Kevin O'Leary Quotes

Powerful Kevin O'Leary for Daily Growth

About Kevin O'Leary

Kevin O'Leary, born on July 9, 1954, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is a renowned businessman, author, and television personality widely recognized as one of the "Dragons" on CBC's reality show "Dragon's Den" and ABC's "Shark Tank." O'Leary earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Waterloo. After graduation, he worked in various roles before founding Softkey Software Products, a software company that specialized in educational computer games. In 1999, Softkey was merged with The Learning Company, creating the world's largest producer of CD-ROM-based learning products. The company was later sold to Mattel for $3.2 billion, providing O'Leary with a substantial fortune. O'Leary has written several books on business, entrepreneurship, and finance. His first book, "Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women, and Money," published in 2008, became a bestseller. In 2011, he released another best-selling book, "The Cold Hard Truth on Mastering the Entrepreneurial Journey." O'Leary also co-authored "The Game of Business" with his father, George O'Leary. As a television personality, O'Leary has become known for his straight-talking business advice and tough negotiation style. He is a regular guest on various financial news programs and has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2014, O'Leary ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the federal riding of Ottawa West-Nepean but was ultimately defeated by Paul Dewar of the New Democratic Party. Despite this setback, O'Leary remains a prominent figure in Canadian and international business circles. O'Leary continues to be an influential voice in the world of entrepreneurship and finance, inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs with his hard-hitting advice and relentless pursuit of success.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Don't bring me problems; bring me solutions."

This quote from Kevin O'Leary emphasizes a proactive approach to problem-solving, suggesting that instead of merely presenting issues or difficulties, one should focus on proposing viable solutions. It highlights the importance of being not just aware of problems but taking it a step further by finding practical ways to resolve them, thus demonstrating resourcefulness and initiative.


"The moment you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Life is too short to hang around regretting a decision."

This quote emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes instead of dwelling on them. It encourages individuals to grow, adapt, and continue with life's journey without being consumed by regret or past errors. The focus should be on moving forward productively, seizing new opportunities, and making better decisions in the future.


"You're not an entrepreneur if you don't have any risk."

The quote emphasizes that the defining characteristic of an entrepreneur is their willingness to take on risk, as it is inherent in starting and growing a business. By taking on risk, entrepreneurs are venturing into unknown territories where failure could occur. This attitude is crucial because without risk-taking, there can be no innovation or growth beyond established norms. Risk also implies opportunity for learning, resilience, and the potential for significant rewards. In essence, Kevin O'Leary suggests that if one doesn't embrace risk, they are not truly an entrepreneur but rather a follower of existing paths.


"Capitalism is not a dirty word."

The quote by Kevin O'Leary, "Capitalism is not a dirty word," emphasizes that capitalism, which refers to an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, is not inherently negative or morally corrupt. It suggests that the term 'capitalism' should be viewed positively and understood for its role in fostering innovation, creating jobs, and improving overall prosperity when managed responsibly. O'Leary implies that the system can work to the benefit of all members of society if it is guided by ethical principles, ensuring fairness, transparency, and a balance between profits and social responsibility.


"Successful people aren't lucky, they just have the ability to see opportunities and take action on them before others do."

This quote suggests that successful individuals don't attribute their achievements primarily to luck, but rather to their capacity to recognize opportunities ahead of others and act upon them promptly. Essentially, it highlights the importance of keen observation, quick decision-making, and proactivity in one's journey towards success.


Protecting Americans from harm goes beyond police and national defense. It's imperative that we not destroy the commons, the physical environment on which we rely.

- Kevin O'Leary

Harm, Protecting, Which, National Defense

Once Michigan stood proud. In addition to GM, Ford and Chrysler, it was home base for the United Auto Workers, a powerful escalator transporting hundreds of thousands of blue-collar workers into America's middle class.

- Kevin O'Leary

United, Transporting, Auto, Ford

I'm starting to think about things that I want to do, things that are fun. One of them is driving a car like a Porsche. I've driven a lot of cars - sedans, trucks and big family vehicles all year long. But there's nothing like a four-wheel-drive Porsche.

- Kevin O'Leary

Car, Big, Porsche, Vehicles

I'd rather invest in an entrepreneur who has failed before than one who assumes success from day one.

- Kevin O'Leary

Invest, Rather, Before, Assumes

There are a lot of impractical things about owning a Porsche. But they're all offset by the driving experience. It really is unique. Lamborghinis and Ferraris come close. And they are more powerful, but they don't handle like a Porsche.

- Kevin O'Leary

Porsche, Like, Offset, Handle

I do not own a single security anywhere that doesn't pay a dividend, and I formed a mutual-fund company with that very simple philosophy.

