"Alter your aspirations" — When Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran discussed why financial and status-driven goals don’t guide her

During an interview on The Marie Forleo Podcast on July 16, 2024, Shark Tank investor and entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran was asked about her goals and aspirations. Forleo wanted to know what Corcoran's goals were focused on and what dreams she had at that stage in her life.

In response, Corcoran explained that her aspirations evolved due to the limited amount of time she has left in life. She stated,

"The dreams and aspirations probably have changed because I have less time in this world. So you have to, of course, alter your aspirations to the timetable."

Rather than being guided by financial success or status, she emphasized that her primary motivation had always been the process of working with teams and pushing boundaries.

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Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran on redefining success and aspirations

The role of teamwork

Throughout the interview, Barbara Corcoran emphasized that financial gains were never the driving force behind her ambitions. Instead, she found motivation in collaborating with teams and striving for progress. She stated,

"The joy of working with teams, seeing how far you could go, seeing really how far you could go, how much of a change you can make in people's lives, because that gives you the satisfaction."

The Shark Tank investor further elaborated that her financial success came as a byproduct of focusing on meaningful work. She explained,

"I find if you do a good job on that, the money takes care of itself."

Rather than planning for wealth accumulation, she explained that her financial situation fluctuated over the years, with both difficult periods and times of significant earnings. Ultimately, she underscored that her core motivation was never money but rather the excitement of taking on new challenges. She explained,

"The whole thing that turns me on is really the joy of this, and the satisfaction of working with people toward a common God. And the God was never money."

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Corcoran’s perspective on change and moving forward

Corcoran discussed her approach to change, highlighting that she consistently looked toward the next challenge rather than focusing on her current position. She emphasized that her motivation was rooted in forward momentum and continuous improvement. The Shark Tank investor stated,

"And I like change. And then always kept me looking at the next page instead. Said the page I was standing on, you know."

This perspective reflected her long-standing approach to business and personal growth. Rather than setting goals based on financial success, she remained focused on progress and the unknown opportunities ahead.

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A defining moment

Corcoran shared a personal story that demonstrated how her aspirations developed over time. She recounted an experience from when she was working as a messenger while owning the Corcoran Group during a challenging period. She described delivering a message to a woman who lived in a penthouse overlooking a park. She recalled,

"I had seen apartments my whole life, but I had never been so awestruck by the suddenness of the green in the park right there, framing her."

She expressed interest in purchasing the apartment in the future, but the woman dismissed the idea. The Shark Tank investor stated,

"She saw me as a messenger girl, and she said, 'I'll be very sure I'll be buried in this place. I'm never selling it.’"

However, years later, the woman contacted her to sell the apartment. Corcoran immediately pursued the opportunity and recalled that the seller asked if she remembered her, to which she responded that the apartment had never left her mind.

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