Manage episode 522452242 series 2904935
What happens when a medical device executive walks away from a stable 17-year career to build a digital marketing agency in one of the most complex industries on Earth? In this compelling episode of The Proven Entrepreneur Show, host Don Williams sits down with Saul Marquez, founder and CEO of Outcomes Rocket, to uncover the untold story of pivoting, perseverance, and the power of trusting your gut in healthcare entrepreneurship.
Before he founded Outcomes Rocket, Saul Marquez spent 17 years in medical devices, living what many would call a "dream career." In this candid conversation with host Don Williams on The Proven Entrepreneur Show, Saul shares how he walked away from that security to build a specialist healthcare marketing agency serving health tech, medical device companies, and ambulatory provider groups. If you've ever felt torn between a safe path and a bigger vision, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way.
You'll hear Saul break down his simple decision framework of "dreams and data"—how he used both gut instinct and real-world evidence from over 2,000 podcast interviews with healthcare leaders to validate his leap into healthcare entrepreneurship. The discussion dives deep into health tech marketing, medical device marketing, and why "you sell like you buy" is one of the most practical mindset checks for any founder, CEO, or marketing leader. They unpack why "cheap marketing" is so expensive, when to stop DIYing and hire real experts, and how to think about podcasts and webinars for lead generation in today's healthcare landscape.
Saul also shares a raw story about a webinar gone wrong—a painful early failure that turned into a long-term client relationship and bulletproof SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) through radical ownership. Along the way, Don and Saul talk about comfort zones, "burn the boats" moments, choosing mentors wisely, and what big thinkers in healthcare are really struggling with behind the scenes. This conversation covers essential topics for anyone navigating the intersection of healthcare business growth and digital transformation.
What You'll Learn:
- How to validate a business idea using the "dreams and data" framework before taking the leap
- Why healthcare commercialization requires strategic marketing partnerships, not budget solutions
- The psychological barriers keeping healthcare professionals from becoming successful entrepreneurs
- How B2B healthcare marketing differs from other industries and why it requires specialized expertise
- The role of content marketing, webinars, and podcasts in healthcare lead generation
- Why 10X growth is easier than 2X growth—and what that means for your strategy
- How to recover from catastrophic failures and turn them into competitive advantages
- The importance of surrounding yourself with mentors who've already achieved your goals
- Practical strategies for health tech and medical device company growth
- The "three M's of leadership": Mindset, Mission, and Methodology
Why This Episode Matters:
This isn't generic entrepreneurship advice—it's a masterclass in healthcare business strategy from someone who's built a thriving agency while serving some of the most complex organizations in the industry. If you're a health tech founder, medical device company leader, healthcare CEO, ambulatory provider, or anyone in the healthcare sales space wondering why your marketing isn't working, this conversation will rewire how you think about growth.
Subscribe to The Proven Entrepreneur Show for more unfiltered conversations with leaders building billion-dollar healthcare businesses and navigating healthcare commercialization.
148 episodes