"Everybody's got a tape" Barbara Corcoran reveals her self motivation strategy

In a recent interview, real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor, Barbara Corcoran, shared a glimpse into the mental strategy that helped her build a multimillion-dollar empire. When asked about advice for people seeking life changes, Corcoran didn't mince words:

"I think the first thing is, you have to ask what kind of tape do you have in your head. Everybody's got a tape. And it's usually an old tape that you got as a kid you got to get rid of."

The self-made millionaire, known for her sharp business acumen and straight-talking attitude on ABC's Emmy-winning show, went on to reveal her journey with negative self-talk and how she transformed it.

For Corcoran, who built The Corcoran Group from a $1,000 loan into a $66 million real estate powerhouse, the path to success wasn't just about business strategies—it was about rewiring her internal dialogue from "You Shouldn't Be Here" and "You Won't Do It" to a simple yet powerful affirmation: "Barbara, you're effin amazing."

Never has cognitive rewiring seemed more accessible.

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Barbara Corcoran’s journey to success: The making of a mogul

Long before she became a household name, Barbara Corcoran was just one of ten siblings crammed into a two-bedroom apartment in Edgewater, New Jersey. Her early life reads like a masterclass in overcoming adversity: a straight-D student grappling with undiagnosed dyslexia, cycling through 20 different jobs by age 23, and waiting tables to make ends meet.

It wasn't until years later, when her son was diagnosed with dyslexia, that Barbara Corcoran realized she had been dealing with the condition her entire life.

Sometimes, the best revenge is success. When Corcoran's then-boyfriend, Ramone Simone, lent her $1,000 to start a real estate business in 1973, neither could have predicted the outcome.

After he left her for her secretary in 1978, delivering the parting shot that she had "never succeeded without him," Barbara Corcoran took that rejection and turned it into rocket fuel. Over the next two decades, she built The Corcoran Group into New York's largest residential real estate firm, eventually selling it for $66 million in 2001.

In an industry often dominated by privilege, Corcoran takes pride in her humble beginnings. On Shark Tank, she actively seeks out entrepreneurs from similar backgrounds, believing that growing up poor creates a unique kind of motivation:

"Poor kids have nothing to lose and nowhere to go but up," she argues, adding that the absence of privilege often breeds a hunger for success that's hard to replicate.

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What advice does Barbara Corcoran have to offer?

While changing your internal dialogue is crucial, Corcoran's advice extends beyond positive affirmations. For those feeling lost, she advocates a surprisingly simple approach:

"Find someone who has less advantages than you have, and dedicate yourself to giving."

This philosophy, coupled with her emphasis on staying adaptable and forward-thinking, has served her well throughout her career.

“I don’t think you can be wrapped up in yourself and feeling sorry for yourself and not getting ahead in life, if you’re giving.” She explained.

Her success formula also includes staying current with industry trends, often by seeking insights from younger professionals—a strategy that helped her launch a real estate website five years ahead of her competitors. As she puts it:

"You've got to keep your eyes and ears open to change."

Today, Corcoran continues to embody the resilience and innovation that turned her from a waitress into a real estate titan. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that success often isn't about where you start—it's about the tape you choose to play in your head, and the determination to keep rewriting it until you get it right.

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As of 2025, Barbara Corcoran's estimated net worth is approximately $100 million.