📌 The hard truths about selling your business and how owners sabotage their own exits without even knowing it.

In this episode, Ben sits down with CEO mentor and M&A veteran Pandora Pang to unpack the real reasons deals fall apart, how founders unknowingly destroy value, and what it actually takes to build a company buyers chase, not discount.

You’ll learn:

✔️ Why “not knowing what you don’t know” is the number one killer of deals

✔️ How the wrong advisor (or the wrong ego) can quietly tank your exit

✔️ The difference between building a job vs. a sellable asset

✔️ What founder independence and team-led operations really mean for valuation

✔️ Why your corporate governance, IP, and agreements matter more than your EBITDA

✔️ How to position your brand and systems to get a higher multiple

✔️ When to start exit planning (hint: yesterday)

Sound bites:

“Numbers tell a story. If you don’t like the story, fix the business.”

“You don’t need to hide weaknesses. Buyers see opportunities where owners see shame.”

“The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and most founders avoid the straight line.”

“Leave gas in the tank. Buyers pay more when they see upside.”

Key takeaways for exit-minded founders:

• Founder dependent businesses sell at discounts. Team-led systems sell at premiums.

• Your agreements, governance, and IP hygiene can make or break your deal.

• The right mentor can save your company. The wrong one can sink it.

• Start with the end in mind. Build now for the exit you want later.

• Strategic buyers pay more because they see synergy, but only if you know how to package it. If you’re a founder who knows you’ll exit someday, this episode will change what you do today.

Resources: Check the show notes for Pandora’s contact links and ExitWorthy tools.

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