Barbara Corcoran reveals two essential people for building business success

Want to build a big business? Barbara Corcoran, the real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” star, says it boils down to two types of people. Not just any people, mind you.

She calls them “expanders” and “containers. ” And according to her, you need BOTH.

Expanders: The Big Idea People

What’s an “expander? ” Think of them as the visionaries. They’re always looking ahead. They see opportunities others miss.

Corcoran describes them as “very outward facing. ” They aren’t scared to take risks. They’re willing to put themselves out there. They like to spend money. They love trying new things. They’re all about growth.

Containers: The Stability Crew

What about “containers? ” These are your grounded, numbers-focused folks. They’re the ones who keep everything running smoothly.

Think systems, personnel, and finances. They’re great at working with banks. They know how to control costs. They’re good with people, but in a “keeping things in order” kind of way.

Why You Need Both

Corcoran says these two roles are equally important. Expanders come up with the ideas. Containers make sure those ideas are actually viable.

It’s like having a race car driver (the expander) and a pit crew (the container). The driver needs to go fast. But the pit crew makes sure the car doesn’t fall apart.

The Story of Esther: Corcoran’s “Container”

Corcoran shared a story about how she discovered this expander/container dynamic. It all started with Esther Kaplan, her longtime business partner.

Kaplan came into Corcoran’s office looking for a job. Corcoran wasn’t really planning to hire her. But then she noticed something. ..

Kaplan’s purse was meticulously organized. It had partitions with colorful labels. Corcoran had never seen anything like it.

She hired Kaplan on the spot. And the rest, as they say, is history.

A Perfect Partnership

Kaplan became Corcoran’s “container. ” She handled the finances, managed personnel, and implemented systems.

This freed Corcoran to do what she did best: recruit salespeople, work on public relations, and build the business.

“I was never afraid of risk, and [Kaplan] contained my risk by controlling the money,” Corcoran said. “We were perfect partners, and together we built a very big business. ”

The Takeaway?

If you want to build a successful business, find your expander and your container. You’ll need both to reach your full potential.