Get All Access for $5/mo

'Nice Makes You More Money': Mark Cuban Says This Is the Major Mistake New Entrepreneurs Often Make The billionaire appeared on "Good Morning America" this week.

By Emily Rella

Billionaire Mark Cuban knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur — and this week, the Mavericks owner appeared on "Good Morning America" to tell the world.

The "Shark Tank" star took viewer questions ranging from how to run a small business to what business advice he'd give to newbies who are just getting started.

Related: 'You're Not Old Until You Act Old': Mark Cuban's Advice on How to Stay Entrepreneurial Even When Considering Retiring

One viewer asked: "What are some of the mistakes you wish you could have avoided as an entrepreneur, and what are some of the biggest mistakes that first-time entrepreneurs fall victim to?"

Cuban responded with something that most of us are taught early on in life — to treat others the way you want to be treated.

"I was 25 when I started my first company after I got fired, and I always thought I had to be mean because I was younger than everybody else — and that was wrong," Cuban said. "What I've learned over the years is being nice really helps. Nice sells, nice makes you more money."

He followed up with a simple philosophy, and something he looks for when investing in entrepreneurs — make sure you're focused on the right things.

Related: Mark Cuban's Grocery Store Hack Will Help You Score Cheaper Produce

"I was all excited about generating sales when I should have been more excited about generating profits," Cuban said, emphasizing that there is a "big difference" between the two.

Last month, the "Shark Tank" star spoke with GQ about his early entrepreneurial days, crediting much of his success to a combination of luck, timing, and of course, hard work.

"I always tell people life is half random. And that's just a reality for everybody," he said candidly. "I got lucky … You gotta have timing. I was really lucky in that."

According to Bloomberg, Cuban has an estimated net worth of $6.27 billion.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

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

Side Hustle

She Had Less Than $800 When She Started a Side Hustle — Then This Personal Advice From Tony Robbins Helped Her Make $45 Million

Cathryn Lavery built planner and conversation card deck company BestSelf Co. without any formal business education.

Business News

How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Transformed a Graphics Card Company Into an AI Giant: 'One of the Most Remarkable Business Pivots in History'

Here's how Nvidia pivoted its business to explore an emerging technology a decade in advance.

Business News

Want to Start a Business? Skip the MBA, Says Bestselling Author

Entrepreneur Josh Kaufman says that the average person with an idea can go from working a job to earning $10,000 a month running their own business — no MBA required.

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.