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Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business
The inspiring true story of "Shark Tank" star Barbara Corcoran--and her best advice for anyone starting a business. After failing at twenty-two jobs, Barbara Corcoran borrowed $1,000 from a boyfriend, quit her job as a diner waitress, and started a tiny real estate office in New York City. Using the unconventional lessons she learned from her homemaker mom, she gradually built it into a $6 billion dollar business. Now Barbara's even more famous for the no-nonsense wisdom she offers to entrepreneurs on Shark Tank, ABC's hit reality TV show.
"Shark Tales" is down-to-earth, frank, and as heartwarming as it is smart. After reading it don't be surprised if you find yourself thinking, "If she can do it, so can I." Nothing would make Barbara happier.
"Shark Tales" is down-to-earth, frank, and as heartwarming as it is smart. After reading it don't be surprised if you find yourself thinking, "If she can do it, so can I." Nothing would make Barbara happier.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2001
168 people are currently reading
2738 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Corcoran
14 books41 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school and college and twenty jobs by the time she turned twenty-three. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country when she took a $1000 loan to start The Corcoran Group.
As one of the “Sharks” on ABC’s hit TV show, SHARK TANK, Barbara has ponied up her own money and invested in twenty-two businesses, competing to make those deals for all to see, then shepherding them to success.
Her newest book, SHARK TALES, takes you behind the scenes of her life and business and her ‘seen on TV’ venture capitalism. Barbara is famously brash and blunt, bold and courageous, and a brilliant identifier of opportunity and talent (often invisible to others).
Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school and college and twenty jobs by the time she turned twenty-three. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country when she took a $1000 loan to start The Corcoran Group.
As one of the “Sharks” on ABC’s hit TV show, SHARK TANK, Barbara has ponied up her own money and invested in twenty-two businesses, competing to make those deals for all to see, then shepherding them to success.
Her newest book, SHARK TALES, takes you behind the scenes of her life and business and her ‘seen on TV’ venture capitalism. Barbara is famously brash and blunt, bold and courageous, and a brilliant identifier of opportunity and talent (often invisible to others).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
February 2, 2014
In preparation for going on Shark Tank last year, we read all of the books published by the sharks.
Corcoran's was by far my favorite. Her business story itself is fascinating - she started her namesake Manhattan real estate empire with $1000 borrowed from a boyfriend. The book is full of stories about how she grew that business, including how she hit upon the idea to publish the real estate report that gave her company such wide name recognition, her decision to take a full time second job to subsidize her previously successful company after it took a dive with the stock market, and her refusal to back down and ultimate victory over a lawsuit filed against her company by Donald Trump.
What made this book so intriguing, however, was not just the stories from her business life, but how she wove them together with lessons she learned as one of 10 kids in a scrappy New Jersey family. When the authors of most business books begin the obligatory discussions of their childhoods, I usually start skimming the pages. But in Corcoran's case, she's actually succeeded in drawing clear connections between stuff she learned as a kid and choices she made later as a mogul. The sheer exuberance of the woman is a large part of what makes this work.
I finished this book knowing that Barbara was the shark my husband and I most wanted to make a deal with. She's a genius marketer, for one, and having sold her real estate company, appears to put a tremendous amount of energy into the companies she invests in. So when Barbara announced she disliked my husband on sight because he reminded her of her ex-husband, it was particularly disappointing. Still, I'm glad I read this book any would recommend it to any entrepreneur.
Corcoran's was by far my favorite. Her business story itself is fascinating - she started her namesake Manhattan real estate empire with $1000 borrowed from a boyfriend. The book is full of stories about how she grew that business, including how she hit upon the idea to publish the real estate report that gave her company such wide name recognition, her decision to take a full time second job to subsidize her previously successful company after it took a dive with the stock market, and her refusal to back down and ultimate victory over a lawsuit filed against her company by Donald Trump.
What made this book so intriguing, however, was not just the stories from her business life, but how she wove them together with lessons she learned as one of 10 kids in a scrappy New Jersey family. When the authors of most business books begin the obligatory discussions of their childhoods, I usually start skimming the pages. But in Corcoran's case, she's actually succeeded in drawing clear connections between stuff she learned as a kid and choices she made later as a mogul. The sheer exuberance of the woman is a large part of what makes this work.
I finished this book knowing that Barbara was the shark my husband and I most wanted to make a deal with. She's a genius marketer, for one, and having sold her real estate company, appears to put a tremendous amount of energy into the companies she invests in. So when Barbara announced she disliked my husband on sight because he reminded her of her ex-husband, it was particularly disappointing. Still, I'm glad I read this book any would recommend it to any entrepreneur.
February 6, 2012
I first saw Barbara Corcoran on "Shark Tank" and quickly saw how many businesses she skyrocketed to that next level of success. Time after time, she proves to be the "Golden Key to Success" for many entrepreneurs who stand in front of the Sharks. I had to pick up her book and learn her story. Who is Barbara Corcoran, and how does she dominate the BEST business decisions made on this popular show? I was completely taken back when I learned her story. I bought her book on Kindle, and listened to it while I worked. I felt admiration for her will to succeed, empathy for some of the choices she made in life, and valued her business and sales lessons that are engrained throughout the book. The most important fact of Barbara's success story, is that she was raised by a Mother who never told her she "couldn't do something, only that she could!" If only we can raise OUR children with these principles, imagine what the world would be like. READ THIS BOOK TODAY, and you will learn the basics of sales, business and success.
January 5, 2018
A terrific blend of business (and life!) advice mixed with anecdotes from Barbara's childhood. I am impressed with Barbara on Shark Tank, and I'm even more impressed with her mother, who raised a large brood with military precision while still managing to make each child feel special. A very entertaining and inspirational read.
