Like of Ken – Vol. 19

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Happenings from the Homefront

November marks the start of hunting season in Texas, and with our travel schedule finally calming down, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect; we spent three of four weekends out at the ranch. 

It was exactly what we needed: long stretches of time in nature, quiet moments to reset, and plenty of laughter and connection with friends and family. Kai brought friends out; Grace and Knox each made trips of their own; and we even got to spend time with their friends, which we consider our extended family. The days were filled with hunting, fishing, hiking, exploring, shooting at the range, eating great food, and simply enjoying being together. It was the kind of month that grounds you, refreshes you, and reminds you what matters most.

We also attended our first (and only) TCU game of the year. The Frogs pulled out a victory over Iowa State and Kai and his buddies convinced the college girls behind them to go on video with their rendition of “67” – something I still don’t understand, but they were pretty proud of themselves.

For Thanksgiving this year, Amber and I hosted a small gathering at our home. We had my dad, two of my brothers and their families, along with Amber’s dad and his wife, all together under one roof. Everyone pitched in and brought a dish, and it made for a wonderful, intimate holiday – unplugged, relaxed, and full of genuine conversation. It was one of those simple, meaningful gatherings where you can really reconnect and just enjoy being together.

Work, work, work!

On the work front, we continued making great progress on the build-out of our fourth corporately owned Laundry Luv location, our third store in the San Angelo market. Things are moving along nicely: the sign is up, the equipment is ordered, and, God willing, we’ll be opening toward the end of December. 

We also made steady headway with our franchisee candidates. Our next Discovery Day was scheduled and organized, we already have prospective candidates lined up for early next year, and our very first official franchisees are making progress on getting their first location approved in their city.

We also had a chance to celebrate this milestone with the Mock family, our first franchisees. Amber, Kai, and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Kasey, Elizabeth, and their kids to officially welcome them into the Laundry Luv family (a family business, run by families). Moments like that make the journey even sweeter.

Brain Food (what I am reading, watching, and listening to)

This month, I wrapped up two equally amazing books – both of which left a real imprint on me. The first was The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom. I’ve been reading it slowly over the past few months, usually early in the mornings, and I was honestly a little sad when I finished it. Every day I opened that book, I walked away energized and convinced that Sahil Bloom is truly wise beyond his years. Thank you to GoBundance for sending it my way! It has been one of my absolute favorite reads in a long time.

For those unfamiliar with the framework, Bloom outlines five types of wealth, each essential in its own way:

Time Wealth: Freedom over your calendar; the ability to choose how you spend your days.

Social Wealth: Your relationships, network, and community—the people who enrich your life.

Mental Wealth: What would your 10-year old self say to you today?

Physical Wealth: Your health, vitality, and energy.

Financial Wealth: The resources that give you optionality and stability. Note, this is last on the list (for a reason).

That’s all I’ll say…the real value is in how Sahil tells the stories and connects the dots. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. I suspect you’ll love it as much as I did.

The second book I started and finished this month was The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. And wow… what a great read. Thank you to Ray Bayat for calling me and insisting I read it; he knows me well, because he was spot-on. The book highlights something that feels intuitively true: we, especially here in America, have allowed comfort to creep so deeply into our lives that it’s numbed us to much of what life has to offer (and teach us).

I loved how the author wove together research with the storyline of his trip to the Arctic for a hunting expedition – something far outside his norm, as he wasn’t a hunter at all. His lessons on cold-weather exposure, doing hard things, misogis, breathwork, rucking, and pushing past comfort hit me right in the soul. It’s one of those books that doesn’t just inform you… it challenges you. And I felt that challenge in the best possible way.

I also really enjoyed the latest All-In Podcast episode featuring Molly Bloom. I’d only ever heard bits and pieces of her story, so it was fascinating to finally understand the full arc – from growing up in an intensely competitive, high-performing family, to stumbling into the L.A. poker scene, to quickly building a wildly successful high-stakes game through sheer drive, creativity, and the ability to connect with the right people. It was equally interesting to hear how she got pushed out of L.A., rebuilt a new game in New York, unexpectedly crossed paths with the mob, and watched her ethical boundaries start to blur as the money grew. And then, after everything fell apart, she chose not to give anyone up and had to restart from scratch. For me, it was simply an incredibly interesting listen; a story I didn’t really know, told in a way that highlighted just how quickly success can be built (and how quickly it can unravel). Highly recommended if you’re curious about ambition, pressure, and the unintended consequences that come with big money.

Kaizen

This month’s Kaizen was all about consistency. Nothing flashy, nothing dramatic,  just the steady, daily commitment to doing the things that keep me grounded and growing. Going to bed early, waking up early, and following my morning routine with intention: breathwork, meditation, journaling, reading, visualization, and exercise. 

And on the days I was at the ranch, that consistency looked a little different – waking before dawn, sitting in the blinds, watching the sun rise over the pasture, and ending the day the same way, taking in the sunset. Simple habits, repeated daily, became the quiet backbone of the month.

Random Musings

Have you ever seen charcuterie boards that look this good? These are just the little things that Amber throws together when we have folks over. These are better than I have ever seen in a restaurant. I think she is onto something!

Until next time.

Take action and be grateful!

-Ken

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