Get All Access for $5/mo

Barbara Corcoran Says Dyslexia Was Her Biggest Motivator: 'It Takes a Lot to Get Over the Damage Done' The "Shark Tank" star opened up about overcoming negative self talk.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Barbara Corcoran is known as the quick-witted "Shark Tank" star who even billionaires like Mark Cuban look to for advice.

But the real estate mogul says she wasn't always confident, especially growing up with dyslexia.

"If I wasn't dyslexic and I didn't have a hard time in school, I don't think I would have been successful, believe it or not, because I think everything I've done in my life has been one long attempt to show the world that I'm not stupid," Corcoran said in an episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast appearance posted on her Instagram page.

One way Corcoran learned to increase her confidence was to use people doubting her as motivation — even when she doubted herself. If she found herself in an "insecure situation," she replaced negative self-talk with positive affirmations.

She suggests we "replace the tape" in the way we talk about ourselves.

Related: Inside Barbara Corcoran's $1 Million California Trailer: 'Everything's Little'

"It takes a lot to get over the damage done if your self-perception is a negative one from the get-go," Corcoran told viewers.

Corcoran, of course, is the founder of one of the most successful real estate companies in the world (The Corcoran Group). She's also invested millions in entrepreneur's businesses.

Related: Barbara Corcoran Says This 1 Purchase Was Her Best Investment

Barbara Corcoran's net worth is an estimated $100 million.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Solutions

Still Paying for Adobe Acrobat? Try This Instead.

Everything you need in a PDF editor—minus the subscription.

Data & Recovery

Say Hello to the Secure Cloud Storage Alternative Entrepreneurs Need

Secure, scalable, and cost-effective: Internxt is the smarter choice for cloud storage.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

How Franchising Can Alleviate Entrepreneurial Imposter Syndrome

The franchise model can alleviate entrepreneurial imposter syndrome and provide an alternative path towards professional independence.

Side Hustle

At Age 15, He Used Facebook Marketplace to Start a Side Hustle — Then It Became Something Much Bigger: 'Raised Over $1.6 Million'

Dylan Zajac, now a 21-year-old senior at Babson College, wanted to bridge the digital divide.