From a WAITER to Shark Tank STAR | Robert Herjavec's Best Success Lessons

TL;DR

Robert Herjavec’s central success lesson is to keep learning, stop relying on excuses, and balance protecting against losses with thinking bigger. After changing his defensive mindset around season four of Shark Tank, he says his cybersecurity company grew by 50%, expanded from one country to multiple countries, and doubled its staff. Read on for his practical views on failure, hiring, culture, competition, and decisive leadership.

Transcript

hey I'm Brian Ellie welcome to another edition of behind the brand let's go check out our next story hi this Robert Herjavec from shortcake you're watching behind the brand I usually ask my guests how'd you get this job your job your job I got very lucky uh Kevin the mean bald guy on our show and I used to do the show in Canada and they had already... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Success in entrepreneurship is not determined by background factors but by one's ability to seize opportunities and make the most of them.
• 🥺 Failure can be a powerful motivator if embraced and learned from, leading to significant growth and success.
• 😉 Building a successful team requires finding individuals who align with the company's values and are motivated to compete and win.
• 😨 Embracing a healthy amount of fear and paranoia can drive growth and prevent complacency.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are Robert Herjavec’s best lessons for success?

Herjavec says great entrepreneurs never stop learning and that success has no fixed shape or color. He advises people to focus on what they will do with what they have, balance caution with ambitious thinking, and build a team whose members share the company’s culture.

Q: How did Robert Herjavec get cast on Shark Tank?

Herjavec had previously appeared with Kevin on a Canadian show when Mark Burnett called about Shark Tank. The American show had already been cast, filming began the next day, and Herjavec says he was the last person added.

Q: What did Robert Herjavec learn from eight seasons of Shark Tank?

He learned that success has no shape or color and can come from every walk of life. On Shark Tank, he says entrepreneurs are judged on their businesses rather than their race, religion, sex, background, or excuses.

Q: How does Robert Herjavec think people should respond to failure?

Herjavec acknowledges that fear of failure and of moving backward shaped his defensive approach because he came from severe poverty. He concluded that dwelling on failures does no good because nobody cares about excuses, so it is better to move forward.

Q: Why did Robert Herjavec decide he needed to think bigger?

Around season four, Mark told Herjavec that his biggest problem was not thinking big enough. Herjavec realized he was spending too much effort protecting his downside and playing defense, so he tried to create a better balance between caution and confidence.

Q: What happened after Robert Herjavec changed his mindset?

Herjavec says his company grew by 50% after he changed his mindset. It also expanded from selling in one country to multiple countries around the world and doubled its staff.

Q: How does Robert Herjavec build a successful team?

He creates an environment where skilled employees want and feel motivated to stay, which is especially important in cybersecurity because his employees can readily find other jobs. He looks for people who fit a culture centered on competing, winning, and fighting together in the business arena.

Q: What is Robert Herjavec’s approach to hiring and firing?

Herjavec follows the advice “slow to hire, quick to fire.” He believes some people simply do not work out and that a leader must have the courage to make staffing changes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Robert Herjavec got lucky when he was cast on Shark Tank, but he believes that successful entrepreneurs never stop learning from others.

• He emphasizes that success has no shape or color, and that excuses about one's background or identity are irrelevant.

• Herjavec reflects on the fear of failure and the importance of finding a balance between protecting oneself and thinking big.