THE RECAP

In this episode, serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Chris J. Snook welcomes RT Custer to the inaugural episode of Increase the Dosage. RT Custer is the founder and CEO of Vortic Watch Company, an organization that salvages and restores antique American pocket watches and turns them into one-of-a-kind wrist watches.

Chris and RT discuss the importance of setting realistic expectations within the framework of running a business. They bond over their common love of entrepreneurship and their insatiable thirst of business knowledge. Finally, RT shares with the audience some sage advice on how they can increase the dosage and achieve success in business.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• 00:34 – Host Chris J. Snook welcomes listeners to the inaugural episode of Increase the Dosage
• 01:08 – Introducing today’s guest, RT Custer
• 02:57 – The moment RT realized he wanted to be an entrepreneur
• 04:21 – How RT initially entered the entrepreneurial space
• 09:18 – Initial lessons RT learned from working as a paint salesman in college
• 10:43 – The importance of setting realistic expectations
• 15:16 – Mastering the art of effective and nuanced communication
• 18:12 – The goal of Vortic Watch Company
• 20:33 – A recent change RT made to help manage customer expectations
• 23:44 – How RT and his team have grown and evolved over the years
• 26:52 – RT speaks to challenges, struggles and failures he’s experienced as an entrepreneur
• 34:36 – How RT rebounded from these failures
• 36:23 – RT teases the launch of the Journeyman Series
• 37:13 – Practices RT employs to reenergize his creativity as an entrepreneur
• 40:55 – Chris and RT bond over their shared entrepreneurial ‘disease’
• 41:53 – Chris praises RT’s business
• 43:29 – RT shares with the audience what they can do to increase the dosage
• 45:31 – Chris thanks RT for joining the show

TWEETABLE QUOTES

• “The thing that you said that immediately hooked me was, ‘We don’t sell timepieces, we sell conversation pieces.’” (02:36)

• “If I say one thing in the sales process to a customer and then something else happens, right, wrong or indifferent, that was not the expectation of the customer.” (11:56)

• “I’m three steps ahead. My brain thinks five years from now. Like, I am already running a watch company that has five hundred employees and is running a massive manufacturing company with fifty machines and financing isn’t an issue.” (12:44)

• “What I’ve learned about entrepreneurs is that, one way or the other, they always get where they’re going to go. It just never goes the way they say.” (14:38)

• “Vortic Watch Company salvages and restores antique American pocket watches and turns them into one of a kind wrist watches. That’s what we do. It’s a very niche thing.” (18:24)

• “It’s fascinating that whole communication side. The root of it is setting the right expectation, but at the same time it tears me apart because if I could do it all, if I could clone myself, I would send the customers an update every seven days.” (22:29)

• “On Kickstarter, if you hit the goal that’s a really good thing and that means the product’s going to get made. But, ya know, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s enough money to make the product.” (29:35)

• “Failing slow is the worst.” (33:50)

• “I get reenergized by hearing about other people’s businesses and especially by helping other people and helping other entrepreneurs specifically.” (38:11)

• “Everyone knows someone that likes watches.” (44:04)

LINKS MENTIONED

Chris’ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjsnook/

RT’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtcuster/

RT’s Instagram – @rtcuster https://www.instagram.com/rtcuster/

Vortic Watch Company’s Website – https://vorticwatches.com/startupdrugz

Use code "startupdrugz" for a free gift with purchase of any Vortic watch

Vortic Watch Instagram – @vorticwatches https://www.instagram.com/vorticwatches/

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