Barbara Corcoran is a businesswoman, investor, and television personality. In addition to this, she is best known as one of the main judges on the hit business-themed reality show ‘Shark Tank’. And before that claim to fame, Barbara had an amazing real estate career journey, where she acquired lot of business wisdom and success insights that she now enjoys sharing with aspiring entrepreneurs all over the world.
“My Best Successes Came On The Heels Of Failure.”
– barbara corcoran –
That said, it’s clear that Barbara Coracan knows a thing or two about success. As such, we’ve decided to present this Barbara Corcoran Success Story, because success leaves clues. So, if you’re looking for a bit of guidance or insights when it comes to success, then stick around, because you’ll find plenty of both here. Let’s dive in!
BARBARA CORCORAN’S INSPIRING SUCCESS STORY
The Early Days
Barbara Corcoran was born in Edgewater, New Jersey in 1949. She is the second oldest of ten children and grew up in a working-class family. Her father worked odd jobs and her mother was a stay-at-home mom, making both income and opportunity scarce in the household.
Corcoran did not have an easy childhood. She was dyslexic and was unaware of it for much of her childhood, suffering from shame and low self-esteem. In school, she was often teased and made to feel like she was not smart enough, giving her an adverse relationship with school and learning.
However, there was one thing she was good at – never giving up. This had a lot to do with the encouragement of her mother, who told her to use her powerful imagination to invent the solutions she needed to overcome her challenges.
By the time young Barbara was 23 years old, she had already worked 20 different jobs but struggled to find one that felt authentic for her. But, she relented until settling on waitressing gig in New York City, which is the moment before her real estate career began.
“I Was Labeled the ‘Dumb Kid’ That Couldn’t Read or Write, Coming All Through to When I Was Graduating in High School”
– Barbara Cocoran –
The Journey Begins
In 1973. Corcoran was working for the Giffuni Brothers’ real estate company as a receptionist. Having exposure to the real estate world gave her a feeling she had never had before. She felt like she belonged.
But Barbara knew that she was meant to lead, not follow. So, by the age 23, she resolved to become the “Queen of New York Real Estate” and take over the market.
As such, she borrowed $1000 from her boyfriend Ray Simone and they both started the Corcoran-Simone Company. She focused on residential real estate in Manhattan’s Upper East Side and had seven agents working with her in the area.
The company slowly grew and showed signs of success. During this time, Corcoran learned how to sell, how to negotiate, and most importantly – how to close a deal. It had always been her dream to be confident enough to make it on her own, and she was finally starting to see that dream come true.
The Challenges
In the 1970s, the New York City real estate market was booming. This is when Corcoran-Simone Company really took off and the dream became a viable and profitable reality. Barbara quickly learned how to take advantage of the market and make a lot of money.
However, a personal betrayal created a big dent in her business. Her partner and boyfriend at the time announced that he was going to leave the relationship. To add insult to injury, his plan was to marry Barbara’s secretary.
But Barbara did what she always did when she was faced with a challenge – she got back up and kept going. Using her roadblocks as fuel hurtled her into a completely independent business arrangement.
She used the money from the sale and dissolution of their company to start a new one, called The Corcoran Group.
“I Have a Theory and I Really Believe It. I Think Your Worst Weakness Can Become Your Greatest Single Strength.”
– Barbara Corcoran –
The Big Break
The Corcoran Group quickly became one of the most successful residential real estate firms in New York City. Barbara’s hard work and dedication had paid off, and she was finally living her dream.
In addition to running one of the most successful businesses in the city, Barbara also started to gain recognition for her work. She started to publish “The Corcoran Report”, a monthly analysis of the real estate market. This helped her to be seen as an authority in the industry, and she began to be featured in major publications.
After decades of hard work, Barbara had finally made it. She was one of the most successful and well-known entrepreneurs in the country.
In 2001, Cocoran decided to sell her real estate assets to a residential real estate brokerage company for $66 million dollars. This was one of the biggest deals in real estate history, and it made Barbara Corcoran a very wealthy woman.
Advocating and Educating Entrepreneurs
Despite all her success, Barbara has never forgotten her humble beginnings. She is an advocate for women entrepreneurs, and she continues to work hard to help others achieve their dreams.
Her podcast, “Business Unusual”, features interviews with successful entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Through her podcast, she hopes to educate and inspire the next generation of business leaders.
She has also begun the podcast “888-Barbara” where listeners are invited to call in and ask for advice on their businesses.
Barbara is also passionate about the Systane Real Relief for Visionary Woman Campaign, an initiative that provides $5,000 grants to women in the states who don’t have the capital to get their business ideas off of the ground.
She has offered to counsel the grand winner, giving them the guidance and advice they need to make their business a success.
The Shark Tank Years
In 2009, Barbara’s story took an even more exciting turn when she was asked to be a judge on the hit reality TV show “Shark Tank”. This gave her national recognition and made her a household name.
She has consistently been one of the most popular “sharks” on the show, and she has helped to make it one of the most watched programs on television for the past 14 years.
“Don’t You Dare Underestimate the Power of Your Own Instinct.”
– Barbara Corcoran –
This Barbara Corcoran success story clearly demonstrates that embracing and facing your weaknesses can turn into your deepest strengths. Despite all the challenges she’s faced in her life, she has always gotten back up and kept going. She is an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere, and her story is a reminder that anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard enough for it.
She has also taught us the importance of diversification and always being open to new opportunities. Her willingness to take risks has paid off in a big way, and she is proof that taking chances can lead to incredible success.
Barbara’s story is one of determination, resilience, and hard work. She is an inspiration to us all, and her story is proof that the American dream is still alive and well. So take a moment to think of what that dream is for you, and how you can make it a reality. Because if Barbara Corcoran can do it, so can you.