September 10, 2012
This is the third version of the same book, written by Corcoran long before people knew her from Shark Tank, and it's mostly cute little stories about growing up. She comes across as very sweet but undereducated and unqualified for her chosen field. She used simplistic schoolgirl methods to grow a business, which may have worked for her but probably won't help most others.
There are two sections of the book: first is the old part, that she wrote in 2001 under one title and published again in 2003 under a different title. That portion of the book is somewhat interesting but takes some getting used to. She will start a chapter talking about an adult work event, then she'll flashback to a story about her mother's advice, then flash forward again to her adult life. Once you get used to it the structure is cute in a grade school way and the writing style has an elementary feel to it.
The last part of the book is completely different, devoted to Shark Tank stories and with chapter numbers! So chapter one starts at page 245! It makes no sense structurally and is just tacked on to sell to her new TV fans. However, these chapters are worthless--merely her recapping the people we saw on Shark Tank, adding almost nothing in terms of background details.
The book probably deserves two stars but if I would have been her grade school nun I would have given her a "C' grade on it, which is three out of five here. It's nowhere near a 4- or 5-star book and those who grade it as such must be charmed by her cute smile and gutsy attitude. But don't let the charm fool you--it's basically just the trite story of a little girl who clawed her way to real estate success by lying, tricking others, manipulating those who worked for her and acting as tough as the men in the business.
There are two sections of the book: first is the old part, that she wrote in 2001 under one title and published again in 2003 under a different title. That portion of the book is somewhat interesting but takes some getting used to. She will start a chapter talking about an adult work event, then she'll flashback to a story about her mother's advice, then flash forward again to her adult life. Once you get used to it the structure is cute in a grade school way and the writing style has an elementary feel to it.
The last part of the book is completely different, devoted to Shark Tank stories and with chapter numbers! So chapter one starts at page 245! It makes no sense structurally and is just tacked on to sell to her new TV fans. However, these chapters are worthless--merely her recapping the people we saw on Shark Tank, adding almost nothing in terms of background details.
The book probably deserves two stars but if I would have been her grade school nun I would have given her a "C' grade on it, which is three out of five here. It's nowhere near a 4- or 5-star book and those who grade it as such must be charmed by her cute smile and gutsy attitude. But don't let the charm fool you--it's basically just the trite story of a little girl who clawed her way to real estate success by lying, tricking others, manipulating those who worked for her and acting as tough as the men in the business.
July 10, 2015
Readable and somewhat interesting. However - very minimal Google cross-referencing reveals that more than one of her stories is fudged & her representations of other real people are inaccurate, and clearly serving some kind of unspecified agenda. I wish her folksy self-promotion weren't so baldly unscrupulous. I'd like this book better if it were honest & abandoned the lil ol' me shtick.
August 31, 2020
Inspiring! I liked the idea in this book that woman can have their benefits in order to lead people. Unlike with man, woman can manage their people with mother-like sister-like love :)
December 26, 2019
This book was phenomenal. I mean honestly there were so many things she said here that I still think about, and reflect on to this day.
Summary:
After giving up everything, and building a partnered business with her then boyfriend. He revealed himself to be malicious, and everything under the sun but grateful. Fed up with the lack of recognition Ms.Barbara set out on the mission to build a NEW company, but this one would be all hers, and she would do everything to make it the top of the real estate food chain.
And she did just that. In this story Ms.Corcoran reveals her triumphs, her failures, her partnerships, her business mindset, and determination to be the best of the best. Just as the title says, she turned 1,000 into a billion dollar business.
This book I could read 100 times over and take something new from it each time. I think my favorite part about this book was the way each chapter was compared to her upbringing, she grew up poor and one of 9 children. The life they lived wasn't always easy but she admired her mothers skills in multitasking and advice when it came to how to deal with any problem that arised. Her mom always kept the house in order as best she could and the way she compared her young adult and adult problems to similar ones she saw growing up and came up with a solution was really inspiring. This book wasn't just full of YOU CAN DO IT quotes it also had alot of highlighted downfalls and she always found a way to come up with a solution even when she was sweating on the inside. Really inspiring, and she's still working hard to this day.
Summary:
After giving up everything, and building a partnered business with her then boyfriend. He revealed himself to be malicious, and everything under the sun but grateful. Fed up with the lack of recognition Ms.Barbara set out on the mission to build a NEW company, but this one would be all hers, and she would do everything to make it the top of the real estate food chain.
And she did just that. In this story Ms.Corcoran reveals her triumphs, her failures, her partnerships, her business mindset, and determination to be the best of the best. Just as the title says, she turned 1,000 into a billion dollar business.
This book I could read 100 times over and take something new from it each time. I think my favorite part about this book was the way each chapter was compared to her upbringing, she grew up poor and one of 9 children. The life they lived wasn't always easy but she admired her mothers skills in multitasking and advice when it came to how to deal with any problem that arised. Her mom always kept the house in order as best she could and the way she compared her young adult and adult problems to similar ones she saw growing up and came up with a solution was really inspiring. This book wasn't just full of YOU CAN DO IT quotes it also had alot of highlighted downfalls and she always found a way to come up with a solution even when she was sweating on the inside. Really inspiring, and she's still working hard to this day.
February 10, 2016
I will probably end up doing a video review of this book and selling it on my website.
I breezed through this book. It's funny and entertaining and an easy read. It is not about business nor financial acumen, rather -- simple life lessons that can be used to fake it 'til you make it. It doesn't offer a business plan or anything like that, and the e-book is expensive at ~$14 (including tax). I did enjoy it, but I'm still a little annoyed that it was $14. You could get a used copy or the paperback for cheaper possibly.
Also, this book is a re-write of "Use What You've Got" and "If You Don't Have Big Breasts Put Ribbons in Your Pig Tails", so if you've already read these, I think the only thing different about this book is some editing (possibly) and additional pages about Shark Tank added to the end.
