Real Estate goddess Barbara Corcoran likes to joke about her humble beginnings. Just ask and she'll gladly brag about how she earned straight Ds in high school and college and had 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job, however, that made her a business legend and an inspiration to working moms everywhere.

With determination, her trademark wit and passion for profit, Barbara turned a $1,000 loan from a boyfriend into a $5 billion real estate empire called The Corcoran Group. Twenty five years after making her first deal, Barbara sold the company for $70 million. She's also a best selling author as well as a real estate contributor to the "Today" show -- doing all that while being a devoted mother to her two children.

Whew, it's enough to make you want to take a nap.

But there's no napping for this powerhouse. Barbara works hard, plays hard and insists one of the most valuable secrets of success is to compartmentalize. Forget about those multitasking moms who brag they can play Barbies with their right hand while closing a deal on their Blackberry with their left. Barbara says, yes -- be the best mother you can be as well as the best business woman you can be -- just not at the same time.

 Barbara Corcoran's Tips For balancing Business and Babies:

1. Separate your business from your baby. When you're at work, be 100% mentally at work. When you're with your baby, be 100% with your baby.

2. Don't take your cell phone to the park. If there's really an emergency, you can borrow a cell phone from one of the other dozen mothers all talking on their phones and ignoring their kids.

3. When you're feeling guilty for walking out the door for the office while your baby is screaming, ask yourself the only important question: "Is she in pain?" If she's not, you're an adequate mother -- and keep walking.