[Podcast] From Rock Bottom to Record Revenue with Austin Houser

    CQ

    Corey Quinn

    Founder, Deep Specialization™

    After a layoff and brain tumor diagnosis, Austin Houser built a 7-figure agency in 11 months. A story of grit, clarity, and unstoppable agency growth.

    I walked away from this interview feeling humbled.

    Meet Austin Houser.

    • January 3rd: Laid off after 10 years in corporate

    • February 1st: Launched Base Coat Marketing

    • Six weeks later: Diagnosed with a brain tumor

    He could have quit. No one would have blamed him.

    Instead, he doubled down. He focused harder than ever. And within 11 months, he had:

     ✅ Scaled to 7 figures
    ✅ Built a 36-person team
    ✅ Recovered from brain surgery

    This conversation isn’t about tactics (though there are plenty). It’s about clarity, grit, and what it takes to keep moving when life throws its hardest punch.

    If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this will change your perspective.

    🎧 Listen to the episode now:

    Sharing is caring! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a few friends who might find it useful. Thanks!

    Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button!

    –CQ

    Share this article:
    CQ

    About Corey Quinn

    Founder, Deep Specialization™

    Corey helps founder-led agencies scale through Deep Specialization™ and programmatic M&A. Former CMO of Scorpion ($20M to $200M). Author of "Anyone, Not Everyone."

    “Is this a good fit for my agency?”

    I partner with founders who want to build something meaningful, not just a busier agency, but a stronger, more scalable business.

    You’re likely a strong fit if:

    • You’re generating $1M–$20M+ annually
    • You want to lead your market, not blend into it
    • You’re thinking about long-term scale, not short-term tactics
    • You want a growth engine that doesn’t rely on you
    • You value clarity over complexity
    • You’re open to advanced growth levers, including acquisitions
    Anyone Not Everyone Book Cover

    Escape Founder-Led Sales With My Free Book

    My bestselling book Anyone Not Everyone reveals the positioning and outbound system that helps founder-led agencies create predictable, scalable growth.

    Endorsed by Aaron Ross, Alan Dibb, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, and many other top thinkers in the agency world.

    ★★★★★
    Over 100 5-star Amazon reviews