Life of Ken – Vol. 12

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Happenings from the Homefront

This month started with a friendly game of family Monopoly. How is it that a 9 year old can be so ruthless? Kai was racking up properties and collecting rent like a New York mobster!

We had some fun ranch time with our friends from Georgia. They had never spent time on a Texas ranch, so it was awesome to get to share that experience with them. We played games, explored the land, sat in a blind and watched the sunset, ate some great food, played pickleball, enjoyed a campfire, and watched The Masters. We also witnessed one of the wildest things I have ever seen. I truly thought we might be getting captured and beamed up for some weird alien experiments. Luckily, we later learned it was a Space X rocket that was burning up in the atmosphere. 

We hosted Easter lunch and celebration at our home this year. We had several family members and some friends over for an intimate gathering on a beautiful day. It was a perfect day for a backyard cookout and some pool time for the kids. I am grateful we could host this year and spend the time with our loved ones.

Then there was a full week worth of preparing for the crawfish boil! I did SOME of the helping, but Amber really went all-in here. She power washed all the hard surfaces in our back yard, made all the food orders, coordinated with sponsors, picked up signage, confirmed RSVP’s, prepared a slide show, planted new plants, and a whole lot more. Now, we are almost ready. Stay tuned for an update next month!

And to wrap up the month Kai had pink eye! He stayed home from school for two days while the medicine did its work. We had a simple rule, one hour of TV (either Bluey or Goldbergs), followed by one hour of reading. It was awesome to watch him dive into the books he loves! He is passionate about hitting his AR goals at school, and this extra reading is helping him to meet that challenge. 

Work, work, work!

We hosted our first official advisory board meeting for Laundry Luv in April. We followed the EOS model for the meeting to keep ourselves organized and focused. We have a stellar group of people on this board with impressive experience across many different disciplines. I am very excited to have this power house group on our team. 

We have submitted plans for permit approval for our next Laundry Luv corporate store. We should start construction in the next sixty days and then be ready to open within 90 days after we start construction. We have also identified two additional sites for future Laundry Luv corporate stores. This is going to be a busy year!

I have been narrowing down our franchisee pipeline and have a dozen very solid candidates. We are looking to award our first few franchises sometime in the next couple of months. This is starting to get exciting. 

I attended a laundromat owners workshop hosted by Eastern Funding a few weeks ago. The attendees were a mixture of distributors, existing laundromat operators, and those looking to get into the business. Brian Grell and his team did an outstanding job of presenting the challenges and opportunities in the laundromat industry. Shout out to Mark Vlaskamp of LaundroLab and Waleed Cope of Wash Weekly + Laundry CEO for the value bombs they dropped!

We also hosted our quarterly EOS planning meeting in April. We expanded our leadership team and had our biggest attendance yet. Everyone on the leadership team came away with clearly defined quarterly rocks that will help us as a company achieve our annual goals. Now it is time for execution!

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

Sometimes, we have to be careful what we read—because the wrong thing can send your mind spiraling straight into a dystopian nightmare. This month, I read two pieces that fit that bill.

The first was an article about the possible future of AI and the trajectory we could all be facing within the next 2–3 years. The pace of advancement is staggering—almost beyond comprehension—and the article laid out two potential paths: one where we hit the brakes and implement meaningful safeguards, and another far more nefarious, where control and ethics are left behind in the race for power and profit. It came with a warning that felt less like fiction and more like a very near future we’re all hurtling toward.

Then, at the recommendation of a friend—spurred by our recent 24-hour walk—I dove into The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). While I had a few technical hang-ups with how so many of those boys managed to walk for days without collapsing, the story itself was a haunting study of the human mind, endurance, and how far we’ll go under pressure.

I also finished Father Richard Rohr’s most recent book, The Tears of Things—and, as always, his words struck a deep chord. Rohr has a rare gift: he takes ancient, often cryptic texts and breathes clarity and meaning into them, making the mystical feel both accessible and personal.

In this book, he masterfully explores the paradox that through suffering, sorrow, and the cracks in our lives, we often find the deepest peace and serenity. Rather than avoiding pain, Rohr invites us to sit with it—to let it soften us, shape us, and ultimately draw us closer to God. It’s the kind of book you don’t just read—you feel your way through it.

Amber and I, along with our dear friends from Georgia, had front-row seats (from the couch) to one of the most unforgettable moments in Masters history. We watched as Rory, after holding a commanding lead, missed a crucial putt on the 18th green that forced a playoff—then came back to win it all on the very first playoff hole. With that win, he became only the sixth person in history to complete the career Grand Slam, and the raw, emotional release that followed was a powerful reminder of just how much this moment meant to him—and to golf fans everywhere.

Kaizen

Seven of us completed our 6th annual 24 hour walk. We launched and finished at Press Cafe on the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth. This was a particularly grueling event, as we started in rain and finished in a heavy thunderstorm. You can check out this post and this video that summarizes the event. A huge thank you and congratulations to all those who participated!

I attended the GoBundance Tribal Council meeting in Cabo this month — I know, it’s a tough job. Amidst the stunning backdrop of Baja’s southern tip, we dove deep into some challenging topics, reviewed the progress of past initiatives, and explored the evolving future of the Tribal Council. What made it even more special was the incredible bond we strengthened as a group, surrounded by one of the most breathtaking settings imaginable. Our hotel offered panoramic views of the iconic El Arco — the majestic rock formation rising from the sea where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. At various times throughout the day, we were treated to the unforgettable sight of whales breaching the surface just offshore, their massive tails slicing through the water in a powerful dance that added an awe-inspiring layer to our experience. It was nature’s reminder of the vastness and beauty that exists beyond our daily grind — the perfect setting for meaningful reflection and connection.

I wrapped up the month at the Front Row Dad’s spring VIP retreat in Phoenix, AZ. I always come away from these events recharged and inspired to pour into my family, my business, and myself. You can read this blog for a full recap of the event. 

Random Musings

I always love seeing someone with a passion for reading. It is even more special when that someone is a child. This is one of the reasons we commit so much energy into supporting childhood literacy at Laundry Luv. 

Until next time.

Take action and be grateful!

-Ken

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