If you’re anything like me, you pour yourself into your stores. You want customers to walk in and instantly know this isn’t just another laundromat, it’s the place. The lighting’s right, the service is sharp, your team’s dialed in and every detail screams excellence. You want people to say, “There’s just something different about this place.”

That drive is powerful. It’s how great businesses are built. But here’s the truth that took me years to learn: the same passion that helps you build something extraordinary can also quietly take over your life if you’re not careful.

In my 5+ years of building and growing what I believe are some of the best laundromats in America, I’ve discovered how easily the line between business life and personal life can blur, sometimes to the point where you can’t even see it anymore.

The Wake-Up Call

For me, the turning point came when I realized my priorities, my true priorities, had drifted. My relationship with Christ is my top priority. My wife, Hannah, comes second. My two boys, Jentezen and Jax, are next. But there were seasons when the business acted like it deserved the number-one spot.

Several years ago, I wrote an ebook called "Master, Mate & Mission: Who Are You Going To Serve?" I talked about this exact order. The Master represents Christ. The Mate is your spouse. The Mission is your calling, your work, your business, your purpose. When those priorities get flipped, everything eventually starts to fall apart.

And if you think you can cheat that order and still live with peace, I promise you can’t. I tried.

Building Without Burning Out

Running a business well isn’t about being available 24/7, it’s about building a system that runs so smoothly you don’t have to be. You can’t lead your team, love your family, or serve your purpose effectively when you’re running on fumes.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned about setting healthy boundaries:

1. Put your priorities in writing.
   Clarity creates accountability. Write down what matters most and then look at your calendar. If your schedule doesn’t reflect your values, it’s time to make adjustments.
2. Empower your team.
   If your store can’t function without you, that’s not leadership, it’s dependency. Train your people, trust them, and give them authority to make decisions confidently.
3. Schedule time off like you would a meeting.
   Block out time for family, rest, and worship on your calendar just like payroll or marketing tasks. Protect it at all costs.
4. Stop romanticizing the grind.
   Hard work is good, but burnout isn’t a badge of honor. True success is building something great and being fully present with the people you love.
   
   

The Ultimate Win

At the end of the day, laundromat ownership isn’t just about clean clothes and quarters. It’s about creating freedom. Freedom to serve God, love your family, and live life on purpose.

A masterfully run business is the vehicle, not the destination! When you set healthy boundaries and keep your priorities straight, you don’t just build a thriving business, you build a life that’s actually worth living.