I did learn one thing which was to find opportunity in the worst of circumstances. There are some scenarios in the book where I would have thrown the person out on their butt or assumed they were lying immediately, but Barbara pushes through and ends up making millions off of people she randomly encountered.
Worth reading for a laugh and if you like entrepreneurial stories, but $13 + tax is a bit much.
I breezed through this book. It's funny and entertaining and an easy read. It is not about business nor financial acumen, rather -- simple life lessons that can be used to fake it 'til you make it. It doesn't offer a business plan or anything like that, and the e-book is expensive at ~$14 (including tax). I did enjoy it, but I'm still a little annoyed that it was $14. You could get a used copy or the paperback for cheaper possibly.
Also, this book is a re-write of "Use What You've Got" and "If You Don't Have Big Breasts Put Ribbons in Your Pig Tails", so if you've already read these, I think the only thing different about this book is some editing (possibly) and additional pages about Shark Tank added to the end.
I did learn one thing which was to find opportunity in the worst of circumstances. There are some scenarios in the book where I would have thrown the person out on their butt or assumed they were lying immediately, but Barbara pushes through and ends up making millions off of people she randomly encountered.
Worth reading for a laugh and if you like entrepreneurial stories, but $13 + tax is a bit much.
February 15, 2016
I read this book for an assignment and wasn't at all enthusiastic about it going into it. That said, this was a very quick and easy read, and I found it entertaining and even sort of enjoyable even though I have almost no interest at all in a) real estate, b) Shark Tank, c) Barbara Corcoran's public persona. But for someone who is remotely interested in any of those things, this book would probably be a winner. I liked the memoir element; the best parts of this book were her descriptions of her childhood in New Jersey. It didn't always feel completely genuine--undoubtedly some parts of this book were exaggerated--but in general it was more fun to read than I expected it to be.
May 6, 2018
A Success Like The Lady Herself
Having had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Corcoran, I can say this memoir of her rise to success from humble beginnings is true to form. Inspiring on the page as she is in person and onscreen. Written in an engaging style, it’s a tribute to the coauthor, Bruce Littlefield, as well. Great book and a must-read for anyone who wants to succeed in business.
Having had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Corcoran, I can say this memoir of her rise to success from humble beginnings is true to form. Inspiring on the page as she is in person and onscreen. Written in an engaging style, it’s a tribute to the coauthor, Bruce Littlefield, as well. Great book and a must-read for anyone who wants to succeed in business.
January 16, 2019
Writing style is very fluent and the transition between chapters are smooth, which made the book very easy to understand and pleasant to read.
January 7, 2024
Kiire ja tempokas lugemine, milles oli mõningaid toredaid lugusid ja nippe, kuidas olla äris edukas, kuid tunnen, et polnud päris see, millest märkmeid oleksid teinud. Teisalt avastasin, et jälgin autorit LinkedIn keskkonnas, nii et mingeid väärtusnopeid siiski sain ja raamatu huviga lõpuni lugesin. Natuke liiga Ameerika keskne, et seda liialt tõsiselt võtta.
May 17, 2024
Good book to learn the story of Barbara, but doesn’t go into the real details of building her business. It’s instead a mix of stories of childhood lessons from her mom and how she applied them to business.
May 19, 2020
Entertaining and easy read! Funny with anecdotes from how the author's childhood experiences growing up as one of ten children contributed to her future successes as one of New York City's top real estate brokerages. An inspiring read for any entrepreneur, especially women.
February 4, 2021
Ostsin selle raamatu osaliselt seetõttu, et tahtsin toetada Kristi Saare vastloodud kirjastust. Ägedaid naisi tuleb nende tegemistes toetada :)
Aga see polnud muidugi peamine põhjus - mind huvitas väga Barbara Corcorani lugu ja ma ei pidanud pettuma. Lugemise tegi alguses natuke kohmakaks nimede rohkus - nii inimeste kui tänavate kui mis iganes nimed, aga sellega harjus lõpuks ära.
Selle raamatu minu arvates üks olulisemaid asju, on selle ülesehitus. Raamatutes on ju sageli ajahüppeid edasi-tagasi tänapäevast minevikku, aga siin raamatus on toodud väga selgelt välja, kuidas kodune kasvatus annab sulle edasiseks eluks vajaliku aluspõhja. Võiks ju arvata, et kui kasvad kümne lapsega peres, kus ema on kodune, siis saad eluks kaasa mustri, mis pigem surub sindki koduseks, aga selles peres oskas kodune ema oma suhtumistega lapsi eluks ette valmistada. Väga huvitav oli näha neid tagasihüppeid ja seoseid, mis näitasid, milline kogemus või millised õpetussõnad lapsepõlvest sind elus edasi aitavad. See raamat näitab, kui oluline on, et sinusse süstitaks juba lapsena enesekindlust ja usku, et kõik sõltub sinust endast. Seetõttu soovitaksin seda raamatut ka neile lapsevanematele, keda ärimaailm eriti ei huvita. Me kõik tahame ju, et meie lastel läheks elus hästi - see raamat aitab näha ka seda, millised lapsepõlves kogetud pealtnäha pisiasjad määravad sinu täiskasvanuelus suuri asju.
Raamat on väga ameerikalikult edukeskne, aga sellest ei maksaks lasta end häirida. Iga lugeja saab siit võtta just selle, mis tema jaoks on oluline - nagu ikka raamatutega, et igasugune uus info kinnitub meis kõigis erinevale pinnale.
Minu jaoks oli siin ka palju äratundmisi - näiteks, kuidas Barbara kasutas nappuse printsiipi, et müüa maha hunnik kortereid, millest juba pikka aega keegi polnud huvitunud. Ma oma uues raamatus "Unistajast ettevõtjaks" räägin ka samast fenomenist ja kuidas seda turunduses kasutada.
