Defining Who You are

Hope – His son was Chris’ inspiration for hope. He knew he didn’t want to become the type of man his father had become. He wanted to be in his son’s life and be a positive role model for his son. So, he kept his hope alive by relying on his son’s trust and love.

Opportunity – How many of you would take an unpaid position, not paid, no money, work 8-15 hours a day and on Friday, receive nothing. Chris saw the internship as an opportunity to provide a better life for himself and his son. You will see a continuous persistence in Chris Gardner. It is one that should be repeatedly emulated.

Accountability – This reminds me of one of the more comical aspects of the film. The imaging systems that Chris is selling door-to-door resemble the plastic sewing machine cases you see in Wal-Mart. He paid for each and every one of these machines. When a couple of them are stolen from him, and then he spots the culprits with the machines, he stops at nothing to get those machines back. He is accountable for each machine.

When he is faced with eviction from his apartment, he doesn’t turn his son over to the State to take care of; he finds a way to stay together. He is accountable to his responsibility as a parent.

At no time in the film is Chris Gardner disrespectful of his customers, of the volunteers at the shelters, or of his colleagues and fellow competition. He was accountable for his actions, his attitude and the decisions he made.

You can just sense that if Chris Gardner wasn’t accepted after the internship, he would have pulled up his bootstraps and continued on. Moving forward and taking the opportunities revealed to him and showing his son how to be a real man. A good man.

Again, I say, who you are is not defined by what has happened to you. Who you are is defined by how you react to what has happened to you. Thank you.