Barbara Corcoran

“I hadn't learned to read by third grade, which wasn't unusual for some kids. I knew something was wrong because I couldn't see or understand the words the way the other kids did. I wasn't the least bit bothered - until I was sent back to the second-grade classroom for reading help after school.”

“Sex appeal is in the workplace every day of the week. I'm not saying that's the only calling card, but it's a whole crayon box.”

“I have a theory and I really believe it. I think your worst weakness can become your greatest single strength.”

“People stayed with me and worked extra hard for me because I could see the potential in them - I'm not so sure they could see the potential in me.”

“My greatest strength as a child, I realize now, was my imagination. While every other kid was reading and writing, I had seven whole hours a day to practice my imagination. When do you get that space in your life, ever?”

“The most influential factor in selling a home is always price. Don't build 'wiggle room' into the asking price. There's a price war out there and you have to win it from the get-go.”

“I love myself. Anything that has my name I'm tickled to death.”

“If you get labeled a winner, people come along for the ride. Might as well enjoy it and they should too.”

“I sat down and collected all of our eleven sales for the past six months and I added them all together and divided by eleven. I then took that average and presented it as the average price for a Manhattan apartment. The media ate it up.”

“My husband had a very strong identity and was successful in his life. Thank God for that. There's no way I can control him. I wouldn't stay married to him if I felt I could. I can readily take my business personality into the home. But he forces me to be a partner rather than the boss.”

“Whatever you got you have to accentuate. I ran my female card up and down the ladder my whole career, because I was in a man's world. It was worked by women but owned by men. I was the only female owner in my field at that time.”