Üks natuke naljakas koht oli ka, mis läheb tõlgi ja toimetaja kapsaaeda - nimelt mainitakse leheküljel 28, et ema istutas muru. Muru teatavasti külvatakse, nii et ettekujutus, kuidas ema väikese murulapi saamiseks ükshaaval miljoneid murutaimekesi istutab, tegi mulle päris palju nalja :)
No igatahes - mulle see raamat meeldis, sest mulle väga meeldivad igasugu elus toimetulemisest ja edenemisest rääkivad raamatud.
Aga see polnud muidugi peamine põhjus - mind huvitas väga Barbara Corcorani lugu ja ma ei pidanud pettuma. Lugemise tegi alguses natuke kohmakaks nimede rohkus - nii inimeste kui tänavate kui mis iganes nimed, aga sellega harjus lõpuks ära.
Selle raamatu minu arvates üks olulisemaid asju, on selle ülesehitus. Raamatutes on ju sageli ajahüppeid edasi-tagasi tänapäevast minevikku, aga siin raamatus on toodud väga selgelt välja, kuidas kodune kasvatus annab sulle edasiseks eluks vajaliku aluspõhja. Võiks ju arvata, et kui kasvad kümne lapsega peres, kus ema on kodune, siis saad eluks kaasa mustri, mis pigem surub sindki koduseks, aga selles peres oskas kodune ema oma suhtumistega lapsi eluks ette valmistada. Väga huvitav oli näha neid tagasihüppeid ja seoseid, mis näitasid, milline kogemus või millised õpetussõnad lapsepõlvest sind elus edasi aitavad. See raamat näitab, kui oluline on, et sinusse süstitaks juba lapsena enesekindlust ja usku, et kõik sõltub sinust endast. Seetõttu soovitaksin seda raamatut ka neile lapsevanematele, keda ärimaailm eriti ei huvita. Me kõik tahame ju, et meie lastel läheks elus hästi - see raamat aitab näha ka seda, millised lapsepõlves kogetud pealtnäha pisiasjad määravad sinu täiskasvanuelus suuri asju.
Raamat on väga ameerikalikult edukeskne, aga sellest ei maksaks lasta end häirida. Iga lugeja saab siit võtta just selle, mis tema jaoks on oluline - nagu ikka raamatutega, et igasugune uus info kinnitub meis kõigis erinevale pinnale.
Minu jaoks oli siin ka palju äratundmisi - näiteks, kuidas Barbara kasutas nappuse printsiipi, et müüa maha hunnik kortereid, millest juba pikka aega keegi polnud huvitunud. Ma oma uues raamatus "Unistajast ettevõtjaks" räägin ka samast fenomenist ja kuidas seda turunduses kasutada.
Üks natuke naljakas koht oli ka, mis läheb tõlgi ja toimetaja kapsaaeda - nimelt mainitakse leheküljel 28, et ema istutas muru. Muru teatavasti külvatakse, nii et ettekujutus, kuidas ema väikese murulapi saamiseks ükshaaval miljoneid murutaimekesi istutab, tegi mulle päris palju nalja :)
No igatahes - mulle see raamat meeldis, sest mulle väga meeldivad igasugu elus toimetulemisest ja edenemisest rääkivad raamatud.
November 5, 2017
I watch Shark Tank more for the small businesses seeking investments and less for the sharks. That said, I like Barbara Corcoran a lot, and I had a hunch that her business philosophy might be more in line with my own than the other sharks on the show.
This was a fun, enjoyable read, mainly due to the style of the book that connects her business ideas to moments in her childhood, and the lessons she learned from her mother (who is an amazing woman!).
Barbara Corcoran was a reliable, D-student most of her life, and was told by a teacher that she would "always be stupid". After barely making it through college, she started her own real estate business on a $1,000 loan from her boyfriend, on a whim, which she later turned into a billion dollar business. My favorite thing about Barbara is that business has always been just a fun challenge for her: a way to stretch herself and practice being fearless (she is SO fearless). In her own words, it was never about the money or success, it has only ever been about having fun along the way.
Barbara Corcoran made her fortune honestly, by outsmarting her competitors who had less honest business tactics (Donald Trump being one of them. Her stories involving him are highly amusing, to say the least.). She didn't become the queen of New York Real Estate by carrying out underhanded business deals or stabbing people in the back, but rather, by figuring things out with out-of-the-box solutions. And I think that is what set Barbara apart from all her competitors: she was willing to look at the industry with fresh eyes, because her motives were different than theirs. Where others operated out of fear, Barbara laughed and turned the problem into a game. I especially love that Barbara attributes all her success to her mom, who raised ten kids on a dime and a wealth of common sense.
Overall, Barbara's business philosophy is simple: push yourself to be fearless, don't apologize for who you are or let yourself be intimidated by the people who think they are better than you. Have fun, and see how far you can go. It's about the journey getting to the end. Not the end game.
This was a fun, enjoyable read, mainly due to the style of the book that connects her business ideas to moments in her childhood, and the lessons she learned from her mother (who is an amazing woman!).
Barbara Corcoran was a reliable, D-student most of her life, and was told by a teacher that she would "always be stupid". After barely making it through college, she started her own real estate business on a $1,000 loan from her boyfriend, on a whim, which she later turned into a billion dollar business. My favorite thing about Barbara is that business has always been just a fun challenge for her: a way to stretch herself and practice being fearless (she is SO fearless). In her own words, it was never about the money or success, it has only ever been about having fun along the way.
