BY JOHN BOITNOTT @JBOITNOTT

The woman who turned a $1,000 real estate loan into a $66 million business has
much to say about entrepreneurship, success and business. We would all do well
to listen.

As the only female shark on "Shark Tank," Barbara Corcoran is seriously
swimming in the deep end, but more than holds her own. She's an inspiration for
countless entrepreneurs, male and female, and dishes out advice she learned
the hard way. She turned a small real estate venture into a multi-million dollar
industry in Manhattan, and has come a long way from humble beginnings.

Here's some of the best advice she's handed out, some of which gives us an
idea of what she looks for in an entrepreneur. Are you a little fish in a big pond?

You can still make it as long as you have the right inspiration.

1. On Instinct

"Don't you dare underestimate the power of your own instinct." Instinct is a
lifesaver for sharks and entrepreneurs alike. Most people can recall times they
ignored their gut only to regret it later. Learning to actually listen to your instinct is
a great form of self-preservation. It's both incredibly easy and tough at the same
time, but worth the effort to master.

2. On Demand

"In business, you're the Chief Salesman. Create a sense of demand, rather than
waiting to have demand." You know business is all about supply and demand, so
why not create the demand yourself? It's where marketing, advertising and
customer relations comes into play. It's not enough to just have a great idea or
product. You must aggressively market yourself when appropriate.

3. On Happiness in Business

"I built the business exactly the way my mother built and ran her family. I wanted a
replication of the big, happy family I grew up in. I wanted happy people having
fun." Having happy employees can turn you into a success story. If your
employees like what they do, it usually results in happier customers, which make
everything a little easier.

4. On Picking the Right People

"A complainer is like a Death Eater because there's a suction of negative
energy. You can catch a great attitude from great people." When you're selecting
team members to join your startup or small business make sure you pick
someone who shares your vision and is just as enthusiastic as you. That sounds
like a no-brainer on paper but watch out because in real life the search can be
difficult.

5. On Perspective

"Buyers decide in the first eight seconds of seeing a home if they're interested in
buying it. Get out of your car, walk in their shoes and see what they see within the
first eight seconds." If you want to know what buyers want, practice empathy. See
things from a customer perspective always. That insight is an invaluable tool to
hone.

6. On Opportunity

"The best time to expand is when people are asleep at the wheel." Always keep
an eye out for the industry that needs disruption, or is simply filled with
companies that are resting on their laurels or spinning their wheels. Take
advantage of slow periods and make sure you're never the one who falls behind.
If you see an opening, grab it.

7. On Balance

"I wanted to be a 150 percent entrepreneur and a 150 percent mom, and I found
that I was having a very hard time doing both. I was about 75 percent and 75
percent--still better than 100 percent, but not what I was accustomed to at work."
Some think that in business, there's no such thing as balance. However, there is
such a thing as striving towards better balance. Nobody can have it all, so you'll
need to figure out what's important to you.

Words of wisdom, especially free ones, can be your golden ticket to success.
Whether it's trusting your gut, snatching opportunities before they slip away, or
putting yourself in the customer's position, Corcoran speaks from experience.
She's an important business role model, not just because of her success, but
now partly because of her influence on millions of entrepreneurs who watch her
several times a week on TV. Her story is inspiring for anyone interested in
starting a business or trying to become more successful in general.

What do you think? Is this something you can benefit from or do you have a few
tricks up your sleeve that are just as powerful? Make your voice heard by leaving
a comment below. Don’t forget to hit the share button if you know others who will
find this post useful.

I.C. Collins ~ Author, Educator, Trainer and President: Has One Simple Goal:
Improve a Million Automotive Sales Consultants Lives with our ebook "How to
Succeed in the Automotive Sales Industry"

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