As told to Christine Lagorio-Chafkin
BEFORE SHE WAS real estate royalty turned star, Barbara Corcoran accepted $1,000 from her then-boyfriend to quit her waitressing job and start her first real estate business alongside him. She led her second firm, the Corcoran Group, for 23 years, growing it into the largest real estate group in New York City before—and is eager to lend some helpful advice to up-and-coming founders.