Barbara Corcoran made her fortune honestly, by outsmarting her competitors who had less honest business tactics (Donald Trump being one of them. Her stories involving him are highly amusing, to say the least.). She didn't become the queen of New York Real Estate by carrying out underhanded business deals or stabbing people in the back, but rather, by figuring things out with out-of-the-box solutions. And I think that is what set Barbara apart from all her competitors: she was willing to look at the industry with fresh eyes, because her motives were different than theirs. Where others operated out of fear, Barbara laughed and turned the problem into a game. I especially love that Barbara attributes all her success to her mom, who raised ten kids on a dime and a wealth of common sense.
Overall, Barbara's business philosophy is simple: push yourself to be fearless, don't apologize for who you are or let yourself be intimidated by the people who think they are better than you. Have fun, and see how far you can go. It's about the journey getting to the end. Not the end game.
November 13, 2019
So it starts like this.....I had the extreme pleasure of attending a seminar for Finance folks in Boston where Barbara Corcoran was the Key Speaker. She described her life - her rise to success - as written in this delightful book! I got a great pic with Barbara ( she is 70 years old and has a darling figure and is quite a beauty up close) and had her sign my book —> To Lori - See you in the Tank! Barbara. I do hope for this some day!
This remarkable lady had quite a life. Although she grew up in NJ with 9 other siblings and not a lot- her family was incredible. She ends Part One of her book on page 227 - dedicating her success to her loving Mom. She said to her “In the end, Mom, it all comes down to this: All my life you never told me I couldn’t. You only told me I could”. You Go Flo!
This whole book was filled with these nuggets and life lessons - how sticking with it - never giving up - proving the impossible can be done with grit and perseverance. This little lady sold her business that she built on a $1,000 loan to sell for $66mill! She went head to head with the Donald! She changed the landscape of NY real estate. She really is something!
Part Two of the book goes into the Shark Tales where she shares some of her favorite investments from the show and how and why she chose them. She can sense out the winners through their attitude.
This book was organized with such a lovely flow which is not common in biographies. We got her life story , the Shark Tank stories - and then it was nicely wrapped up in a Whatever Happened To.... section describing life today for her ?Mom, her Dad, some crazy neighbors, an evil Nun - and some of the entrepreneurs from the show. Tears of joy to hear Tiffany Krumins inventor of Ava the Elephant Medicine dropper - fought cancer and won! ( while building up her successful business).
An inspirational read and a Chance to look within and do some attitude adjustments. Love you Barbara!
This remarkable lady had quite a life. Although she grew up in NJ with 9 other siblings and not a lot- her family was incredible. She ends Part One of her book on page 227 - dedicating her success to her loving Mom. She said to her “In the end, Mom, it all comes down to this: All my life you never told me I couldn’t. You only told me I could”. You Go Flo!
This whole book was filled with these nuggets and life lessons - how sticking with it - never giving up - proving the impossible can be done with grit and perseverance. This little lady sold her business that she built on a $1,000 loan to sell for $66mill! She went head to head with the Donald! She changed the landscape of NY real estate. She really is something!
Part Two of the book goes into the Shark Tales where she shares some of her favorite investments from the show and how and why she chose them. She can sense out the winners through their attitude.
This book was organized with such a lovely flow which is not common in biographies. We got her life story , the Shark Tank stories - and then it was nicely wrapped up in a Whatever Happened To.... section describing life today for her ?Mom, her Dad, some crazy neighbors, an evil Nun - and some of the entrepreneurs from the show. Tears of joy to hear Tiffany Krumins inventor of Ava the Elephant Medicine dropper - fought cancer and won! ( while building up her successful business).
An inspirational read and a Chance to look within and do some attitude adjustments. Love you Barbara!
April 12, 2020
Are you thinking if starting a new business or are looking for advice for your new business, this book will be your best friend.
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Barabara had failed at 22 jobs, and then when she started a real estate business with her boyfriend but still couldn’t fit into it, she separated from the business by borrowing $1000 and started a tiny Real Estate Office in NYC.
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Just by using the lessons from her mom, who managed a family with 10 kids. She learnt everything for her business and gradually built it into a $6 billion business.
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The book is full of stories about how she hit upon the idea to publish the real estate report that gave her company such wide name recognition.
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There are 2 sections in the book. The 1st one talks about her mom’s lessons, that she had learnt and how she implemented them in her business life. The 2nd part consists of the lessons she learnt from when she joined the TV show “Shark Tales” as one of the investors.
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By enploying the life lessons she heard at the patient hand of her supermom, Barbara Corcoran conquered every obstacle that blocked her path to success , whether it was finding a creative way to sell 82 run-down, unwanted apartments, or making personal sacrifices in order to keep her sales agents employed. Ms. Corcoran is a proof that sometimes the best business sense is simply common sense- and a little imagination can go a long way.
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Barabara had failed at 22 jobs, and then when she started a real estate business with her boyfriend but still couldn’t fit into it, she separated from the business by borrowing $1000 and started a tiny Real Estate Office in NYC.
.
Just by using the lessons from her mom, who managed a family with 10 kids. She learnt everything for her business and gradually built it into a $6 billion business.
.
The book is full of stories about how she hit upon the idea to publish the real estate report that gave her company such wide name recognition.
.
There are 2 sections in the book. The 1st one talks about her mom’s lessons, that she had learnt and how she implemented them in her business life. The 2nd part consists of the lessons she learnt from when she joined the TV show “Shark Tales” as one of the investors.
.
By enploying the life lessons she heard at the patient hand of her supermom, Barbara Corcoran conquered every obstacle that blocked her path to success , whether it was finding a creative way to sell 82 run-down, unwanted apartments, or making personal sacrifices in order to keep her sales agents employed. Ms. Corcoran is a proof that sometimes the best business sense is simply common sense- and a little imagination can go a long way.
April 20, 2020
One of the sharks of ABC's popular show "Shark Tank", Barbara Corcaran shares her story of how she turned $1000 into a billion dollar business.
