How Shark Tank Has Made Me a Better Entrepreneur
Robert Herjavec, who co-founded the Canadian cybersecurity company Herjavec Group in 2003, joined the first season of Shark Tank, in 2009, after starring on the Canadian version, Dragons’ Den. Today, after eight seasons, Herjavec is known as “the nice judge,” a description he uses to his advantage. While he admits he joined the show for the exposure—Herjavec Group opened its U.S. office in 2014—he says that being on it has taught him some lessons he didn’t expect.
DON’T MISTAKE kindness for weakness” is a quote I live by. It hangs behind my desk. People say I’m the kind judge—I think “fair” is more appropriate. My family moved to Canada from Croatia when I was 8. We were immigrants, and when you don’t speak the language or have any money, kids make fun of you. I would say to my mom, “The world hates me. Nobody’s nice to me. I have no friends, and all these kids have better lives than me.” My mom would reply, “Nobody in this world is better than you, but you are no better than anyone else.” That inspired me to get out there and kick some butt and make something of myself, but not in a way that demeaned anybody, because I’ve always
