Adam Long

Be more careful on who you partner with in pursuing your dreams. Some partnerships may look good at the onset, but can cause problems later along.

 

Adam Long is an investor, and the managing member at Oasis Capital LLC. He is also a board member at Old Main Capital LLC, and the President of Nations Advisory Partners for more than a decade. Other organizations where he has exercised his skills and experience include BMA Securities where he was Executive Vice President, Premonix where he serve for 4 years on the Board of Directors, Monarch Bay Securities where he was a managing director, Jera Securities where he was Chairman of the Board, and Wells Fargo where he was in sales.

Adam Long’s stellar career is based on skills and a strong passion for finance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Economics and Finance and has consistently been proactive in Finance since he graduated in 2003. At University of Kansas, Adam was the president of his business fraternity and sat on the ethics committee.

This passion and consistency have given him the ability to notice disruptions early, and capitalize on them for maximum profit. Besides work, Adam Long is a family man, and enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three children. He also frequently donates to charities and regularly attends charity events in his locality and beyond. Long is also a mentor to young people who have an interest in finance through University of Kansas School of Business.

Where did the idea for Oasis Capital come from?

I got the idea for Oasis Capital LLC from the book Ready Player One (later made into a motion picture). I found the book captivating and decided to name my company after the fictional virtual world that this movie relates to.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I spend the better part of my day on the phone, getting updates on companies that I have invested in, and those that I would like to invest in, in the future. To make my time productive, I have hired people who help me out with everyday operations. At the moment, I have around 10 people working for me, and they handle various functions ranging from back office support, accounting, trading and deal generation.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by relying on my past experiences. For instance, I can look at a business, and based on my experience with similar businesses, I am able to come up with ideas on how to structure our investments in a way that meet the expectations of that business. It’s a tough thing to do in this line of business, but so far my approach works.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I have always been excited by disruptive markets. Disruption happens every few years, and it creates lots of opportunities.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I work very hard. I am always willing to put in the extra work and have lesser free time than most people.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be more careful on who you partner with in pursuing your dreams. Some partnerships may look good at the onset, but can cause problems later along.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Trump is doing a good job. The media may bash him often but truth be told, our country is stronger under him.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I always follow up on my clients, and treat everyone with respect. This helps in building valuable networks that are useful in growing a business. I would recommend this to all entrepreneurs.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I always strive to deliver a higher quality service than my competitors. To achieve this, I invest time and resources in understanding the market better than others. Experience has taught me that lacking a grasp of one’s business is the biggest risk to business survival.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I lost a business in my 20’s due to market forces. I refused to settle for a 9 to 5 pay check to cover living expenses as I rebuilt and because of that, I was able to eventually recover and rebuild (although it was much more challenging to do so). Nonetheless, I learnt my lessons, and I am now a better person.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Mmmh can’t really think of one. Besides, I am an entrepreneur and if I had one, I would capitalize on the opportunity.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Can’t pinpoint a specific $100 expenditure, but I recently spend a few hundred dollars taking my wife out for dinner. Talking to her in a quiet place, and bonding without the interruptions of everyday business was worth it.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Quotestream and Realtick. I find it very useful in getting real-time market quotes and also for doing technical and fundamental analysis on the companies we invest in and look to invest in.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I would recommend Lords of Finance: The bankers who broke the world by Liaquat Ahamed. It’s a book that can give you an inside look into how finance works, and the role of central banks in the global economy.

What is your favorite quote?

I don’t do quotes.

Key Learnings:

• Capitalizing on opportunities
• Taking risks
• Persistence