- Kevin O'Leary

Own, Pay, Very, Dividend

Television is the most interesting hobby I've ever had.

- Kevin O'Leary

Television, Most, Ever, Hobby

I have met many entrepreneurs who have the passion and even the work ethic to succeed - but who are so obsessed with an idea that they don't see its obvious flaws. Think about that. If you can't even acknowledge your failures, how can you cut the rope and move on?

- Kevin O'Leary

Idea, Cut, Entrepreneurs, Ethic

Working 24 hours a day isn't enough anymore. You have to be willing to sacrifice everything to be successful, including your personal life, your family life, maybe more. If people think it's any less, they're wrong, and they will fail.

- Kevin O'Leary

Maybe, Willing, Your, 24 Hours

Money is my military, each dollar a soldier. I never send my money into battle unprepared and undefended. I send it to conquer and take currency prisoner and bring it back to me.

- Kevin O'Leary

Conquer, Bring, Unprepared, Currency

Filming 'The Road to Riches' was surprisingly difficult for me. I learned that going back to career successes and failures can be emotionally exhausting as you are forced to revisit the euphoric highs and painful lows in high speed.

- Kevin O'Leary

Career, Back, Forced, Surprisingly

Many blue-collar families struggling to pay rent would be happy to skip paying optional union dues.

- Kevin O'Leary

Happy, Be Happy, Pay, Dues

I remember failing reading in school at a young age, and you just kinda get left behind and I felt helpless.

- Kevin O'Leary

Young, Behind, I Remember, Helpless

Having won re-election convincingly and against the economic odds, President Obama quickly made good on his promise of maintaining taxes as they are for the middle class while raising them on the wealthiest Americans.

- Kevin O'Leary

Against, Quickly, Obama, Odds

I want to go to bed richer than when I woke up. The pursuit of wealth is a wonderful thing, but the thing is you have to be honest about it, you have to tell the truth.

- Kevin O'Leary

Wealth, Bed, Woke, Richer

Know everything about the companies and people you are going to be negotiating with. Insist on getting the names of everyone participating in the negotiations. Leave no stone unturned; find out as much as you can.

- Kevin O'Leary

Everyone, Going, About, Stone

I think every entrepreneur in Canada owes the next generation a road map of how to do it again.

- Kevin O'Leary

Generation, Think, Next, Map

When you're travelling, your day is jam-packed. I just don't have time to whip out a PC all the time. But I can whip out a BlackBerry and tweet. I keep a constant diary of where I'm at and why I'm there.

- Kevin O'Leary

Why, Travelling, Constant, Blackberry

I think a book is your calling card, your business card.

- Kevin O'Leary

Business, Think, I Think, Calling Card

Unions are about the collective leverage, the power of numbers versus the power of capital.

- Kevin O'Leary

Unions, Leverage, Capital, Versus

When you're an investor, you can look at the quantitative and qualitative elements of an investment, but there's a third aspect: What you feel in your gut.

- Kevin O'Leary

Investment, Feel, Gut, Quantitative

In his first term, President Barack Obama played a cautious manager navigating the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression and cleaning up the messes left by President George W. Bush in Iraq and Afghanistan.

- Kevin O'Leary

Bush, Obama, Cautious, Economic

My worst fashion faux pas: probably orange shoes with white pants. I thought I looked spectacular.

- Kevin O'Leary

Thought, Pants, Looked, Faux

When I turned 50, something clicked in my head and I said, 'I'm not going to live to 100. I'm half-cooked already.' I set the family down and I said, 'Listen everybody, we're now entering the decade of Daddy. We're going to start doing things that I want to do.'

- Kevin O'Leary

Doing, Decade, Everybody, Clicked

All businesses require capital, management and labor, and business executives, wanting to grow and maintain profitable enterprises, have a strong incentive to keep costs, including labor, as low as possible.

- Kevin O'Leary

Wanting, Costs, Capital, Businesses

I have had some great successes and great failures. I think every entrepreneur has. I try to learn from all of them.

- Kevin O'Leary

Think, Some, I Think, Entrepreneur

Once in a while, I see my fellow TV investors praise a business just because they like the entrepreneur behind it. That kind of thinking might make you feel warm and fuzzy inside - but let's get back to reality.

- Kevin O'Leary

Behind, Feel, TV, Entrepreneur

Here's how I think of my money - as soldiers - I send them out to war everyday. I want them to take prisoners and come home, so there's more of them.

- Kevin O'Leary

Money, Think, Here, Everyday

There are a lot of idiot fund managers out there who add no value to the process at all.

- Kevin O'Leary

Process, Add, Lot, Managers

Software is becoming no different than a videotape or a record album or a paperback book, and not all of us are ready for that change.

- Kevin O'Leary

Software, Album, Becoming, Paperback

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