Billionaire investor and “Shark Tank” star. Mark Cuban has certainly made his mark in the business world and now he is giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn directly from him.
On Thursday, Cuban and MasterClass announced a new class for subscribers on how to win big in business, with Cuban discussing everything from his healthcare company Cost Plus Drugs why is he not running for president?
The class will give entrepreneurs an opportunity to see inside his decision-making processes.
Cuban will also help viewers fine-tune their elevator pitches and provide guidance on how to find and build the right support team — all from the comfort of home.
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entrepreneur spoke with Cuban about the new class, his favorite business tips and what's next.
Entrepreneur: Congratulations to the new class with MasterClass! How did this idea come together – what has been your favorite part of working on this endeavor?
Mark Cuban: I've been following MasterClass for a while now – I'm a huge fan of the company and jumped at the chance to teach a class. The team did a great job of getting me to dig in and share things I haven't talked about before. I'm confident that entrepreneurs and people who are just interested in business in general will learn a thing or two.
What is tip or lesson no. 1 that you hope your MasterClass attendees will walk away with?
Lesson no. 1 thing I hope MasterClass members take away from this is that entrepreneurship is not just a career, it's a lifestyle that you have to fully commit to. It's something that can be sweeping, but I've been in those shoes. By grinding it out every day, it's that fire and determination that can lead to amazing results and successes.
Watch the trailer for Cuban's MasterClass below:
What would you say was the worst business advice you ever received?
“Follow your passion”. We all hear it a lot. The reality is that most people's passions will not be a business or a career. If you want to know what you can turn into a business or career, look at where you spend your time. Where we spend our time is where we are interested in improving. This is what we enjoy. Being good at something you love is what will lead to success.
Don't follow your passion. Track your efforts.
This can be a difficult mindset to get into when you are an Entrepreneur. Do you have any tips on how to use a business mindset when dealing with other life challenges and distractions?
It is difficult. You need to find “me time” where you can focus on what you need to learn, do and focus on.
Aside from hard work and dedication, what would you say is the key skill all successful entrepreneurs must have?
Sales. No business has ever succeeded with our sales.
It's essential and something business owners on Shark Tank must do to get your attention. When someone is pitching the show, what are the top three things you look for before you decide to make an offer?
I look for a few different things before I make an offer. Is this unique or compelling? Is this a product or service I can sell the heck out of? What will this take in terms of being worth my time and worth the economy?
More importantly, though, the thing that excites me the most is when I'm listening to the pitch and my first thought is, “damn, why didn't I think of that?”
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If you weren't in the business world, what do you think you would be doing as a career?
Of course I would be an Oscar winning actor! (Just kidding!) After I got to college, I really never thought I'd be anything other than an entrepreneur.
What was the most difficult business decision you ever made?
Closing a business or laying people off. Both are incredibly painful.
How do you keep yourself in a positive space when making such a decision? Is there a mantra or thought you always say to yourself when making a tough business or investment decision?
Know your business and industry better than anyone else. When you're competing, you want to be better prepared and more educated than anyone. This is where your advantage will come from.
For any aspiring entrepreneurs out there looking for their next great endeavor, what is one industry where you see potential for growth and profitability in the coming years that people may not be aware of or consider?
AIAI and AI. There are two types of companies in this world. Those who are great at AI and everyone else.
This interview has been cropped and lightly edited for clarity.