Life of Ken – Vol. 10

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Happenings from the Homefront

We kicked off the month with one last hurrah at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo at Dickies Arena—our third and final trip of the season. This event is always a favorite, not just for the spectacle of the rodeo but for the chance to show appreciation to our nation’s heroes. Kai brought a couple of his buddies along, and they made the most of it—fueling up on funnel cakes and Cokes like they were gunning for the title of All-Around Sugar Champion.

The Wimberly Family Values, which we crafted last month at Fambundance in Utah, have officially arrived – and now hold a place of honor in our home. It’s a daily reminder of the principles that matter most to us, a guiding light for how we live, love, and grow together.

Kai finally got his big cast off and upgraded to a short cast (below the elbow), giving him more flexibility – and a little more independence. To celebrate, we had a boys’ night/Family Board Meeting on Valentine’s night while Amber was out with her girlfriends at a comedy show.

As per Board Meeting protocol, Kai got to choose the event. His pick? Cidercade, where we could go head-to-head in unlimited video games. After a few rounds of digital domination, we capped off the night with dinner at Jon’s Grill and a victory lap in the form of a milkshake.

I’ll forever be grateful to Jim Sheils for introducing me to this concept. These intentional one-on-one moments have brought me closer to each of my three children, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Amber and I kicked off lover’s weekend with a date night on February 15. We spent the evening at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, where we accidentally became videographers for a surprise proposal – right place, right time! After witnessing that moment of pure romance (and making sure we got the shot), we capped off the night with an incredible dinner at Fitzgerald’s on Camp Bowie.

We’ve committed to 24 date nights in 2025, and so far, we’re off to a strong start. Now the real challenge begins – making sure we don’t just go to the same three places every time!

We restocked our cars with fresh Blessing Bags—large Ziplock bags filled with essentials for the homeless: water bottles, gum, protein bars, trail mix, dog food, an inspirational note, and $5 in cash.

We started this practice several years ago as a way to navigate the internal struggle I felt when encountering someone in need. My instinct has always been to help, but I wrestled with the concern that giving cash might unintentionally fuel an addiction. Eventually, I decided that overthinking wasn’t the answer—helping was.

Now, with these bags always on hand, the decision is simple. It’s an easy yes.

We wrapped up the month with some dear friends coming into town, which, of course, called for an incredible dinner at Lonesome Dove—minus the exceptionally forgettable service that night. (Let’s just say the food carried the team.)

After dinner, we capped off the evening with a Stoney LaRue concert at Billy Bob’s Texas, because few things in life hit quite like good music with great friends. Music has always been a driving force in Amber’s and my life, and sharing it with the people we love just makes it that much sweeter.

Work, work, work!

At the start of the month, Amber and I were supposed to attend our first franchise show together—a big milestone for us as we officially launched Laundry Luv’s franchising efforts. But life had other plans. The day before the show, Amber got sick and was completely out of commission.

Enter Grace. Home from Auburn and ready to save the day, she stepped in like a pro. It was our first show as an official franchisor, and to say it exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Our booth was packed from start to finish, and the response was overwhelming—we ran out of fliers on day one! By the end, we walked away with 74 new leads and a wave of interest in our concept.

And Grace? She crushed it. Absolute natural. I might have just found my secret weapon.

For over two weeks, I dove deep into building our connection and action plans in our new CRM for Laundry Luv leads. Normally, I would have handed this off to my team—but not this time. This time, it was me in the weeds, and honestly? I loved it.

No one knows our story better, and at its core, this process isn’t just about capturing leads—it’s about pulling in the right people and pushing away the wrong ones. We don’t want just anyone signing on as a franchise partner. We want people who align with our mission, our values, and our vision.

By the time they make a decision, I want them to feel like they know Laundry Luv—because in the end, the best partnerships aren’t just built on opportunity. They’re built on belief.

Our due diligence for the industrial-flex portfolio has been progressing smoothly over the past couple of months, and we’re now in final underwriting with the bank. On the equity side, we saw strong interest from investors eager to partner with us – always a great sign.

God willing, this deal is marching toward the finish line. Almost time to bring it home.

I spent a day touring a new market for future Laundry Luv locations. While franchising is ramping up, we’re also expanding our corporate store footprint. So, I hit the road with our CEO, Schuyler, and one of our biggest supporters to scout potential sites in a promising new town.

