From Corporate Burnout to a $21M "Dirty Business" Exit

Most founders wait too long to sell. Learn why timing, systems, and self-awareness are the real drivers of a high-value exit.

In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with Marvin Karlow—former corporate exec turned M&A advisor—who scaled a “dirty business” into a $21M exit.

They dive into why most deals fall apart during due diligence, how burnout silently reduces enterprise value, and what it really takes to pass the "Two-Week Vacation Test."

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ Why most deals die after the Letter of Intent ✅ The "Death Zone" that sabotages 8-figure exits ✅ How to use systems to de-risk your valuation ✅ The #1 question every buyer is silently asking ✅ Why burnout is one of the most expensive mistakes founders make

🎧 Full audio + show notes: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/ebitda-multiple-expansion-strategy 📈 More tools for high-performance leaders: https://ceosalesstrategies.com 📩 Reach us: youmatter@ceosalesstrategies.com

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