"Thank God that happened" — Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran on making the best business move after a breakup

Barbara Corcoran, a renowned entrepreneur and investor on Shark Tank, recently spoke about making the best business move after going through a breakup in 1970s. Corcoran shared that she found herself at a personal and professional crossroads after the end of her relationship with boyfriend and business partner, Ramone Simone.

During an interview with Way Up With Angela Yee podcast on October 31, 2024, she mentioned how the breakup, which she described as a “bad ending,” ultimately pushed her toward new beginnings. She said:

“He pushed me on to a second marriage, it didn’t work out so well either, but it also pushed me onto a new business that I was able to build into an empire. Thank God that happened.”

For the unversed, Barbara is best known for building The Corcoran Group, a real estate empire that she later sold for $66 million, as per Forbes.

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Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran's insightful journey: How endings lead to new beginnings?

From breakup to breakthrough

Barbara Corcoran's story started from what seemed like a significant setback. In 1973, she founded The Corcoran-Simone real estate group with her then-boyfriend and business partner, Ramone Simone.

In the recent Way Up With Angela Yee podcast, Barbara shared that Simone ran off with their secretary, which not only ended the romantic relationship but also threatened the stability of the business. Recalling the incident, the Shark Tank investor mentioned:

“I had a situation where I had a boyfriend and business partner for seven years and then he married my secretary. That was going to blow up the business, and it did.”

According to Forbes, she established The Corcoran Group with just $1,000. In 2001, she sold her her half to NRT Incorporated for $66 million, as per Business Insider. Corcoran also mused on the unexpected silver lining of the breakup, noting:

“Without that departure, I never would have started The Corcoran Group. So bad things happened, but I learned the business in seven years solid before I had a go out on my own.”

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Turning challenges into lessons

Rather than viewing her separation from her former partner as the end of her career, the Shark Tank investor saw it as a push toward greater independence.

“That’s what my boyfriend Ray did. He pushed me on to a second marriage—that didn’t work out so well either—but also onto a new business that I was able to build into an empire. Thank God that happened.” she said.

She said that much of the entrepreneurial acumen developed in the early stages of her career as she faced these challenges.

“Endings force you onto a new beginning,” she explained in a podcast interview.

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The broader takeaway: Endings as opportunities

Corcoran also highlighted that her philosophy goes beyond relationships. She added that she believes that even endings, whether personal or professional, can propel people toward the next opportunity.

“I love when people are fired—I was fired from like four jobs. I really still don’t know what I did wrong. But you know what about endings? They force you on to a new beginning.” she said.

Reflecting on work-life balance, the Shark Tank investor admitted that her personal life often took the back seat to professional ambition.

“I didn’t have much of a personal life; I’ve worked since I was 11. Everyone who worked for me was my best friend... They were my family before I had a family,” she explained.

Corcoran pointed out that despite all these sacrifices, her unrelenting focus on her career helped her create a legacy as a self-made entrepreneur. She emphasized the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the willingness to embrace change.

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