"Claim ownership of your dreams.

Who you going to call? The cavalry is not coming"

Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner was a salesman who struggled to sell equipment that he had purchased with the intention of selling. His wife left him and he subsequently competed for and worked a 6-month unpaid internship at Dean Witter so he could become a stockbroker and make a better life for him and his son.  During this period, he did not earn an income and lived on the streets with minimal support. The well-received movie version of his book, The Pursuit of Happyness, exposed millions of people to Chris' story. His drive and determination helped him to create a new set of circumstances for himself when it might have been easier for him to just give in to the circumstances that life had given him. His choice was to change the circumstances, not merely react to them.

The MEAPA Way suggests that individuals, business, schools, communities and other organizations can learn a variety of lessons from his life story by watching this 10 minute interview and answering the following questions:

• What do you consider the most compelling part of Chris's interview?
• How does his life represent the ability to rebound from failure?
• How does his life represent the ability to be comfortable while being uncomfortable?
• How did he exhibit courageous behavior?
• As you seek to further your personal and professional development, what lesson/s can you take from this story and apply it to your ability to rebound from failure, get comfortable being uncomfortable and exhibit courageous behavior