Lyle Hauser

Stay true to those things that inspire and motivate you and waste no time or thought on negative influences that conspire to divert your attention from your goals.

 

As CEO of The Vantage Group, a South Florida-based private equity firm and specialized business consultancy, Lyle Hauser is forever seeking to tap into the latest trends and technologies.

Hauser, who founded the firm in 1998, has followed an investment strategy focused on offering capital and capital formation advice to early stage companies, particularly those geared toward making a profound and positive impact on the world.

Known for his tireless work ethic, he readily admits that not every investment he has made during his career has hit it big, but believes he has learned and grown from each and every one of those experiences.

Hauser’s investments run the gamut of global markets, but at present he has zeroed in on such verticals as Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT), Cannabis and the Internet of Things (IoT)/Connected Devices.

He sees DLT as a game-changing force in global economics, and believes the IOT will in time impact every aspect of human life. As for cannabis, he is quite certain that the stigma associated with the plant is fast becoming a thing of the past, as more and more people reach an understanding of its benefits. At present he is concentrating his efforts on Cannatech (i.e., technology and innovation) and cannabidiol (CBD), the compounds in the cannabis plant that make the greatest medicinal and therapeutic impact.

In general, he has reached the point where he understands the highs and lows of the business of investing, but remains energized by the many endeavors he has taken on — endeavors that he has undertaken on a global, national and local scale and that, he hopes, will have a wide-ranging impact on people.

Hauser, who attended the University of Miami, has in the course of his two-plus decades as an investor built on those lessons, while learning many more. He now shares all he has learned with rising entrepreneurs.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

The Vantage Group was born from my desire to create wealth by melding many of my personal passions, including game-changing technologies, investing, corporate finance and dealing with smart and creative people. The latter is perhaps the most fulfilling benefit of my business, as it allows me to collaborate with people ranging from young, enthusiastic entrepreneurs to highly accomplished industry pioneers on the global stage.

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

Owning and operating my own private equity firm provides me with a great deal of flexibility, enabling me to have quality time with my family while also helping to advance the respective missions of my portfolio companies. Thankfully, there is little to no monotony in my business, so every day brings new challenges to address and new opportunities to explore. I rely heavily on the use of technology and my trusted core team of colleagues to support and optimize my business activities.

How do you bring ideas to life?

By investing or co-investing my money and applying my experience to the opportunities that most excite me, I have the privilege of playing a role in bringing new technologies and solutions to market that have the potential of changing the world.

What’s one trend that excites you?

At this point in time, I’m equally focused on supporting emerging opportunities in the Distributed Ledger Technology space and the explosive, high growth cannabis/CBD industry.

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

Every morning I sit at my desk and I write a To Do list. This includes calls I need to make, emails I need to send, meetings on my agenda, documents I need to read and even errands I need to run. I figure out which are the priorities and what order of execution is most efficient. Then I start.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Stay true to those things that inspire and motivate you and waste no time or thought on negative influences that conspire to divert your attention from your goals.

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

I am funny.

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

I highly recommend that people read and invest time in learning about new technologies that are positively impacting how we live, work and play. This valuable investment spent on learning and expanding/enhancing your knowledge base goes a long way when you are forced to tackle future obstacles to your success. So, read everything. Listen to smart people – even those who may have different points of view from you. And, endeavor to always be growing.

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

Conducting thorough due diligence is vital in my business. It is imperative that I fully grasp and appreciate the full scope and depth of an opportunity; like and respect the people associated with the opportunity; and intimately understand the possible challenges to success that may occur so that those challenges can be swiftly overcome.

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

I made a real estate investment that ended up costing more than I expected. I overcame it by taking a loss and moving on. In business, knowing when to cut your losses and moving on is key. Chasing a losing proposition is not productive.

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

My personal business philosophy is to keep my good ideas to myself. I can be hired as a consultant if anyone needs business advice. That’s one of the keys to my success!

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

Though a bit more than $100, I recently bought air pods and now I don’t know how I ever used the phone without them. Not having the phone attached to my ear has been a game changer. Now I can use/refer to the phone while I’m having a conversation.

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

Zoom Meeting and Active Collab. I have to have regular conference calls and share documents with business associates and colleagues who are located all around the world. These applications allow me to connect with people quickly and efficiently. It would be impossible to get things done (certainly in real time) if I had to travel to meet these people or rely on sending messages and waiting for replies.

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

“Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins.

What is your favorite quote?

“There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.”

Key learnings:

• Read and invest time in learning about new technologies that are positively impacting how we live, work and play.
• Chasing a losing proposition is not productive.
• Endeavor to always be growing.

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