Millionaire American businesswoman warns of the type of employees she always fires: “They are thieves, they take your money and your energy”

You may recognize Barbara Corcoran from ABC’s Shark Tank, but her entrepreneurial journey began much earlier, in 1980, when she founded The Corcoran Group, a successful real estate firm in New York City.

In an insightful interview with Steven Bartlett on his popular podcast, Diary of a CEO, she shared how various challenges throughout her life ultimately contributed to her success.

The businesswoman also spoke about how the entrepreneurs she finds through Shark Tank, who have also faced adversity in their own lives, are some of her most successful investments. “I love it when I find an entrepreneur who had a horrible dad or had this go wrong because they are angry and have more to prove,” explained the shark.

Corcoran builds her business empire in a male-dominated industry

The inception of The Corcoran Group was a result of a painful breakup with her boyfriend, with whom she had co-founded a real estate business in 1973.

After seven years together, Ramon Simonè, her business and life partner, informed her that he was leaving her for her personal assistant, which became a pivotal moment for Corcoran. She attributes their relationship to her motivation to start her own firm.

During their conversation, she recounted how, when she decided to leave Simonè, he hit her with the classic final words: “you will never succeed without me.” Boy did she prove him wrong…

According to Fobres, The Corcoran Group grew from a $1,000 investment to a firm valued at over $6 billion. In 2001, Corcoran sold the business to Cendant and Apollo Management’s NRT for $66 million.

Why Corcoran fires complainers

Corcoran does not hold back when touting her achievements as a boss during the interview. “I don’t mean to brag, but I am the best boss I have ever met,” said Barbara, adding that even a “son-of-a-bitch” who works for her would say that most of her employees ”love” her.

The CEO believes that leaders in the private sector should recognize “you work for who is working for you,” and investing in your labor force is essential to your own success.

However, not all employees receive Barbara’s investment in their professional lives. “I picked out individuals who were negative,” said Barbara.

“They were ruining my good kids,” argued Corocan, who explained that those with bad attitudes would infect others because negative people always needed a place to spread negativity.

She was sure to distinguish people with negative attitudes from those who were honest with her about things she or the company was doing wrong, describing those individuals as “invaluable” to her success in business.

When asked by Bartlett why she is so “irked by complainers,” Corocan responded very quickly: “They’re Bartlett asked why she was thieves.” “They are thieves, they take your money away, and they take your energy, and the most valuable asset you have is your energy,” said the millionaire.

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