Since I've been here, I think St. Stanislaus is the only team we've played that we haven't beaten. He had a heck of a program and I'm happy to have him here.
Wealth can also be that attitude of gratitude with which we remind ourselves everyday to count our blessings.
The secret to success: find something you love to do so much, you can’t wait for the sun to rise to do it all over again.
There is no plan B for passion
Don't ever let someone tell you, you can't do something.
If you want something, go get it. Period.
You have to be bold because there will be folks who will say, "You can't" or "You shouldn't" or "Why?" There is a certain boldness to saying, "Well, I really don't want to be a high-powered corporate lawyer. I'm really passionate about painting.
Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail. On the horizon I saw the shining future, as before. The difference now was that I felt the wind at my back. I was ready.
Claim ownership of your dreams
You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who can move boulders, move boulders. That's how mountains get moved. If every one of us did everything we could, I believe we would be in a different world.
If you have a dream, you've got to protect it.
Though my mom had too many of her own dreams denied, deferred and destroyed, she instilled in me that I could have dreams. And not just have dreams but had a responsibility to make them reality. My mom taught me from a very early age that I could do anything I wanted to do.
We all understand genetics. You get your eyes from your dad, your mom's nose, there's nothing you can do about that. But your spiritual genetics you can choose, pick, embrace and commit to. That's what I did.
But if you don’t take the necessary steps to make them happen, dreams are just mirages that mess with your head!