I throughly enjoyed this book. It is written in a unique and fun way to narrate the impact of her childhood learning that became the key ingredients for her successful business career.
I would recommend this book to every one who wants to read something new and fresh in the genre of business and entrepreneurship!
I throughly enjoyed this book. It is written in a unique and fun way to narrate the impact of her childhood learning that became the key ingredients for her successful business career.
I would recommend this book to every one who wants to read something new and fresh in the genre of business and entrepreneurship!
January 2, 2018
I went into this book hoping for a nice memoir about Barbara's younger days, maybe mixed with some business lessons. I came out feeling like this book sort of did its job.
On the memoir side, the book tells one main story and several side stories. The former takes the form of Barbara's rise as a real estate mogul in New York and is very interesting. The latter takes the form of several stories from her childhood that are meant to demonstrate some business lesson her mom imparted to her. This part was not that good. It was a little interesting to see what Barb was like as a kid, but the business lessons felt kind of forced with respect to those stories. Essentially, it felt like Barb needed to find a way to pad the book out while still delivering her business lessons, so she took random stories from her childhood and squeezed the required lessons out of them. That was....meh. Also, the chapter names make it very confusing when you're trying to remember what business lesson you were supposed to have learned. The second part of the book concerning what she looks for in Shark Tank deals was much clearer and thus more enjoyable to read from a learning-business-lessons perspective.
Overall, the book was ok as a memoir and ok as a business lesson book. The lessons seem like things Barb decided to generalize from one or two incidents, but since she's had luck in the tank and is known as the Shark who takes crap and makes it gold, I wouldn't discount her lessons quite so quickly.
On the memoir side, the book tells one main story and several side stories. The former takes the form of Barbara's rise as a real estate mogul in New York and is very interesting. The latter takes the form of several stories from her childhood that are meant to demonstrate some business lesson her mom imparted to her. This part was not that good. It was a little interesting to see what Barb was like as a kid, but the business lessons felt kind of forced with respect to those stories. Essentially, it felt like Barb needed to find a way to pad the book out while still delivering her business lessons, so she took random stories from her childhood and squeezed the required lessons out of them. That was....meh. Also, the chapter names make it very confusing when you're trying to remember what business lesson you were supposed to have learned. The second part of the book concerning what she looks for in Shark Tank deals was much clearer and thus more enjoyable to read from a learning-business-lessons perspective.
Overall, the book was ok as a memoir and ok as a business lesson book. The lessons seem like things Barb decided to generalize from one or two incidents, but since she's had luck in the tank and is known as the Shark who takes crap and makes it gold, I wouldn't discount her lessons quite so quickly.
December 1, 2013
http://a20somethingreader.blogspot.co...
I've decided to switch off between Friday Funnies and Friday Financials because every modern woman needs her checkbook online statement balanced once in a while. There's no better book to start with than Shark Tales by Barbara Corcoran with Bruce Littlefield. I've been a fan of Barbara's since watching Shark Tank, so when I learned she had written a book (a bestseller might I add) I quickly snatched it up. (Okay fine, my mom actually bought it for me to give me a little financial motivation.) It is such an enjoyable book- especially for the modern woman!
Barbara Corcoran is one motivated lady. That's why she quite her waitressing job, borrowed $1,000, and started her own real estate office. The end result (a $6 billion dollar business) isn't even the the best part. It's all about how she got there, and let me tell you, she is one clever woman. From how she put out ads for agents and got listings, to fighting hard for commissions and publicity, you'll be amazed by both her smarts and her wit. And most importantly, you'll finish the book ready to find a new job conquer the world.
I've decided to switch off between Friday Funnies and Friday Financials because every modern woman needs her checkbook online statement balanced once in a while. There's no better book to start with than Shark Tales by Barbara Corcoran with Bruce Littlefield. I've been a fan of Barbara's since watching Shark Tank, so when I learned she had written a book (a bestseller might I add) I quickly snatched it up. (Okay fine, my mom actually bought it for me to give me a little financial motivation.) It is such an enjoyable book- especially for the modern woman!
Barbara Corcoran is one motivated lady. That's why she quite her waitressing job, borrowed $1,000, and started her own real estate office. The end result (a $6 billion dollar business) isn't even the the best part. It's all about how she got there, and let me tell you, she is one clever woman. From how she put out ads for agents and got listings, to fighting hard for commissions and publicity, you'll be amazed by both her smarts and her wit. And most importantly, you'll finish the book ready to find a new job conquer the world.
December 17, 2015
A must read for would-be entrepreneurs.
Barbara Corcoran's book is a fun and easy read. I gulped it down in two sittings. But do not let the fact that it is simple to read mislead you into thinking that it is useless as a business book. On the contrary, it is full of no-nonsense advice on how to be the a good (if not great) entrepreneur and salesperson.
Coming from a family that was far from well-off financially and battling dyslexia, Barbara Corcoran's background is far from what the establisment would like you to believe is the proper background for a multimillionaire entrepreneur. But the story of how she built her business, and even saved it a few times, by using sheer comom sense and ingeniuity should inspire any person looking to go into business.
By integrating stories from her childhood Ms Corcoran traces a valuable parallel between business skills and life skills while bringing a lot of comic relief into the mix.
This book is as approachable as its author seems to be every week on Shark Tank and I consider it a valuable addition to my business book library. There is no doubt that I will refer to it again.
Barbara Corcoran's book is a fun and easy read. I gulped it down in two sittings. But do not let the fact that it is simple to read mislead you into thinking that it is useless as a business book. On the contrary, it is full of no-nonsense advice on how to be the a good (if not great) entrepreneur and salesperson.
Coming from a family that was far from well-off financially and battling dyslexia, Barbara Corcoran's background is far from what the establisment would like you to believe is the proper background for a multimillionaire entrepreneur. But the story of how she built her business, and even saved it a few times, by using sheer comom sense and ingeniuity should inspire any person looking to go into business.
