Quickfire Q +A with CNBC’s “The Money Honey” Maria Bartiromo

a.k.a. “The Money Honey”

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

I was the coat check girl at my father’s restaurant, the Rex Manor in Brooklyn.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH?

I am hardworking and gain a lot of strength by being a loving friend and daughter.

WHAT ARE YOU STILL WORKING TO REFINE?

Being late too often.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I love the urgency of covering news and I love covering economic issues. I love live TV and I love journalism.

WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST PART OF YOUR JOB? I have very fast and hard deadlines. So it’s “game on” 24/7. Also, I have the opportunity to interview global leaders and leading CEOs which requires a lot of preparation.

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS? My mother has always been my best role model. She is smart, hard working, loving and handles so much. My sister is my role model as well. She has raised three great kids and is a career woman. I have had others in business, including Diane Sawyer, Jack Welch and Dick Grasso.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS? My definition of success is not about material goods or riches. It’s about having a feeling of contentment and happiness about who you are in your heart.

HOW HAVE YOU ACHIEVED SUCCESS? Number one is I have pursued what I love. It is critical to love what you do. Then you have an easier time working hard because there are no shortcuts. These are some of the ways I have achieved success.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER? When I became the first person to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and was able to help democratize the markets. Giving access to the NYSE and to Wall Street’s morning calls helps to level the playing field for 100 million investors.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST RISK YOU’VE TAKEN IN YOUR CAREER?

Leaving CNN where I was a successful producer. I left to go on camera at CNBC and have been here now for almost 20 years.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME? Having many balls in the air all the time along with facing lots of deadlines. It’s a challenge to stay on top of everything.

HOW DO YOU RISE TO THOSE CHALLENGES? I try to calm down, take things very slowly and if I made a mistake, I try to learn from all experiences.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW 15 YEARS AGO?

That this too will pass. Don’t take everything so seriously. Just live your life with integrity, try to do the right thing, but don’t get overworked over the small stuff because it’s really a short life. And you have to live for today and cherish friends and family.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH?

I would like to be known as a pioneer in business. And an honest and good person.

Maria Bartiromo is the anchor of CNBC’s Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo, as well as host and managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo, recently rated the most watched financial news program in USA. Bartiromo also writes a monthly Q&A column One-on-One with Maria Bartiromo for USA Today. She sits on numerous boards and councils, and is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.