Joy Mangano

“I am of the philosophy that if you work really hard and focus on things, you will get there in some form or fashion.”

“I've been told I miss every pass made at me! It would be wonderful to have a partner, but in my mind, it has to be like making a product. The product has to be meaningful, impact people - it has to be a great product.”

“Obviously, you have to find the confidence within yourself to pursue your ideas, but there's nothing wrong with having people around you who are going to say, 'I think that's a great idea,' or, 'I think you're doing the right thing.'”

“Something I learned along the way is that you really have to have courage in life. You can do amazing things on any level. It doesn't have to change the world; it can just impact the people around you - that's just as amazing.”

“It's easy to design expensive products. But there's that product democracy that I believe very strongly in to make something affordable for almost anybody that would want to use it.”

“Overcome obstacles one at a time: Sometimes the end goal becomes too daunting, so take things one step at a time and overcome each obstacle as you get to it.”

“My famous line is 'Product is king.'”

“Inventing is something that has always come very natural to me. As a child, I was always fiddling with things, making contraptions. I'd see something, go home, and try to make something even better.”

“As natural as it is for a parent to talk about their child, it is for me to talk about my product.”

“Robert De Niro, I have loved this man forever. I mean, I think I have seen the 'Godfather' 300 times, but he is so special.”

“There's a lot of pressure to make products better. I don't feel freer.”

“Find a way and make it happen: I've always been the type of person who couldn't rest until I found a way to make something happen. If I couldn't go around the rock, I'd find a way to go over it or under it or through it.”

“Don't be afraid to have a reality check. Taking risks is OK, but you must be realistic.”

“I'm a firm believer in the circle of commerce.”

“When I was going into inventing, it wasn't a dream the way someone goes into nursing or dancing. Because there's a path with that. It's very different when you say, 'I have an idea and it doesn't exist.' It's a very different path.”

“I was just was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water, ringing out a mop. So, I said, 'There's gotta be a better way.'”

“Early on, QVC was the most appealing medium for me because it allowed me to share the stories behind my products and directly communicate the features and benefits.”

“I would love to see every woman feel that she knows who she is and how she wants to lead. Every part of me is passionate about having the ability to do what I never could do when I was young.”

“I'll be a mentor to those who want to create a business, product or service and aren't exactly sure how to do that. To me, it's a true sign of success if I can help someone have a better time of it.”

“It warms my heart more than anything when somebody comes up to me and says, 'You inspired me to do this.'”