JOY MANGANO

When I look back, some of the greatest people in the history of the world have created things where paths have never been with such resiliency.

It's common for people to start questioning themselves. As a female, I'm going to offer the advice I gave myself: You look at your strengths, you look at your goals, and accept that you are who you are. Be true to that.

Robert De Niro, I have loved this man forever. I mean, I think I have seen the 'Godfather' 300 times, but he is so special.

I'm a firm believer in the circle of commerce.

I definitely don't need therapy in life because I have gone through every little corner of my life.

Overcome obstacles one at a time: Sometimes the end goal becomes too daunting, so take things one step at a time and overcome each obstacle as you get to it.

There is something special when creative people get together.

I would love to see every woman feel that she knows who she is and how she wants to lead. Every part of me is passionate about having the ability to do what I never could do when I was young.

I grew up with an Italian family in an era when a woman's path was laid out for her: You got married and had children. Simple, right? Then I got to a point around the age of 30 when I had three little children and was a single mom, and I realized life was not so simple.

Your destination might not end up being exactly what you envisioned to start with, but if you stick it out and work through the challenges, what you end up with will be far better than you could have ever imagined.

When I'm talking about a product, before it was a product, it was in my brain. So if I have an inspiration, I will literally get up in the middle of the night, and I'll dream about my customer... I don't feel like it's selling. I feel like it's talking about my children.

As single-mom female inventor, there was no path for that, so really I don't think people took me seriously for a really long time. Certainly the Miracle Mop being my first successful product, people started to pay attention, and I guess now they really pay attention.

I've been working on the new Miracle Mop for many years.

Early on, QVC was the most appealing medium for me because it allowed me to share the stories behind my products and directly communicate the features and benefits.

As natural as it is for a parent to talk about their child, it is for me to talk about my product.

The Miracle Mop created an entirely new category of stick goods - the twist mop. And when I demonstrated it for people, they'd invariably say, 'I have to have that.'

I've stood up in front of America for 25 years, and I wish I could bring everybody into my home that I have touched in my career. That would be an amazing thing.

I think if you believe in something hard enough, it'll work.

I've been told I miss every pass made at me! It would be wonderful to have a partner, but in my mind, it has to be like making a product. The product has to be meaningful, impact people - it has to be a great product.

I am of the philosophy that if you work really hard and focus on things, you will get there in some form or fashion.

Trust your instincts: If your instincts have always served you well, trust them and follow them.

I was just was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water, ringing out a mop. So, I said, 'There's gotta be a better way.'

You can tell when somebody's authentic about what they're saying.

I am an entrepreneur. Beyond that, I am a mother and part of a wonderful family that is part of a wonderful business.

I'll see somebody struggling with something, and it doesn't matter if it's ironing or mopping or traveling, my brain just starts to percolate.