Known for being one of the original investors on the popular show "Shark Tank," Barbara Corcoran is a television personality and entrepreneur who frequently shares her thoughts on how to run a successful business. She once made a statement about real estate sales that goes against the industry's accepted wisdom.

Traditionally, a lot of people think that the secret to succeeding in the real estate market is closing deals. Corcoran's observations and experience, however, present a different image. According to her, success and fulfillment in the real estate industry are not always assured by the ability to close deals. She acknowledges that although she wasn't very good at closing deals herself, she was still able to have a successful career. She also observed that her most productive workers weren't always the best closers.

Consider the following analogy to comprehend this viewpoint: real estate is like a garden. True success comes from creating a diverse ecosystem where a range of abilities and talents can thrive, even though it's crucial to know how to water and prune plants to keep them healthy (which may be similar to closing deals). Being an excellent listener or cultivating a solid rapport with clients may be more important for long-term success in the real estate industry than merely being able to close one-off deals.

When assessing what makes someone successful, people in any field are encouraged by Corcoran's reflection to look beyond purely superficial metrics like deal closings. Rather, it implies that fostering a range of abilities and emphasizing sustainable practices can result in more success.