Assessment & Perspective
I’ve recently slept in my own bed in my own home for a week. It’s been the first time that I’ve done so in three years. I’m not complaining; it’s been a beautiful three years, but I also like my couch.
The past week gave me the first opportunity in a long time to assess, reflect and attempt to put into perspective the response to the film “The Pursuit of Happyness”, and of course the book.
Whenever I’m approached by someone who recognizes me due to their connection to the film, I always ask, “Have you read the book?” I ask for one reason: as great as the film was it was only about one year of my life. In the book I had the opportunity to recount, reflect, and relive all the years that came before.
The first 27 years of my life prepared me to deal with the 28th year. It’s only been recently that I’ve acknowledged that I made certain decisions at a very young age about how I would live my life. For instance, I made the decision that I would never abandon my child (as an adult man) at the age of five. You can’t develop something like that in a film, but we did in the book.
By the way, the book has recently been translated into its thirteenth language, Chinese. Wow.
I am currently developing a television show with Will Smith which will be a celebration of the American dream. I am tremendously excited about this project. This will be the first thing that Will has done on television since The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire. Wow!
Mim Eichler Rivas, my coauthor on The Pursuit of Happyness, and I are finishing up my new book, Start Where You Are.
We [needs to be differentiated from previous paragraph] are near to having a close on an opportunity that we’ve worked on in South Africa for four years.
And I still LOVE my day job.
Other than that, I’ve got nothing happening.
Be in touch.
3 Comments
Hey Mr. Gardner,
Good to see you are keeping busy. I look forward to the new book and also continuing to discuss evolving opportunities. I’ll be in touch.
Mr. Gardner,
Where can I get information on the study(give every tax payer 1 million $)that you mentioned on Fox. I have discussed this with many people, we all find the prospect a great topic of conversation. We generally feel that this would be the simplest, most economical means to stimulate the American economy. The world economy would follow suit in short order. Please keep the nation informed on the findings of the study that you have employed.
On a seperate note; have you ever considered a run for the Presidency? I believe that your simple no nonsense approach to obsticles is just what this country may need. If you could apply what you did for you and your son, to this country,.....you would be doing the greatest service to ...........let’s be realistic…the world. You are a great American….......help us.
Very Interesting!
Thank You<a >!</a>