"Life doesn't owe you anything" - When Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec recalled his father's advice

Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec, in an interview with Inc. 5000 host Eric in 2009, talked about his upbringing and the advice that his father gave him. He said his journey to the top was not as easy, but what made him go on was his father's advice.

Herjavec was born in a small village called Bieg in Croatia. His father did not like the administration and would often speak up against them, which led to him getting jailed. At one point, they needed to flee the country for their safety.

When they arrived in Canada with just one suitcase and hardly any money, their life was challenging, the Shark Tank investor admitted. His father, to provide for the family, took any work that he was able to find and ultimately settled on two jobs that he would do throughout the day.

As for Robert, who was very young at the time, it was tough to adjust to a new culture and a new language. He said he was often bullied, but one day, his father's advice changed his outlook on life. Robert quoted his father saying,

"Life doesn't owe you anything. Never complain. All you own is an opportunity. And in this country, you have an opportunity."

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Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec shares lessons he learned from his immigrant father

Robert reminisced in the interview that during his initial school days in Canada, he returned home after being beaten up by his mates. He was complaining about his life to his mother when his father walked in after one of his shifts.

Upon hearing his son, Robert's father said that he should not take the opportunities that he has in this country for granted. After this, the investor said his father went to bed to start the next day with his two shifts.

Robert said that this message was simple enough yet profound. This led him to understand that success is not given but earned. He learned that life does not grant any favors or promise an individual any sort of fairness. His father had explained how life gives opportunity and that it is up to the person to take it.

Revealing more about his past, Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec shared that his father hated the communist rule in Croatia. He did not mind doing the hard work, but giving away the fruits of his labor was where he drew the line. Robert said that his father's mindset taught him to neglect self-pity or entitlement. He said,

"Nothing pisses me off more than people who complain or believe life owes them something."

Robert said that this mindset that he has developed is not because he is arrogant about it but because victimhood could destroy one's outlook toward life. Thus, he refused to allow it to dictate his life and choices.

Elaborating on the same, the Shark Tank investor shared that there were times when he experienced weakness. The obstacles hurt a lot, but he reminded himself again that those moments are only temporary. He said,

“Like everyone in this room, there are days when I see overwhelming difficulty. There are days when I hear more ‘no’ than ‘yes.’ There are days when I see obstacles instead of opportunities. But it doesn’t last long.”

Robert said that he could have let his struggles define and limit his growth but didn't. By taking control of the narrative of his life, he made a way for himself to be successful.

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Shark Tank Season 16 episodes are released on ABC at 8:00 pm Eastern Time on Fridays. They are later available to watch on Hulu.