"A very subtle difference": Shark Tank mentor Robert Herjavec opens up about abundance mindset and poverty mindset

Shark Tank mentor Robert Herjavec recently appeared in Lewis Howes' latest podcast, which aired on February 5, 2025. The episode was titled "hark Tank Host: My Parents & I Escaped Communism With $20! THIS Unlocked Wealth for Me!

Robert Herjavec opened up about many things, including his childhood, how he had to move to different high schools, his father's work, and more. While discussing his early days and starting his life as an "immigrant" with his family, his Shark Tank mentor shared about the "abundance mindset" and "poverty mindset."

"I just thought the situation we were in was poor, and I know it's a very subtle difference, but I think you learn your mindset, and I think poverty is a learned mindset, and I think abundance is a learned mindset."

He added:

"I didn't learn a wealth mindset until later on, and I always think if I would have learned an abundance mindset sooner, I would be much wealthier today."

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Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec recalls his high school time and how kids used to "pick" on him

During the conversation with the podcast host, Lewis Howes, Robert recalled his school days. For the fans who might be unaware, Robert Herjavec moved to Canada when he was eight.

He mentioned the first day of school when kids made fun of him because he was a "poor immigrant." He also mentioned that there were no English classes, which felt "terrifying."

"I came from an environment where I was really a lot of fun, my dad was the youngest of 15, tons of cousins, and I go into an environment where I literally don't speak the language and kids are making fun of me. I really don't know why they're making fun of me. So I learned poverty and I learned poor as a situation. So, I never thought I was poor," shared the Shark Tank mentor.

While reflecting on different kinds of mindsets, the Shark talked about a "subtle" difference and how one can learn a mindset. He mentioned that, according to him, poverty was the "learned" mindset, and so was "abundance."

Despite being such a young individual, Robert mentioned that he believed he was not poor, but his "situation" was poor. He then thought about "not being in that situation." He also stated that his mother loved him and was a "good human."

Further in the podcast, the Shark Tank investor mentioned how his family had "no money," and in his mind, it was four years of being "poor" in his mind.

"Probably around (age) 12 because it was just such a crappy environment and we...we had no money, and at that point, I'd been poor in my mind for four years, and we constantly move schools," he shared.

Being an immigrant, he stated that initially, his family made a "little bit of money," and they lived in a "crappy" apartment. Later, when they had a "little bit more" money, they lived in a "better" apartment.

He then talked about different jobs and work his father did and shared the struggles he and his family went through during his childhood.

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ABC Network streams new episodes of Shark Tank Season 16 on Fridays.