We found several locations that could be a perfect fit—and this market could easily support two stores. Which town is it? Well… that’s a secret for now. Stay tuned—more to come soon!

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

I just finished Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall – and I loved it. I have a deep appreciation for books that provide a clear, actionable framework, and this one delivered.

Now, I’m putting it to work. I’m crafting key stories that will help shape and expand the Laundry Luv brand, using the principles from the book to make our message even more compelling.

If you’re interested in my takeaways, keep an eye on my website – I’ll be sharing my notes soon as a free resource!

Sometimes, you hear something and think, Huh, that’s interesting. Other times, you hear something that shakes you into action.

Recently, I listened to two podcasts that did exactly that. The first was the All In Podcast featuring Naval Ravikant. During the episode, they referenced another podcast Naval had done with Tim Ferriss and Aaron Stupple, so naturally, I had to dig in.

What I found was a deep and thought-provoking message on parenting – one that truly resonated with me. Naval talked about giving agency to your children, listening to their voices, and treating their decisions and desires as if they matter (because they do). After absorbing it all, I sat down with Amber for a debrief, and we decided to make a bold shift:

We told Kai we were ripping up his screen time contract and giving him full control over how much time he spends on screens. No more micromanaging—just trust and responsibility.

It’s a big shift for us, but two weeks in, I can honestly say—it’s been pretty amazing.

Action is the foundational key to all success. -Pablo Picasso

I recently had the pleasure of joining Theresa Flood on her podcast, The UPside Podcast, and it was an amazing experience. She’s a fantastic host—thoughtful, engaging, and full of great questions and personal insight. Though The UPside is a newer podcast, I have no doubt that as her audience grows, she’ll be delivering incredible value.

During our conversation, we dove into morning routines, the importance of doing hard things, and the power of intentionality. It was one of those discussions that left me feeling energized and inspired. I hope plenty of people tune in, take something valuable from it, and—most importantly—put it into action.

Lately, we’ve been indulging in our guilty Paramount pleasures—the newest seasons of Tulsa King and 1923. For a comedy fix, we recently revisited There’s Something About Mary, because sometimes you just need a good, classic laugh.

As a family, we’re once again cycling through The Goldbergs (for the ninth time) and Young Sheldon (for the fifth). There’s just something about the innocence and humor of sitcoms set in the 1980s that keeps us coming back. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s the simplicity—but whatever it is, we love it.

Kaizen

Every other week, I meet with at least one of three groups—my local GoPod, my long-time GoPod (formed in 2016), or my Front Row Dads band. These are more than just casual meetups; they’re small circles of men committed to diving deep and supporting each other in every aspect of life.

We don’t stay on the surface. These friendships are forged through tough conversations, breaking through personal barriers, and bringing real value to one another. It’s not just about camaraderie—it’s about growth, accountability, and becoming better men, husbands, and fathers.

If you don’t have something like this in your life, I pray you find it soon. It’s a game-changer.

My morning routine is the anchor that keeps me balanced. It sets the tone for the day, giving me the clarity, focus, and energy I need to show up at my best.

The 365 Workout Plan is officially back in action!

In 2019, I secretly started a challenge to work out every single day for a year—no excuses, no days off. I designed it to be simple and impossible to skip: bodyweight exercises (push-ups, abs, dips, pull-ups, squats, lunges, burpees, etc.) that I could do anywhere—whether in my living room, office, or a hotel room. That straightforward approach kept me going for over 1,200 consecutive days, making me the fittest I had ever been.

Then, in mid-2022, I fell off the wagon. Shutting down a business and dealing with family struggles sent me into a tough stretch, and my discipline slipped. But now? It’s back! And this time, I’m tackling it alongside several of my local GoBundance brothers for added support and camaraderie.

Game on.

Random Musings

Amber and I had a parent-teacher conference with Kai’s 3rd-grade teacher, and we couldn’t be prouder. She shared that Kai is at the top of his class—actually, both of his classes (homeroom and switch class). He’s excelling well beyond grade level in both reading and math.

But what mattered most to us? She described him as happy, funny, kind, and loving.

Academics are great, but who he is as a person means even more. #ProudParents

Until next time.

Take action and be grateful!

-Ken

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