4 Lessons of Life this movie taught me

Rating: 8/10 (6 June 2013)

1. FAMILY COMES FIRST
The true story of the real Christopher Gardner and how a short time ago he sold off his brokerage firm for millions of dollars can easily lead us to the assumption that the character Will Smith plays in the movie has, as his physical goal, in pursuit of money. But, in the movie, money is never his goal. It's always about the happiness that being a family man will always bring. The confusion about the pursuit of money is understandable because the movie's protagonist is struggling with financial debts, and trying to earn money is one of his principal occupations. We must understand, however, that the movie is NOT saying money brings us happiness; although, I think the movie says that a secure income ensures a less painful family life and more comfort, and to that degree it can bring a level of happiness. I understood this point very well from the scene where Chris begs his wife, Linda, to let their son live with him, despite his financial condition because Chris needed something more than money to be happy.
2. PERSEVERANCE AND PERSISTENCE
In this movie, Christopher Gardner is a seller of bone-density scanners, and he has invested lifelong savings on them. He knows he can only earn money to run his livelihood by selling successfully, although they aren't a very good supply of income. So, his loyalty to selling these medical scanners demonstrates perseverance. It shows the 'can-do' attitude that he possesses and also lives by that principle. This 'can- do' attitude helped open new avenues and support systems for him. For example, he knew that he had to keep himself and his son going for the six months of unpaid probation period in anticipation of a better tomorrow . So he fulfilled the basic needs of food and shelter by taking refuge at shelters for homeless, and free meals at churches. He still didn't give up when he had to spend a night in the restroom due to no occupancy at shelters. His concluding line at the interview is unforgettable, "I'm the type of person that if you ask me a question and I don't know the answer, I'm gonna tell you that I don't know. But I bet you what, I know how to find the answer and I will find the answer."
3. IDEAL PARENTING
Many parents would have give up in the face of such adverse circumstances, much like Linda does in the movie when she moves out of house. Unlike Chris, she isn't dedicated enough to make things work out for the family, even though she has sacrificed a lot for her son. Chris also had a choice to give up his son and let go of many hardships that came along the way. But Chris defines happiness as being a responsible parent, a dutiful father, and with that accepts the accompanying adversities. I loved it when his son says, "You're a good papa."
4. PURSUE YOUR DREAM
Without anyone's support to help care for a toddler during early schooling, makes life more miserable than it would otherwise be. But Chris has to sustain his dream, that of fathering, his decision to go to school is made even more difficult. On the virtuous side, the training offers him a path to a more comfortable life. But on the vice side, the training threatens his basic ability to function as a father and as a human being overall. However, he has set a goal in his mind and rigorously follows it. He multitasks his role as a father, trainee, and a salesman. He achieves his objective because he knew he can. What he tells his son says it all, "Don't ever let someone tell you, you can't do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you you can't do it. You want something, go get it."