Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner

The Pursuit Chris Gardner's story is familiar to many people from the book and moviehe went from living on the streets with his young son to a position at —of Happynessa San Francisco brokerage to eventually starting and leading a multimillion dollar brokerage. Jean talks with Chris about the perseverance that led him to the top and his advice for those just starting out. Chris says that his success has been about making choices, and one of his first her. "Even though she had too choices was to embrace the spirit he saw in his 

Quotes

Christopher Gardner: Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. Not even me. All right?

Christopher: All right.

Christopher Gardner: You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.

motmany of her own dreams denied, deferred and destroyed, she instilled in me that I could have dreams," he says. "More importantly, I had the power and the responsibility to make them come true." class at -ys he knew he wanted to be worldFrom a very young age, Chris sasomething, and the first time he walked into a Wall Street trading room, he knew it was the right place. "My mom once told me if I wanted to, one day I could make a e," he says.I just had to find the right plac—million dollars Two key elements Chris stresses to young people are the importance of education and knowledge of personal finances. "You have to get smart about every tool in the d [financial] toolbox," he says. Basic ideas, such as living within your means anspending less than you make, are also crucial to maintaining financial independence. Ultimately, Chris says, it's about finding a way to enjoy the journey of life. "Be happy. Forget about money," he says. "Do you have to have money in our society? learn how to use it. But money is not going to make you —utely. It's a toolAbsolhappy."