Before Shark Tank was part of his life, Robert Herjavec had a different weekly habit. Back then, he and his mother never missed an episode of her favorite show, Dancing with the Stars. It was their little tradition.
Katica Herjavec was not messing around with her designated “Dancing with the Stars” time. It was a ritual to the extent that she did not like receiving phone calls when the show was airing. It was her no-interruption ritual long before “Do Not Disturb” modes existed.
How Robert’s Mom Inspired Him
Here’s how Robert Herjavec shared a wholesome story from a heartfelt yet tough time in his life:
“My mom wound up getting ovarian cancer, and I would go to the hospital every Monday, and we would throw Dancing with the Stars parties with all of the other ladies on the ward.”
Robert recalled the incident by adding to what his mom had said, “Robby, you’re so beautiful, why would you not be on DWTS?” He laughed, remembering how being on television wasn’t even something he’d thought about back then. “Mom,” he told her, “if they ever ask me, I’ll do it for you.”
From The Shark Tank To The Dance Floor
Robert was already a familiar face on TV by 2015 (thanks to Shark Tank). Then came an unforeseen call from the Dancing with the Stars team. He didn’t think twice about saying yes, and that decision ended up turning his life in a whole new direction.
If you are wondering what new direction this is, it’s the one where you meet your life partner. Robert and his dance partner, Kym Johnson, grew close on the show and eventually tied the knot in 2016.
Reflecting on DWTS, Robert says the show holds a special place in his heart. He describes the experience, saying, “The show is very near and dear to my heart, for obvious reasons. The highlight of my career is getting on Dancing with the Stars. It’s so funny, the dots of your life never connect until you look back. When you get older and look back, you see this connects to that, and it all makes sense.”
Lessons From His Parents’ Sacrifice
Robert Herjavec has always been vocal about the universal experience of how someone’s parents shape who they turn out to be.
Herjavec once shared a story from the early days of his career, when he was juggling long hours as a server while also trying to launch a new venture. He was ranting to his mother about how exhausting it all felt.
That evening, he saw something that stayed with him. His father came home from a tiring shift at the factory, quickly ate, showered, and went back to work for another round. Witnessing that quiet dedication left a deep mark on Herjavec. He picked up on the value of grit and sacrifice.
He described the incident in his own words. Robert said, “I realized, I will never in my lifetime work as hard as that man is working right now. They gave up everything to come to a foreign country and live in someone’s basement for 18 months while learning the language to give me an opportunity. I thought, ‘How could I not acknowledge and justify that sacrifice?’ And that became my why.”
How Childhood Shaped Robert Herjavec’s Success
Robert Herjavec’s story is about gratitude coming full circle. From watching Dancing with the Stars beside his mom to dancing on it years later, life had a way of looping his memories back to her.
What started as a simple promise in a hospital room became a turning point that shaped both his career and personal life. Behind all the glamour and Shark Tank fame, Herjavec is grounded in his parents’ sacrifices, their quiet strength, and the lessons they left behind.
