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What if everything that felt like a failure at the time was actually a setup for your greatest success? Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul and #SharkTank investor, has lived this truth.
In a recent interview, she shared invaluable insights on life, #business, and resilience. Here are some of the biggest takeaways that will change the way you think about #leadership, #success, money, and happiness:
- Failures Are Just Redirections
Barbara started her business with $1,000 from her boyfriend—who later left her for her secretary. It felt like a devastating loss, but looking back, she sees it as a blessing. Without that breakup, she wouldn’t have built The Corcoran Group.
💡 Lesson: Every setback has an upside—you just might not see it yet.
📌 For Leaders: Encourage a culture where failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a defeat. Create an environment that supports innovation and calculated risks.
- Money Doesn’t Equal Happiness
Despite making billions, Barbara insists that money is not the key to happiness. She had 23 jobs before finding real estate and was just as happy being broke as she was when she became successful.
💡 Lesson: Find work that brings joy, not just money.
📌 For Leaders: Focus on purpose-driven leadership. Ensure your team members find fulfillment in their roles by aligning their work with a meaningful mission.
- Resilience Is the #1 Trait of Success
On Shark Tank, Barbara looks for one thing above all else in an entrepreneur: the ability to get knocked down and get back up again. Intelligence is important, but resilience determines who wins in the end.
💡 Lesson: Your ability to bounce back is more valuable than your skills.
📌 For Leaders: Build a resilient team by fostering adaptability and a growth mindset. Support employees through challenges rather than penalizing setbacks.
- Easy Choices Make Life Hard; Hard Choices Make Life Easy
Many people stay in jobs or situations they hate because it’s easier than making a big change. But making the hard decision early leads to a much easier, happier life down the road.
💡 Lesson: Comfort zones kill dreams. Make the hard decisions now.
📌 For Leaders: Encourage bold decision-making. Lead by example by taking tough but necessary steps to drive long-term success.
- Surround Yourself with the Right People
Barbara says she only spends time with people who leave her feeling energized and happy. If someone drains her, she moves on. In both business and life, she looks for optimism, resilience, and authenticity.
💡 Lesson: Pay attention to how people make you feel—your energy is priceless.
📌 For Leaders: Build teams with high emotional intelligence and positivity. Recognize toxic behaviors and address them proactively to maintain a healthy workplace culture.
- Regret Is a Waste of Time
Barbara doesn’t dwell on the past. She believes regret leads to victimhood, and victimhood keeps people from growing. Instead of wishing things were different, she takes accountability and moves forward.
💡 Lesson: Don’t waste time looking back—you’re not going that way.
📌 For Leaders: Promote a forward-thinking mindset within your organization. Encourage learning from past mistakes but focus on progress and improvement.
- True Love Is About Loyalty, Not Perfection
After decades of marriage, Barbara says real love isn’t about fairy tales; it’s about showing up for each other every day, even when things get boring.
💡 Lesson: Love is built on loyalty, not excitement.
📌 For Leaders: Foster loyalty within teams by building trust, being transparent, and valuing long-term relationships over short-term gains.
- Your Mindset Shapes Your Reality
Barbara grew up thinking she wasn’t smart because she struggled in school. Instead of letting that define her, she rewrote her inner narrative. Today, she constantly tells herself: “Barbara, you’re effing amazing.”
💡 Lesson: Change your self-talk, and you change your life.
📌 For Leaders: Encourage a positive and empowering mindset in your teams. Recognize achievements and create an environment where confidence and self-belief thrive.
- Giving Brings the Most Fulfillment
The moment Barbara felt most successful? Not when she made her first million, but when she bought her parents a new car—something they’d never had. Giving, not getting, was what made her feel truly rich.
💡 Lesson: True wealth is found in giving, not accumulating.
📌 For Leaders: Foster a culture of giving back within your organization. Support community involvement, mentorship, and social responsibility initiatives.
- If She Could Tell Her Younger Self One Thing?
“Chill.” Barbara spent her early years rushing toward success, only to realize later that life is more than just achievement. If she could go back, she’d slow down and enjoy the journey more.
💡 Lesson: Don’t be in such a hurry. Life is meant to be lived, not just won.
📌 For Leaders: If burnout is inevitable, focus on optimizing energy and effectiveness while incorporating some breaks. Encourage strategic prioritization, delegate effectively, and cultivate resilience within teams. Support employees in developing sustainable productivity habits while maintaining high-performance standards, ensuring they have opportunities for necessary recovery.
Barbara Corcoran’s wisdom is proof that success isn’t about luck or privilege—it’s about resilience, mindset, and making the tough choices.
Which lesson resonated with you the most? Let’s discuss! 👇
#pintooh
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