By integrating stories from her childhood Ms Corcoran traces a valuable parallel between business skills and life skills while bringing a lot of comic relief into the mix.
This book is as approachable as its author seems to be every week on Shark Tank and I consider it a valuable addition to my business book library. There is no doubt that I will refer to it again.
September 13, 2023
Cover Art:🥕🥕🥕
Title:🥕🥕
Review:
🐰 There are no quick fixes in this book and she will not tell you how to become a billionaire. I found the book an easy page turner and truly enjoyed reading about the little lessons her mother taught her as a child.
🐰 Would I reread this book? Simple answer no, it was a great story of her life; however, there was nothing in this book that motivated or encouraged me in any way.
First Page Nibble:
🐰 My mother always says my memory is bigger than my life. Well, here's what I remember.
I grew up beneath a giant cliff on the bottom floor of a three-story house in new Jersey. It was a sliver of a town called Edgewater, and it was two blocks wide and one mile long, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. My house was easy to find-it was the brown clapboard sitting right below the gigantic L of the flickering Palisades Amusement Park sign-and through most of my childhood it was home to twenty-one people.
Quotes:
🐰 ...opportunity does hide in the worst situations. Finding opportunity is a matter of believing it's there. pg.32
🐰 ...fake it till you make it-you've got to dress the part. pg.254
Format: owned Paperback
Date Read: December 31, 2017🐇
Title:🥕🥕
Review:
🐰 There are no quick fixes in this book and she will not tell you how to become a billionaire. I found the book an easy page turner and truly enjoyed reading about the little lessons her mother taught her as a child.
🐰 Would I reread this book? Simple answer no, it was a great story of her life; however, there was nothing in this book that motivated or encouraged me in any way.
First Page Nibble:
🐰 My mother always says my memory is bigger than my life. Well, here's what I remember.
I grew up beneath a giant cliff on the bottom floor of a three-story house in new Jersey. It was a sliver of a town called Edgewater, and it was two blocks wide and one mile long, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. My house was easy to find-it was the brown clapboard sitting right below the gigantic L of the flickering Palisades Amusement Park sign-and through most of my childhood it was home to twenty-one people.
Quotes:
🐰 ...opportunity does hide in the worst situations. Finding opportunity is a matter of believing it's there. pg.32
🐰 ...fake it till you make it-you've got to dress the part. pg.254
Format: owned Paperback
Date Read: December 31, 2017🐇
June 22, 2014
First, this is the SAME book as "If you don't have big breasts . . .", but with a chapter added about Shark Tank at the back.
Barbara is eminently likeable on the show, everyone's favorite. And her working class to riches story is really great. It's a very short book, which can be read in a few hours. Very entertaining. As a Broker myself, I found some of the tricks she used to get to the top a bit over the line ethically, and am not sure they would even be considered legal today. But those were the 70's, and the golden-gutter days of the eighties.
The most interesting part of the book, other than the great tidbits a Broker like me can use themselves (the ethical ones), is the way that each chapter tied the lessons she learned as a child of ten in a blue collar home to those that helped move her business forward as a budding, seat-of-her-pants businesswoman. Loved that device, and it helps keep the chapters interesting and moving along.
And anybody who doesn't like Donald Trump as much as she does is tops in my book!
Barbara is eminently likeable on the show, everyone's favorite. And her working class to riches story is really great. It's a very short book, which can be read in a few hours. Very entertaining. As a Broker myself, I found some of the tricks she used to get to the top a bit over the line ethically, and am not sure they would even be considered legal today. But those were the 70's, and the golden-gutter days of the eighties.
The most interesting part of the book, other than the great tidbits a Broker like me can use themselves (the ethical ones), is the way that each chapter tied the lessons she learned as a child of ten in a blue collar home to those that helped move her business forward as a budding, seat-of-her-pants businesswoman. Loved that device, and it helps keep the chapters interesting and moving along.
And anybody who doesn't like Donald Trump as much as she does is tops in my book!
October 8, 2017
“If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails”
“Paint the Rocks White and the Whole Yard Will Look Lovely”
“If the Sofa Is Ripped, Cover It with Laughter"
“Use Your Imagination to Fill In the Blanks”
“Offer the Bigger Piece and Yours Will Taste Better"
“Put the Socks in the Sock Drawer”
“If There’s More Than One Kid to Wash, Set Up a Bathtime Routine”
“If You Want to Be in Two Places at Once, Borrow a Reel-to-Reel”
“It’s Your Game; Make Up Your Own Rules”
“There’s Always Room for One More”
"Go Play Outside"
“When the Clubhouse Is Quiet, They’re Probably Not Making Spaghetti”
“If You Want to Be a Cheerleader, You Better Know the Cheers”
“Go Stand Next to Nana and See How Big You Are!”
“If You Want to Get Noticed, Write Your Name on the Wall"
“Sweep the Corners and the Whole House Stays Clean”
“In a Family, Everyone Helps Mash the Potatoes”
"Moms Can’t Quit"
“Jumping Out the Window Will Make You Either an Ass or a Hero”
“You Have the Right to Be There"
“You’ve Got to Bully a Bully”
“Never Be Ashamed of Who You Are"
“The Joy Is in the Getting There”
“Paint the Rocks White and the Whole Yard Will Look Lovely”
“If the Sofa Is Ripped, Cover It with Laughter"
“Use Your Imagination to Fill In the Blanks”
“Offer the Bigger Piece and Yours Will Taste Better"
“Put the Socks in the Sock Drawer”
“If There’s More Than One Kid to Wash, Set Up a Bathtime Routine”
“If You Want to Be in Two Places at Once, Borrow a Reel-to-Reel”
“It’s Your Game; Make Up Your Own Rules”
“There’s Always Room for One More”
"Go Play Outside"
“When the Clubhouse Is Quiet, They’re Probably Not Making Spaghetti”
“If You Want to Be a Cheerleader, You Better Know the Cheers”
“Go Stand Next to Nana and See How Big You Are!”
