Episode Details

This episode of the How To Succeed Podcast features watch entrepreneur Alan Tsao of the Tsao Baltimore Watch Company, tracing his journey from childhood fascination to launching a successful watch brand. After an initial manufacturing failure and losing early partners, Alan persisted, refined designs, leveraged mentorship, and achieved a breakout 2017 Kickstarter that far surpassed its goal via low-cost, gamified marketing.

Tsao built trust with global manufacturers through in-person visits, grew through proactive behaviors and strategic partnerships (National Bohemian, McCormick Old Bay Seasoning, the Baltimore Ravens, the Baltimore Orioles, and the University of Maryland Athletic Dept.), and is developing notable projects like a Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge watch - using actual bridge steel - with profits donated to victims' families after the fatal bridge disaster in March, 2024.

Join us, as Alan emphasizes attitude, learning from failure, community-building, and advises aspiring entrepreneurs to take action and, "Just Do It".

Chapter 1: Introduction to the How to Succeed Podcast

00:00:02 – 00:00:40 Dave Mattson frames the show's focus on the "success triangle" of attitudes, behaviors, and techniques. He sets expectations for peeling back how top performers think and act.

Chapter 2: Meet the Guest and Topic

00:00:40 – 00:01:15 Host Chris McDonell welcomes guest Alan Tsao of Tsao Baltimore Watch Company and outlines the plan to explore Alan's entrepreneurial journey. Alan acknowledges the journey's challenges and rewards.

Chapter 3: From Childhood Fascination to Passion Project

00:01:15 – 00:03:35 Alan traces his love of watches to a gift at age ten and explains his obsession with mechanical movements. As his career advanced, he built a 35–40 watch collection before deciding, with a nudge from his wife, to start designing his own watches.

Chapter 4: Early Missteps and Losing Initial Partners

00:03:35 – 00:07:03 While working in property management, Alan looped in executives as early partners and sourced a manufacturer via a quick Google search. The first prototypes were low quality, scaring off his partners; he refunded them and bootstrapped forward, seeking advice from other microbrands to refine designs and supply chain.

Chapter 5: Attitude—Learning From Failure and Pushing Forward

00:07:03 – 00:11:23 Prompted by Sandler's "attitude" lens, Alan reframes failure as learning rather than stopping. He emphasizes determination, confidence, and never giving up, aligning with the concept of "failing forward" to refine processes.

Chapter 6: Breakthrough Kickstarter and Lean Marketing

00:11:23 – 00:14:58 After vastly improved prototypes, Alan launched a 2017 Kickstarter with a $45,000 goal, surpassing it in three hours and finishing at ~$115,000. He attributes traction to a $500–$800 gamified referral campaign that