What does it really take to grow an agency past seven figures? Spoiler: it’s not sipping mai tais on the beach while your team handles everything.

In this episode of Coffee with Corey, Corey sits down with Peter, a 12-year agency owner who’s built an 18-person team, scaled past seven figures, and learned some hard but powerful lessons along the way. From the myths of “easy growth” to the reality of burnout and breakthroughs, this is a candid look at what agency life is actually like and how to thrive in it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• ☕ The myths vs. realities of agency ownership – why growth isn’t as glamorous as it looks from the outside.
  
• 🚀 The sales process shift that unlocked growth – how Peter went from coasting on referrals to building a scalable outbound system.
  
• 🎁 Gift-based outbound in action – why sending gifts beats cold calls, and how it reflects the client experience.
  
• 🤖 AI as an agency growth engine – the surprising ways Peter’s team uses AI across every department to go faster and deliver better results.
  
• 💡 The underrated skills of agency founders – from listening to specialization, and why nobody ever really “feels cut out” for the job.
  
• 🔥 Candid founder moments – the dark times when Peter considered giving up, and what kept him going.
  

Rapid Fire Highlights

• Most overrated advice: “If you build it, they will come.”
  
• Most underrated skill: Listening.
  
• Weirdest place for a client call: Almost everywhere across the U.S., but never the restroom.
  
• What Peter would whisper to every new founder: Nobody feels cut out for you to build the plane while flying it.
  

⏱ Episode Chapters

00:22 The Myth of “Easy” Agency Growth

01:46 Dark Times and Not Giving Up

06:15 Breaking the 7-Figure Barrier

08:12 Gift-Based Outbound Strategy

09:55 How AI is Transforming Agencies

13:00 Lessons in Leadership and Listening

16:00 What’s Next for His Agency's Growth

If you’re an agency owner (or thinking about becoming one), this episode is equal parts inspiration and reality check. You’ll leave with practical ideas for growth, a deeper appreciation of what it really takes, and maybe even a laugh over Corey’s coffee obsession and Peter’s “black eye” caffeine order.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to scale your agency with clarity, grit, and the right systems in place.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtdIf-TKvE

📩 Have a question or reflection on the episode?

We’d love to hear from you.

Reach out to: http://coreyquinn.com/contact

Resources & Links

🎥 Watch the full YouTube episode here: https://youtu.be/IjIOmiaW6CI

📝 Get the Focus Finder Worksheet: https://deep-specialization.kit.com/vertical-focus-finder-worksheet

📘 Discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market: https://www.anyonenoteveryone.com

Your agency isn’t growing as fast as it could not because of talent, but because you haven’t specialized deeply enough. In this episode, Corey Quinn breaks down his proven 3-step Focus Finder system for choosing the right vertical market.

This is the exact framework that helped scale Scorpion from $20M to $200M and that Corey’s clients use to grow 93% faster than generalist agencies, win more referrals, and command premium prices.

If you’ve ever hesitated to niche down because of “fear of missing out,” this episode will show you how to confidently choose a vertical that fuels both growth and fulfillment.

⏱ Episode Chapters

[00:00] Why Agencies Struggle to Grow – The hidden cost of staying a generalist and why specialization leads to faster growth and higher valuations.

[01:00] The Riches Are in the Niches – Key data showing why specialized agencies outperform generalists.

[01:45] Step 1 – Gather the Wisdom in Your Business – How to use your own client data, retention, and team feedback to narrow options.

[02:30] Example: Scorpion’s Home Services Focus – Why revenue, retention, and margin made it the obvious choice.

[02:55] Step 2 – Do You Give a Damn? – Why passion, empathy, and personal connection to a vertical matter for long-term success.

[03:15] Real-Life Examples – From Chris Yano choosing home services to digital health agencies aligning with lifestyle values.

[03:45] Step 3 – Run the Numbers – A simple calculation to project realistic 3-year revenue potential in any vertical. [04:30] Example: The $7.9M Plumbing Opportunity – How focus creates both revenue and profitability through repeatable systems.

[05:00] The Confidence Factor – Why clarity on numbers eliminates guesswork and boosts certainty in your specialization path.

👉 If you’re ready to stop being a generalist and start building authority in one market, this episode gives you the exact framework to choose your vertical with confidence.

Resources & Links

🎥 Watch the full YouTube episode here: https://youtu.be/IjIOmiaW6CI

📝 Get the Focus Finder Worksheet: https://deep-specialization.kit.com/vertical-focus-finder-worksheet

📘 Discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market: https://www.anyonenoteveryone.com

Most salespeople lose deals in the first five minutes, often without realizing it. Why? Because they fail to build trust fast enough. In this episode, Corey Quinn shares his Six-Slide Trust Multiplier, a proven framework that engineers trust early in the sales process, helping you double your close rate and dramatically shorten your sales cycle.