“If You Want to Get Noticed, Write Your Name on the Wall"
“Sweep the Corners and the Whole House Stays Clean”
“In a Family, Everyone Helps Mash the Potatoes”
"Moms Can’t Quit"
“Jumping Out the Window Will Make You Either an Ass or a Hero”
“You Have the Right to Be There"
“You’ve Got to Bully a Bully”
“Never Be Ashamed of Who You Are"
“The Joy Is in the Getting There”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2015
With the subtitle "How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business," it's as interesting as one might imagine. The book's chapters have fascinating titles that hint at the lessons Corcoran learned on her rise through the real estate industry. With an initial loan (or maybe it was a gift?) from her then-boyfriend, a young Corcoran started her empire. Corcoran isn't related to fashion, but this is a great book for those who want to learn from female entrepreneurs. Readers don't necessarily have to be interested in real estate to learn from her, but readers can learn from how Corcoran sold her first apartment, made herself the press' go-to source on real estate, and more. Bonus: Read about how she stared down Donald Trump when he gave her a hard time.
Want my recommendations for four other books you might like if you like this or #GIRLBOSS? Check here: http://www.rosellalafevre.com/biz-boo...
Want my recommendations for four other books you might like if you like this or #GIRLBOSS? Check here: http://www.rosellalafevre.com/biz-boo...
November 28, 2016
I loved getting to know Barbara Corcoran better through this autobiography. I might be biased because of my interest in real estate, but there are two things that I picked up from the book.
1. She doesn't place much value in well-educated people, and instead opts to invest in people who are single-mindedly passionate about their business. While that should be taken with a grain of salt considering her lack of schooling, I think there is more truth to that statement than none. Focused, hard-working people make things happen. While education might benefit the individual, education alone without that focus greatly reduces the person's chance of success.
2. I loved her description of her business interactions with Donald Trump. She calls out his grandstanding, and while it may put off a lot of people, you can't deny that it gets him what he wants, and I have to begrudgingly respect that side of him.
1. She doesn't place much value in well-educated people, and instead opts to invest in people who are single-mindedly passionate about their business. While that should be taken with a grain of salt considering her lack of schooling, I think there is more truth to that statement than none. Focused, hard-working people make things happen. While education might benefit the individual, education alone without that focus greatly reduces the person's chance of success.
2. I loved her description of her business interactions with Donald Trump. She calls out his grandstanding, and while it may put off a lot of people, you can't deny that it gets him what he wants, and I have to begrudgingly respect that side of him.
January 6, 2019
Interesting format for an autobiography and some great business lessons to be learned from this book. Barbara looks back on her childhood and reflects on how she applied the lessons she learned growing up poor in New Jersey to the New York real estate market.
Some of her mother's life lessons she turned into chapters include: 'If you don't have big breasts, put ribbons on your pigtails,' and 'When there are ten buyers and three puppies, every dog is the pick of the litter.' She also recalls a stoush with Donald Trump over a contested commission for the sale of the Plaza Hotel. In a chapter titled 'You've got to bully a bully,' Barbara recalls that the Donald tried to weasel his way out of paying her commission of $4 million. Instead of backing down she hired the best lawyer she could find and kicked his ass in court. Nice one Barbara!
Some of her mother's life lessons she turned into chapters include: 'If you don't have big breasts, put ribbons on your pigtails,' and 'When there are ten buyers and three puppies, every dog is the pick of the litter.' She also recalls a stoush with Donald Trump over a contested commission for the sale of the Plaza Hotel. In a chapter titled 'You've got to bully a bully,' Barbara recalls that the Donald tried to weasel his way out of paying her commission of $4 million. Instead of backing down she hired the best lawyer she could find and kicked his ass in court. Nice one Barbara!
March 31, 2020
Definitely an entertaining, light read which can be a source of inspiration and optimism not only for those looking at honing their entrepreneurial skills, but also for whomever wants to get a deep breath of positivism and can-do attitude. Barbara, besides being an ambitious goal getter with a rich imagination, masters quite well the gift of the gab. I somehow felt from her writing style how her emotions, passion, and enthusiasm were slowly fading away after the sale of her business, as her writing became less colourful in the second part of the book to finally resemble more of a checklist of steps and activities she made to claim she is still at the top. The pace of her sentences increased, whereas the wittily written stories almost disappeared. I hope she indeed, found her passion and feels fulfilled with being one of the "Sharks".
April 1, 2016
Never watched Shark Tank but now I am definetely curious.
After reading If You're Not First, You're Last I picked out this book. I don't even know why because I was still pissed off by that agreessive-market-owning-the-world stuff but it was a nice surprise.
The audiobook is narrated by Barbara Corcoran and just by hearing the first chapter I knew I was going to like it. She has that always happy voice and I really can picture her growing up in a house full of people.
This book has great advices and a good story.
I would like to be more consistent and critic in my review, but I just loved her story and her family and that's probably what I would keep saying, so I'll just say that was a great use of my time and that I will make good use of the advices I got.
After reading If You're Not First, You're Last I picked out this book. I don't even know why because I was still pissed off by that agreessive-market-owning-the-world stuff but it was a nice surprise.
The audiobook is narrated by Barbara Corcoran and just by hearing the first chapter I knew I was going to like it. She has that always happy voice and I really can picture her growing up in a house full of people.
This book has great advices and a good story.
I would like to be more consistent and critic in my review, but I just loved her story and her family and that's probably what I would keep saying, so I'll just say that was a great use of my time and that I will make good use of the advices I got.
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