Mark Cuban Reveals No. 1 Trait You Need to Achieve a More Successful Career, and He Learned It at Age 12

By Jessel Renolayan

Nov 18, 2023 08:50 AM EST

In an unexpected turn of events that sheds light on the unconventional path to success, Mark Cuban, NBA's Dallas Mavericks owner and co-founder of Cost Plus Drugs, revealed a pivotal life lesson he learned at age 12, built by dancing.

Cuban revealed that his mother played a crucial role in guiding him toward this transformative trait for success, using dance as a tool to build the businessman's confidence.

This revelation provides a fascinating insight into the distinctive experiences that shaped the entrepreneurial spirit and confidence of the renowned business magnate.

Last year, during an appearance on NBC's "TODAY," Cuban shared that his mother imparted a valuable lesson to him at the age of 12 when he chipped his two front teeth and had to wear "silver stainless steel" caps.

Reflecting on that period, he said, "I was a little short chubby kid [and] my parents didn't have a lot. But they're like, 'We've got to build your confidence.'"

(Photo : Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Mother of Mark Cuban Helps Him Built His Confidence

To build his confidence, Mark Cuban's mother taught him the box step by allowing Cuban to stand on his feet. CNBC reported that this unconventional dance lesson conveyed a profound message, highlighting his competence, rhythm, and remarkable ability to acquire new skills quickly.

Cuban fondly reminisces about this unconventional dance lesson as a transformative experience that extended beyond the dance floor, instilling a sense of self-assurance and adaptability that would later contribute to his success.

The bolstered self-assuredness cultivated through these experiences played a pivotal role in creating Cuban's various businesses. Before even completing high school, Cuban successfully ventured into selling garbage bags, coins, and stamps.

This newfound confidence became a driving force, propelling him toward entrepreneurial endeavors and laying the groundwork for his success in diverse business ventures.

Confidence Really Does Breed Success, Expert Says

Renowned workplace and leadership expert Bonnie Low-Kramen, author of "Staff Matters: People-Focused Solutions for the Ultimate New Workplace," asserts the profound connection between confidence and success.

In her insightful perspective, confidence not only serves as a catalyst for making decisive choices but also becomes the cornerstone for navigating the evolving landscape of the contemporary workplace.

As organizations continue to undergo transformative shifts, the significance of confidence takes center stage in shaping leaders capable of guiding their teams through challenges with resilience and cleverness.

In her book published in February, Low-Kramen asserts, "Confidence is serious business, and the single most important differentiator in the workplace." She emphasizes that a person with high confidence and lower abilities may secure a job over someone with low confidence and higher abilities.

She adds that building the trait of confidence is a gradual process, requiring time, patience, and persistence. According to Low-Kramen, this journey toward building confidence is a worthwhile endeavor, promising personal growth and a transformative shift in one's perception of self and capabilities.

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