With 30 years in high-ticket sales, 15,000+ clients served, and experience scaling Scorpion from $20M to $200M, Corey reveals how you can transform cold, skeptical prospects into eager buyers, all in the first 10 minutes of your call.

⏱ Episode Chapters

[00:00] Why Most Sales Calls Fail – The hidden cost of resistance and how trust not tactics closes deals.

[02:00] The Three Sales You Must Win – Why your buyer has to buy you, your company, and your solution.

[03:30] Slide 1 – Agenda – How to establish professionalism, structure, and psychological safety.

[04:45] Slide 2 – Company Credentials – Proving authority with data, credibility markers, and industry expertise.

[06:00] Slide 3 – Common Pains – Naming your buyer’s top challenges before they do (and why it builds instant trust).

[07:30] Slide 4 – Signature System – Moving from “services” to a named, scalable framework that solves their problems.

[09:00] Slide 5 – Client Success Story – Showing proof, not promises, with relatable transformations.

[10:55] Slide 6 – Transition to Discovery – Shifting focus to your prospect’s world while lowering resistance.

[13:00] Why It Works – The psychology behind engineered trust, clarity, and flipping the sales dynamic.

[14:00] Proven Results – How this system doubled close rates at Scorpion and freed founders from sales calls.

👉 If you’re ready to stop losing deals in the first five minutes and start closing high-ticket clients with ease, this episode is your playbook.

Resources & Links

🎥 Watch the full YouTube episode here: https://youtu.be/cU17XFxVlKI

📄 Get the 6-Slide Trust Multiplier Guide: https://trustmultiplier.guide

Most agencies struggle with sales because they fall into the generalist trap, saying “yes” to every client, creating inefficiencies, and burning out. In this episode, Corey Quinn reveals the deep specialization flywheel that flips the script helping you attract premium clients, scale with systems, and position yourself as the go-to authority in your niche.

Drawing on his 20+ years in the agency space (including scaling Scorpion from $20M to $200M), Corey walks you step-by-step through how strategic specialization transforms agency growth.

⏱ Episode Chapters

[00:00] The Generalist Trap – Why saying “yes” to everyone leads to chaos, inefficiency, and client churn.

[04:35] The Wrong Fix – Why more leads, offers, and ads won’t solve your sales problem.

[06:01] Strategic Specialization – How to choose a vertical market and position your agency for authority.

[08:03] The Deep Specialization Flywheel – The repeatable process of focus → expertise → systems → leverage → authority → premium pricing → reinvestment.

[10:55] Real-World Example – How Scorpion turned attorneys into $300k+ lifetime clients while competitors lost them at $24k.

[12:23] The Payoff – Building a sustainable, premium-priced agency that clients chase instead of the other way around.

👉 If you’re ready to escape the generalist trap and start scaling with deep specialization, this episode is your roadmap.

📩 Have a question or reflection on the episode? We’d love to hear from you.

Reach out to: http://coreyquinn.com/contact

Resources & Links

🎥 Watch the full YouTube episode here: https://youtu.be/FBgwg77htvY

📊 Take the Agency Growth Scalability Score Quiz: www.agencygrowthscore.com

After over 100 episodes, The Deep Specialization Podcast wraps its journey with a powerful finale, a curated highlight reel featuring some of the most impactful voices in the agency world. In this special episode, host Corey Quinn revisits key moments from six standout interviews to answer the central question that has driven the show since day one:

“What is the benefit of taking a vertical approach to owning an agency?”

This episode captures the lessons, mindset shifts, and strategies that helped these agency leaders unlock scale, authority, and long-term success in their niches.

You'll hear insights from:

• Jamie Adams (CRO, Scorpion) on specializing, clarifying TAM, and delivering repeatable value
  
• Alex Membrillo (CEO, Cardinal Digital) on how niching into healthcare transformed his agency
  
• Chris Yano (Founder, Rhino Strategic Solutions) on the power of reputation, focus, and giving back
  
• Ron Callis Jr. (CEO, One Firefly) on deep empathy, the truth about business ownership, vertical mastery, and premium positioning
  
• Arielle Cohen (Co-Founder, Marketing 411) on scaling fast by solving one market’s exact pain points
  
• Austin Houser (Founder, Base Coat Marketing) on building a seven-figure agency in under a year through specialization and mindset resilience

You'll also hear a few final words from Corey as he reflects on the show's impact and shares what’s next.

Whether you're still straddling multiple verticals or looking to double down on your niche, this episode is designed to inspire and equip you with battle-tested insights for the road ahead.

