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Use What You've Got: and Other Business Lessons I Learned from My Mom
As one of ten kids in a blue-collar family in Edgewater, New Jersey, Barbara Corcoran didn't have many material advantages. She shared her bedroom with five sisters and shared her socks in a communal sock drawer. Yet she grew up to have plenty of self-confidence, because her mother had an amazing gift for nurturing the unique talents in each of her children. Barbara's mom...more
Hardcover, 280 pages
Published
February 10th 2003
by Portfolio Hardcover
(first published 2003)
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For some reason I thought this was a book about finances. I don't really know why. Judging it by its cover you wouldn't be misled, but I was given this book together with a different personal finance book just after a discussion about finances. For some reason I put the "Use What You've Got" title into a financial framework, so I decided it would be good to read it, since I always think I have to buy something new to make any kind of progress.
I'm glad I was under that impression, because I'm not...more
I'm glad I was under that impression, because I'm not...more
I review sales and marketing books for a living, and this is without a doubt one of the best sales books I've read. Not only is it full of well-grounded, sound business ideas and principles, it's also hilarious! I love Corcoran's style, wit, chutzpah, and self-deprecating humor.
Whatever business you're in, you'll find something of value in this easy-to-read, laugh-a-minute, book.
Whatever business you're in, you'll find something of value in this easy-to-read, laugh-a-minute, book.
I just adored this book. I didn't really know what I was getting into, like I didn't know that the author is one of the best known women in NYC real estate or that she's on TV's Shark Tank, I just thought I was reading a pithy memoir.
The book alternates between childhood anecdotes ending with a lesson from her mother (sometimes unexpected ones) and chapters showing how she used that wisdom in building a billion dollar real estate firm and weathering downturns and disappointments. It can be a lit...more
The book alternates between childhood anecdotes ending with a lesson from her mother (sometimes unexpected ones) and chapters showing how she used that wisdom in building a billion dollar real estate firm and weathering downturns and disappointments. It can be a lit...more
I'm not normally a huge consumer of business books and business memoirs, but I loved this. It may well prove to be my favorite read of the year.
Synopsis: phenomenally successful real estate broker and businesswoman Barbara Corcoran outlines the trajectory of her career, highlighting key moments in her business's growth and explaining how she made it through these moments by drawing upon wisdom from her mother--a stay-at-home mom who raised 10 kids in a 2-bedroom apartment in New Jersey. The sto...more
Synopsis: phenomenally successful real estate broker and businesswoman Barbara Corcoran outlines the trajectory of her career, highlighting key moments in her business's growth and explaining how she made it through these moments by drawing upon wisdom from her mother--a stay-at-home mom who raised 10 kids in a 2-bedroom apartment in New Jersey. The sto...more
It's almost Valentine's Day, so naturally I'm reading books about business.
This book reminded me of All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg. In each case, the author wants to explain how s/he came from modest means and exceeded everyone's expectations . . . but in order not to brag, each says, "My mother taught me everything I know."
One of ten children, Barbara Corcoran grew up in a one-bath house in Edgewater, N.J. She founded The Corcoran Group, which eventually became a multibillion-dollar re...more
This book reminded me of All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg. In each case, the author wants to explain how s/he came from modest means and exceeded everyone's expectations . . . but in order not to brag, each says, "My mother taught me everything I know."
One of ten children, Barbara Corcoran grew up in a one-bath house in Edgewater, N.J. She founded The Corcoran Group, which eventually became a multibillion-dollar re...more
Without a clear plan, you won't know where you're going, and you'll have little chance of getting there. ~ Barbara Corcoran
This book details the story of Barbara Cocoran and how she built her business "The Corcoran Group" which helps customers buy and sell homes in New York. She later sold her business for millions.
I found myself laughing at her stories she illustrates growing up and the lessons her mother taught her of which she applied to business.
This book details the story of Barbara Cocoran and how she built her business "The Corcoran Group" which helps customers buy and sell homes in New York. She later sold her business for millions.
I found myself laughing at her stories she illustrates growing up and the lessons her mother taught her of which she applied to business.
This is an excellent book for anybody that is thinking about expanding his/her business and as such having employees. She shows how by working as one unit a company and its employees not only gain financially but also fosters a family environment which most companies fail to do.
This is an exceptionally insightful and yet funny book that would interest anyone, not just Realtors. It is Barbara Corcoran's life story; she was the number one Realtor to the stars in New York City, one of ten children in a big Irish family from a happy but poor childhood.
An excellent depiction of how simple life lessons from a dedicated mother can be translated into success in business. Great read for someone who is managing a sales team - ideas to motivate and inspire your staff!
I loved this book. My seven year old daughter had me read it to her. She loved the advice and stories. I still laugh to myself when I walk by painted rocks anywhere.
Great lessons in how to never give up on your goals and to overcome any obstacle in your way. Very entertains book on success in business.
