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Chris
Gardner

Chris Gardner, AARP’s Ambassador of Pursuit and Happyness, is a best-selling author and the inspiration for the award-winning movie The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith. In his early years, Gardner overcame a troubled home life, severe poverty and even a period of homelessness to ultimately pursue a successful career in financial services. Read his full bio.

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Mentoring
Minutes

I'm introducing a series of short videos called Mentoring Minutes. My plan is to share some of the knowledge and insight I've gathered as I've pursued my passion and realized my goals.

Start With What You've Got

Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness") shows you how to get the life you want without starting over. Watch

The Cavalry Ain't Coming!

"The Pursuit of Happyness" author (played by Will Smith in the movie) on assuming personal responsibility. Watch

What Would the Champ Do?

When life gets tough, Chris Gardner draws inspiration from Muhammad Ali. Watch

You Gotta Jump Right In

Are you just waiting for your dreams to happen? Chris gives you advice on how to stop procrastinating. Watch

Ask Chris
You Can Do It

Do you dream of accomplishing great things, but wonder where to start? Do you need advice on how to get motivated to pursue your goals? Send your question and Chris may answer it in an upcoming "You Can Do It" column, which runs in each issue of AARP The Magazine.