⏱ Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Overview
01:28 – Benefits of Verticalizing a Business
03:28 – Scaling Customer Service in a Vertical Market
05:08 – Building Confidence and Expertise in a Vertical
07:57 – Specializing in Healthcare
11:59 – Marketing Strategies for Healthcare Clients
15:24 – Challenges and Advice for Verticalizing
19:14 – Motivation and Giving Back
20:54 – Building a Legacy Through Giving Back
22:00 – Challenges and Realities of Small Business Ownership
24:06 – The Joy of Supporting Small Businesses
25:06 – The Importance of Niche Expertise
25:59 – Creating Value and Charging a Premium
28:58 – Merging and Scaling a Business
33:49 – Leveraging AI in Marketing
37:18 – Hiring and Overcoming Seasonality
38:41 – The Benefits of Vertical Market Specialization
41:16 – Podcast Evolution and Future Plans

📩 Have a question or reflection on the episode?
We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to: http://coreyquinn.com/contact

This podcast was produced by Reignite Media.

Want to know how ready your agency is to scale? Take the FREE Agency Growth Scalability Score assessment and find out where you stand across Positioning, Marketing, and Sales Systems. 🎯 It only takes 5 minutes, and you’ll get custom growth advice based on your results. https://geni.us/niN8d

Join Corey Quinn and Austin Houser, Founder and CEO of Base Coat Marketing, to explore his inspiring journey from side hustle to specialized agency success. Austin opens up about how a life-threatening health crisis reshaped his mindset and pushed him to build with purpose.

He shares how focusing on a single industry transformed his business, the power of personal development, and how AI is helping him (and other agency owners) deliver better client results. For agency founders navigating growth, burnout, or big life changes, Austin’s story is a powerful reminder of what really matters.

- Specialization as a Growth Lever — Why choosing one industry helped Base Coat dominate.

- Health as a Wake-Up Call — How a personal crisis redefined Austin’s priorities and path.

- Sales = Survival — Why mastering sales is essential for agency growth.

- AI for Better Marketing — How automation is reshaping quality control and delivery.

- Building a Business That Serves Your Life — Not the other way around.

- Family as Fuel — The deeper “why” that keeps Austin pushing forward.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Check out Base Coat Marketing: https://www.basecoatmarketing.com

- Connect with Austin Houser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinhouser

- Follow Austin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinjhouser

- Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austin.houser

- Listen to our episode with Josh Nelson of Seven Figure Agency: https://www.coreyquinn.com/blog/podcast-proven-7-figure-agency-roadmap

📘Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.com

Join Corey Quinn and Chris Martinez, CEO & Founder of Bloom, to hear how he transformed a turbulent past into a thriving agency career. Chris opens up about the power of financial literacy, why “Facts Not Feelings” drives every major decision, and what it really takes to build an agency that can grow (and sell). From pricing strategy to personal therapy, Chris shares bold insights every agency owner needs to hear.

- From Trouble to Triumph — How Chris turned personal adversity into entrepreneurial drive.

- Facts Not Feelings — Why this philosophy is key to smart, emotion-free decision-making.

- Financial Literacy for Founders — The metrics every agency owner must master to grow and sell.

- Building a Sellable Agency — What makes a business attractive to buyers (and what doesn’t).

- Therapy and Leadership — How self-work translates into stronger leadership and better business.

- Team Over Everything — Why assembling the right people boosts value and scalability.

- Market-Rate Mindset — Why paying yourself properly reveals your agency’s true worth.

- Plan It, Prove It — The importance of documenting strategy before making big moves.

- Profit with Purpose — Why Chris plans to donate the majority of his wealth to charity.

- Check out Bloom: https://bloompartners.io

- Buy “Facts Not Feelings” by Chris Martinez: https://www.amazon.com/Facts-Not-Feelings-Mastering-Marketing/dp/B0DPCRHY87

- Connect with Chris Martinez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismartinez13

- Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisfrombloom

- Listen to Operation Agency Freedom Podcast: https://bloompartners.io/our-podcast

📘Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.com

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Join Corey Quinn and Stewart Gandolf, CEO of Healthcare Success, to explore how AI is revolutionizing healthcare marketing. From advanced content creation tools to enhanced patient experience and streamlined operations, Stewart shares how agencies can thrive by embracing innovation. Learn the critical role of specialization, the merging of tech and healthcare, and how trust and adaptability will define the next generation of agency success.

• AI Meets Healthcare Marketing — Why AI isn’t just a trend but a transformative force in the industry.
• Next-Gen Content Creation — How AI tools are speeding up and scaling creative output.
• Innovation as Culture — Why embracing change is now essential for agency survival.
• Improving Patient Experience — How AI-driven insights are transforming the way patients engage with providers.
• The Tech-Enabled Agency — Why future healthcare marketing requires a fusion of strategy and technology.
• Specialization Still Wins — How staying focused gives agencies a competitive edge in a crowded market.
• Trust is the New Currency — What it takes to earn and keep client confidence in a fast-evolving space.
• Smart Hiring, Strong Teams — Why great talent is more important than ever in the AI era.

• Checkout Healthcare Success: https://healthcaresuccess.com
• Connect with Stewart Gandolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartgandolf
• Listen to the Healthcare Success podcast: https://healthcaresuccess.com/podcast
• Google NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google

Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.com

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.