Like of Ken – Vol. 16

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Happenings from the Homefront

We kicked off the month with Sandlot baseball for Kai—one of those simple joys that feels like a gift for everyone involved. The program is led by Ryan Opgenorth, a wonderful soul who generously gives his time and treasures to pour into any child who wants to play. His heart for the community shows up in every pitch and every smile. For more on why this means so much to us, check out this LinkedIn post I shared a while back.

This month was blessed with the deepening of meaningful friendships. One of the highlights was getting to know Ricky and Chantal Dauenhauer—an incredible couple we connected with through our local GoBundance tribe. We shared two amazing dinners with them and, in the process, discovered two fabulous Fort Worth restaurants we’d never tried before. Great food, even better company.

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend of downtime and relaxation at the ranch—just our family and the family of one of our dearest friends. Our kids have grown up together over the past 15 years, and now they’re all heading into new chapters—college, master’s programs, or their first post-college jobs. With no agenda except to unwind and enjoy each other’s company, it was the kind of weekend that fills the soul.

We celebrated Kai’s first day of 4th grade at Tanglewood Elementary—made even more special by the fact that he has the same teacher Grace had years ago. As a bonus, Grace joined us for drop-off and got to see her old teacher, bringing the moment full circle. They’re all growing up way too fast!

We spent time in our backyard with friends—playing games, listening to music, swimming, and simply soaking in the beauty all around us. There’s something special about slowing down, being present, and appreciating the blessings right in front of you. Moments like these are quiet reminders of how rich life really is.

Work, work, work!

At Laundry Luv, we continue to execute on the quarterly goals we set during our recent EOS planning session. As our team grows more aligned and comfortable with the EOS rhythm, it’s incredible to see how much focused progress we’re able to make. Alignment, accountability, and clarity really do move the needle.

The Laundry Luv team headed to Orlando for the Clean Show—the premier industry-wide trade show for the laundry and dry cleaning world, held every two years. I started the week by volunteering at a Free Laundry Day hosted by Laundry Cares, an experience that reminded me why this work matters so deeply. It was powerful to serve families directly and witness the immediate impact of clean clothes and community connection.

This was also our first time attending the Clean Show as an exhibitor, and we brought a strong crew: me, Schuyler, Clay, and Nate. Our mission was clear—to share our franchising vision and how we’re helping aspiring entrepreneurs thrive in this industry. The show brought in around 10,000 attendees, and we made the most of it: meeting with key vendors and equipment manufacturers, attending top-tier training sessions, exploring cutting-edge automation and new products, and deepening relationships over shared meals. We also spent valuable time with the Laundry Cares team, reaffirming our commitment to creating child-friendly spaces in every Laundry Luv location—ensuring that every child who walks into our stores has access to free books and a space to feel safe and inspired. We even caught the attention of a few investors interested in backing future franchisees. Safe to say, we’re already excited for Clean Show 2027 in Las Vegas!

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

I’m continuing to slowly read The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom, and I’m loving the intentional pace. There’s something deeply satisfying about ingesting his wisdom a little at a time—it lingers longer that way.

With a road trip from Texas to Orlando and back, I had plenty of windshield time for Audible. I started with Wishes Fulfilled by Dr. Wayne Dyer, a deeply affirming listen. From there, I dove into The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran—narrated masterfully by Riz Ahmed, whose voice brought Gibran’s timeless poetry to life. Many of the reviews raved about his narration, and I can now say they were absolutely right.

Feeling ready for something even deeper, I took on the 18-hour Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley. I’d heard about the book for years—it’s said Steve Jobs read it annually and gifted it to everyone who attended his memorial service. It had been sitting in my Audible library for a while, waiting for the right time. And as the saying goes: when the student is ready, the teacher appears. If you feel called to it, I hope it speaks to you the way it spoke to me.

To wrap up the trip, I shifted gears and listened to Marcus Sheridan’s new book, Endless Customers. It builds on his earlier work in They Ask, You Answer, and is packed with actionable insights for any business looking to stand out and truly connect with its audience in today’s marketplace.

Kaizen

My spiritual journey continues to deepen at what I can only describe as a divinely guided pace. One look at the books that have found their way onto my reading list these past few months is proof enough—each one arriving at just the right time, as if on cue.

On the physical side, my new 8-week health and wellness plan is already delivering results. In the first three weeks, I’m down 8 pounds and have dropped from 15.3% to 14.2% body fat. I’m well on my way to hitting my goal of 11% and 163 lbs—and feeling stronger and more energized with each passing day.

Random Musings

I read the following in Wishes Fulfilled by Dr. Wayne Dyer. Made me pause. 

When you think, choose carefully,

The thoughts of things you’d like to be,

Thoughts entertained in the minds of men,

Become tomorrow’s objectified whims.

-Margaret Runyen Castenada

Until next time.

Take action and be grateful!

-Ken

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