Robert Finlay is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lyra Intel, a CRE business intelligence solution designed to unlock property revenue potential. Lyra integrates with property management systems to provide actionable data within its state-of-the-art business intelligence platform. Rob is a serial entrepreneur who has concentrated on developing technology to optimize various facets of commercial real estate. Over the past 25 years, he has launched several tech startups. In 2000, Rob founded Commercial Defeasance (DefeaseWithEaseTM) disrupting the industry with a one stop solution for a complex commercial real estate process. DefeaseWithEase is responsible for thousands of expedited defeasance transactions across North America. Seven years later, Rob parlayed this success into another CRE disruptor with the launch of TCAM Asset Management, an independent investment management company focused on the affordable housing market. In 2015, Rob launched Investor Management Services (IMS), the fastest growing SaaS platform within the CRE space. Rob leads The Finlay Family Foundation, dedicated to promoting educational initiatives and assisting children and families in need. He is an active investor in several joint ventures and limited partnerships in the commercial real estate space.
Entrepreneurial Role Models:
Rob’s Dad and Grandfather
When business started difficulties overcame:
“I have been very fortunate to see needs in the market slightly earlier than others. So while that is a competitive first mover advantage its difficult because then you have to explain what you are doing. It’s not like I am selling a cell phone I am selling something that people haven’t seen. And I am also in an industry where technology is typically lagging the rest of the world.…[Listen for More]
Favourite Books:
- Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life Book by Spencer Johnson
- Who: The A Method for Hiring Book by Geoff Smart and Randy Street
Favourite Quote:
“to thine own self be true”
Recommended Online Resources:
Business Insider – is an American financial and business news website published by Insider Inc. It operates international editions in the UK, Australia, China, Germany, France, South Africa, India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nordics, Poland, Spain and Singapore.
Best Advice to Other Entrepreneurs:
Why are you starting this business? Are you really willing to sacrifice everything?… I see it on a daily basis where the owner is not true themselves, they misunderstand what being an entrepreneur really is. They only the benefit of jeeze you can take time off whenever you want, or you can do this whenever you want, or you can give yourself a pay raise whenever you want. The number one thing to thine own self be true. Really understand the undertaking that you are doing. If you feel comfortable, do it. Do it know, don’t wait because you will find every excuse not to do it…[Listen for More]
More About Robert Finlay:
Neil’s Quote at the Beginning:
“Increase answers to pressure” Sunday Adelaja
Other Quotes From the Chat with Robert Finlay:
- “I like the beginning part where you don’t know if you are going to make it”
- “there is no way I couldn’t have been an entrepreneur”
- “every penny that I had and I had earned went into starting that business”
- “I think there is an intellectual curiosity in stating businesses”
- “I know that an entrepreneur is willing to do anything to get that business going and to be successful. That success does not mean that the business is successful it just means that they will give it their all and everything that they have in order to make it successful”
- “I don’t think I would change anything because I enjoyed the journey. Because that journey is what compounds your knowledge blocks as you go forward”
- “there is no quick easy way, there is no get rich schemes in starting a business”
- “I think in general the secrets to success is finding something that you do enjoy doing…you have to be passionate about what you do and you have to be absolutely convinced that you will start this business no matter what you will do whatever it takes to make it successful”
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