If anyone had an excuse to give up, it was Chris Gardner.

Gardner, the inspiration for the box-office smash movie "The Pursuit of Happyness," had just quit his job to pursue a dream job as a stockbroker. But on his first day, he found the offer was rescinded because the person who hired him was fired. Gardner was now unemployed.

His home life was no better. He'd spent 10 days in jail for unpaid parking tickets that had piled up as he was looking for a better-paying job. When released, he found his girlfriend had taken his son, Chris Jr., and all their belongings, leaving him homeless in San Francisco.

Some might have just given up. But Gardner's determination, focus and hard work had gotten him through life so far — and would help him through even tougher times ahead.

The destitute man would build a multimillion-dollar brokerage bearing his name, Gardner Rich & Co.

What helped him keep pressing?

"The belief that I could be something more . . . and the feeling that professionally I had found my calling. I just needed to work hard to make it happen," Gardner, 52, told IBD. "And personally, it was my commitment to my son and the dream of giving him a better life."

That strong belief pulled Gardner through hard times in the early 1980s. Just before being jailed, he lined up an interview for a stockbroker trainee position at Dean Witter. Being unemployed and homeless the day before the interview wasn't exactly a confidence booster. He didn't even have a suit to wear.

Ready For Action

After getting over the shock of coming back to a locked-up, empty house, Gardner called a friend who let him stay on her couch that night. In the morning, he went to his interview in the jeans, T-shirt and paint-splattered sneakers he'd worn to jail.

Unable to think up an excuse for his attire, he told the truth. The man interviewing him had suffered through some tough relationships too — so he hired him. Gardner would get a stipend of $1,000 a month in the training program; he'd study for the stockbroker exam on his own time.

At work, he sought out the top producer in the office. From his prior jobs, he'd found it invaluable to get advice from the best workers, no matter the field. Then he'd hone his skills, stay disciplined and strive for excellence.

Since he was new and was given no leads, he set a goal of 200 calls each day. The top salesman noticed his diligence and asked him to call his leads. Though Gardner didn't get commissions for this, he didn't mind. He was focused on passing the exam and finding his son.

"All I cared about was succeeding in this business, learning everything I could and getting as much experience as possible," he wrote in his book "The Pursuit of Happyness." "When I wasn't training, working or studying, all I cared about was finding out where Christopher was and reuniting with him."

Since Gardner grew up without a father figure, he vowed to always be there for his children. In the meantime, he knew he couldn't get distracted from work.

His meager stipend wasn't enough to cover rent, so he sometimes slept at the office. By wearing one suit and carrying the other, along with his books and toiletries, he was mobile. No matter where he stayed overnight, he could freshen up fast.

"During the weeks that followed, whenever worries about what I couldn't control overcame me, my focus saved me," he wrote. "When my brain wanted to give up, my attitude was that I had to study like I was in prison — because knowledge was power and freedom."

He'd focus on each call he made. Being positive and friendly was important, but so was being efficient so he could complete his 200 daily calls. His commissions grew as he won more business.

At night, he'd read and study for the exam, which most takers failed. The material was dry, so he told himself it was some of the most fascinating reading ever.

It paid off. In 1981 he passed with an 88% score, well above the 70% needed to get a license. That propelled him from trainee to full-fledged broker, and he was eager to take it to the next level. Even though his son's whereabouts weighed on his mind, his love for the job helped him stay motivated at work.

"Be passionate about whatever it is you're getting up in the morning to do," Gardner advises. "Be so excited you can't wait to get out of bed to go do it. Once you lose that passion, reevaluate. Also, remember that baby steps count — just keep moving in the right direction."

His career was on track. Then his girlfriend showed up at the door of the boardinghouse where he was staying. She handed him his son, a duffel bag and a stroller, then left.

It had been four months since Gardner had seen his son. He was stoked even though they'd have to find another place to stay. Children weren't allowed in the rooming house. He'd also have to find a baby sitter before work.

They stayed some nights in his office, trucker motels, a bathroom at the train station, or outdoors in the park on warm nights. Food was often a shared restaurant meal. As money got tighter, they stood in the food line at Glide Memorial Church.

The reverend there noticed the man with baby in tow and granted Gardner access to a homeless hotel he'd opened. Being able to stay there some nights helped him save money. Soon he had enough to rent a place and put his son in a day-care center next to the train station.

He could finally give his son a place to call home. They wouldn't have to cart around the stroller and duffel bag anymore. That year of homelessness proved how important it is to always push ahead.

"I learned that not succeeding is OK, but giving up isn't," he said. "And I learned how much I truly loved my son — and that giving up on him would never be OK either."

His co-workers never guessed what was going on. At work, he remained driven as always. When his office brought in the top salesman from the Las Vegas office, Gardner sought advice on boosting business.

Salesmanship

"He introduced me to the effectiveness of not trying to sell you what I got, but to find out what you want to buy, or what you will buy, what you already own," Gardner wrote.

This approach worked so well that Bear Stearns recruited Gardner in 1983 for its San Francisco office. Gardner later transferred to New York and, by 1987, was so successful he moved to Chicago and opened up his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co.

Today Gardner, who still heads up his brokerage, gives his time and money to homeless support groups, including Glide, as well as to educational organizations.

He's also working on a business project in South Africa.

The once homeless man provides ample shelter for his son and daughter, Jacintha. He owns three homes and splits his time between Chicago and New York.