Chris Gardner's childhood was very difficult as his father was not with them when he was born and his stepfather was very abusive.Throughout his early career Chris held many jobs.First he served for four years in the Navy.Gardner also worked as a research lab assistant ,however,the job only paid $8000 dollars a year which were not enough for him to support his newly born son and a girlfriend.After that he worked as a medical equipment salesman.Chris Gardner decided to become a broker after he met an impeccably dressed man in a Ferrari.
He was eventually accepted into a training programme at Dean Witter Reynolds,however, this was a very difficult period for Chris as trainee programme paid him nothing and his sales equipment only bought him $300-$400 a month, thus he was unable to meet his living expenses.Chris also had to spend 10 days in Jail for being unable to pay his $1200 worth of parking tickets. Nobody at his firm knew that he and his child were homeless.Gardner spent his nights at his office after hours,airports,motels,parks on public transport and even in bathroom at a station.In 1987 he started his own brokerage firm and named it Gardner Rich and Co with only a single piece of furniture (Family Dinner Table) and $10000 start up capital.Gardner became an instant millionaire when he sold his small stake in the firm in 2006.Gardner is currently working on an investment venture with South Africa that will create hundred of Jobs and will bring millions of dollars into national currency.