In Chris Gardner's new book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, he aims to motivate others to achieve their full potential by capitalizing on resources already in place while building towards bigger goals.

He offers practical advice, core principles and a plan he says anyone can use to transform vague dreams into realities.

One action Gardner advocates to achieve such ambitions is to empower one's self through education.

Even the prevailing philosophy for Gardner's successful brokerage firm is, and always has been, "to undertake business where an agenda of social benefit and prudent financial objectives coincide."

In keeping with that objective, Gardner and his company have made public education a priority, through active contributions to the NEA, AFT, National Teacher of the Year, and by providing internships and scholarships to students, as well as meals for homeless school children and economic support to teachers.