Robert Herjavec has been one of the big veterans of Tanks and Dens. He first started his on-screen investing role with Canada’s Shark Tank, called Dragon’s Den, before venturing into the waters of Shark Tank.
On Shark Tank, he has been there since the first season. He is not magnanimous like Mark Cuban or an edgy bully like Kevin O’Leary, but rather, he is more reserved and calm most of the time.
Robert came to the US from Croatia as a first-generation immigrant. His story is a true climb from modest beginnings to major success. Given his experience on Shark Tank and Dragons’ Den, he is often questioned about what he looks for in entrepreneurs and how he managed to find success himself.
Robert Herjavec Shares Success Tips for Entrepreneurs
Herjavec broke it down with three clear tips that entrepreneurs can put into action to build lasting success.
1. The Drive Beyond Money
Every business needs revenue to survive, but the people who build lasting success usually have something more than money driving them. That deeper reason acts like fuel when the road gets rough.
Robert shared an anecdote from his heyday when he was just starting out on his feet. He had been complaining to his mother about the long hours he was putting in as a server while also trying to get a new venture off the ground.
Then he witnessed something straightforward yet very life-changing that stuck with him. Later that same evening, his father returned from his weary factory job. He grabbed a quick meal and a shower, then headed back to work another shift.
That moment left a lasting impression on him, especially about stoic grit and sacrifice.
Robert described it in his own words, saying, “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.”
2. Track the Right Metrics That Grow Your Business
Herjavec believes every founder should zero in on a few key metrics that reflect how their business is really doing. The exact figures will vary depending on the industry. But what matters most is that founders know them inside and out and pay close attention to how they change over time.
He elucidated on this belief by adding, “In my business, I had to know the recurring revenue, margin, and cash flow on a daily basis. If you woke me up at 2 in the morning and said, ‘What was the cash flow yesterday?’ I could tell you. People make the mistake of trying to do too much, but there are really two or three things that advance the ball every single day. What are the things that are growing your business?”
3. The Trap of Doing Everything Yourself
Robert said, “At the beginning, you’re going to have to do sales, accounting, and sweep the floor if somebody spills coffee on it.”
Most founders find themselves juggling every role imaginable just to keep things moving. You have to practice what you preach. Running everything yourself can feel natural initially, but it’s also a trap. The more the business grows, the harder it becomes to manage every detail alone. At some point, it simply stops working.
Robert expanded by saying, “One day I realized, if I’m the best at everything in my company, how am I ever going to grow? Who’s ever going to buy this business? Eventually, you have to get to a point where you shift from being the best doer to being the best enabler.”
Many new business owners find it challenging to trust employees with important tasks. However, this is not a sustainable business or operations practice.
In Robert’s own words, “If you’re still the person doing everything three or five years from now, you’re doing something wrong. Remember: You have only two hands.”
How to Build Scalable Systems for Long-Term Success
Robert Herjavec’s path shows that building a lasting business takes more than effort. His advice mirrors what he looks for in Shark Tank pitches: clarity, focus, and scalability. For new entrepreneurs, his message is clear—success isn’t about doing everything yourself, it’s about knowing your why, measuring what matters, and building a team that helps you scale.”
Growth requires knowing when to step back, trust your team, and let others take ownership of essential tasks. Success comes from balancing effort with strategy, learning from experience, and building systems that allow the business to thrive even when you’re not handling every detail yourself.