Fun, quick read if you are looking for some motivation, professional or otherwise..
I love reading about powerful, smart women! Quick and inspirational read!
Oversimplified but cute and worth a listen on audiobook during a long drive.
Barb always had her mother's support; parental encouragement goes a long way
This is the story of how Barbar Corcoran came from a little town in NJ moved to NYC and started her real estate empire. It's inspirational to see how she did this using common sense advice from her upbringing and her mom - no fancy business school here!
If you are a woman seeking to start your own business or if you work in sales, this book is filled with great little pieces of advice. Neither of these statements particularly apply to me, but I still loved the book. It made me think about myself...more
If you are a woman seeking to start your own business or if you work in sales, this book is filled with great little pieces of advice. Neither of these statements particularly apply to me, but I still loved the book. It made me think about myself...more
Inspirational and touching, candid and no-nonsense, this woman tells about her journey from the $1000 "gift" she received and the partnership that was born out of it to the multi-billion-dollar company that she eventually sold for many millions. Corcoran is very interesting and this book was a quick and very helpful read, providing unique insight into one of America's brightest and most successful businesswomen and how she was inspired by her mother, who taught her that she "could."
I believe this is the retitled version of "Use What You've Got and other Lessons I learned from my Mom.
It's definitely entertaining and has some tips I can use.
It's definitely entertaining and has some tips I can use.
Jun 04, 2008
Challis
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
salespeople, business owners etc
Recommended to Challis by:
Abram
Shelves:
instructional
This was a fast-paced, interesting how-to book. It was humorous and lively. Barbara Corcoran shares real-life experiences and advice in how she went from a poor, one of ten children, "stupid" girl to owning the #1 New York real estate firm.
t is a mix of biography, and instruction with insight and humor in the lessons she learned while growing up, mostly from her mom.
A neat look into her family life and that of the NY real estate (she does business with Donald Trump)
t is a mix of biography, and instruction with insight and humor in the lessons she learned while growing up, mostly from her mom.
A neat look into her family life and that of the NY real estate (she does business with Donald Trump)
this is my manifesto - or at least would have been if i actually followed it and was about 30 yrs older. but i love and admire this woman. the first title of the book is If You Don't Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails: And Other Lessons I Learned from My Mom." story of how barbara corcoran started the corcoran group and eventually sold it for approx. 40 mil. my hero.
great stuff in here about branding your identity, brokerage, and hiring/firing.
great stuff in here about branding your identity, brokerage, and hiring/firing.
Girl power to the fullest. I picked this book up a few years ago, drawn to it by the title. At the time, I did not know Barbara Corcoran. Since reading this book, she’s become one of my favorite warriors. Barbara grew up in a big family, meager means, made to believe she was deficient according to the standards of a grossly outdated education system, betrayed by a boyfriend and then went on to become a BOSS in real estate. I dig Barbara Corcoran.
I absolutely loved this book. She has something to offer everyone, but I would especially recommend this book to anyone wanting to pursue a sales career. It's amazing what she did with her life and how she got there. This book is told is such a fun way that I want to meet her someday. There is a little bit of placed language. I would like to read this book again someday.
Nov 17, 2008
Jessica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
business-related
No clue why I picked this up. I was looking for business, marketing and the like information and ran across this. The title is (perhaps negatively) attention-grabbing but does not really reflect the issues addressed in the book.
What I enjoyed was the way that common sense that your mother taught you can be related to business life. Great examples.
What I enjoyed was the way that common sense that your mother taught you can be related to business life. Great examples.
I have completed only part one of this three-part audio book. It's somewhat entertaining, but is told in an autobiographical format. Recently, my listening tastes have been geared toward formats that are immediately informative or instructive, with less extraneous detail. I don't think I'll revisit this book later to finish it off.
Didn't finish it. I liked the stories of her youth but didn't like the self help stuff. I don't think they should have been combined. I may go back later and read some more of the parts about her childhood if I get desperate for something to read.
Read entire book this afternoon. Entertaining and fascinating about her success in real estate. Meshing the advice her mother gave and showing the correlation with events in her business experience is a stroke of genius.
This is an interesting book. It is kind-of a business/motivational type, but I found that there were a lot of things that could be applied to any situation. It is entertaining and Barbara Corcoran has an interesting story.
I listened to this book because I ran out of the other books and hadn't gone to the library yet, but it was good, entertaining and a fun read. Crazy a kid from a poor poor family can turn into a very rich multi millionaire.
I was referred this book by a friend at work and it is very easy reading and very common sense information presented in plain English - life isn't rocket science - I know that I'll be recommending this one
Confession - I didn't fully realize who Barbara Corcoran was until partway through the book. I'm a big fan of strengths - helping people discover and use them. Obviously, that's what her mother did.
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Great review!
Feb 10, 2012 05:51pm