Episode 174 · Aug 12, 2026 · 00:37:06
The Next Mission: One Veteran's Story of Reinventing Yourself after Military Service
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Show Notes
What happens when your military career ends...but your greatest mission is still ahead of you?
In this inspiring episode of Create Wealth Through Franchising, Kim Daly sits down with Marine veteran Ken Schoonover to discuss the journey from military service to business ownership—and why success in franchising has far less to do with the business you choose than the person you become while building it.
Ken opens by sharing one of his very first missions as a young Marine, leading ten men through Japan without speaking the language. It was an experience that demanded leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, and trust under pressure.
Years later, he realized those same qualities would become some of his greatest assets as a franchise owner.
After exploring franchising for several years and speaking with multiple franchise consultants, Ken met Kim Daly.
Kim gave him one condition:
"If we're going to work together, I need to be your only consultant."
She wasn't interested in competing for his attention.
She was interested in helping him find the right opportunity through clarity, alignment, and trust.
As a committed Christian, Ken immediately connected with Kim's perspective on mindset, faith, purpose, and possibility. While exploring franchise opportunities, he also joined The Zee Suite® during the original Suite Deal, where the lessons on mindset, goal setting, and personal leadership began changing the way he approached both business and life.
One book, in particular, tied everything together:
The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale.
What began as one of Kim's favorite books soon became one of Ken's.
It helped him realize something every entrepreneur eventually faces:
The greatest obstacle to success wasn't the market...or the franchise...it was his own comfort.
Like many new business owners, Ken discovered he enjoyed doing the work.
But building wealth required something different.
It required becoming comfortable being uncomfortable.
His military training reminded him that growth has always lived on the other side of uncertainty.
Ken also shares why he ultimately chose Paint EZ—not because he dreamed of owning a painting company, but because he fell in love with the people.
Their culture.
Their leadership.
Their values.
Their mission.
He discovered what Kim has taught for more than two decades:
Franchising is a people business.
You aren't simply investing in a business model.
You're choosing a team you'll build your future alongside.
The episode also explores one of the most overlooked parts of entrepreneurship:
Spousal alignment.
Ken and Michelle openly discuss the conversations, questions, and trust required before making a decision that impacts an entire family.
Together, they demonstrate the power of moving forward with shared vision instead of fear.
Whether you're a veteran transitioning into civilian life, a professional considering business ownership, or someone searching for greater purpose after one successful career, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and practical lessons for your next chapter.
If you're exploring franchise ownership—or already own a franchise and want to become the leader your business needs—Kim would love to help.
In this episode you'll learn:
✔️ Why military leadership translates so well to franchise ownership
✔️ The importance of choosing people and culture—not just a business
✔️ How faith, mindset, and personal growth create stronger business owners
✔️ Why spousal alignment matters before investing in a franchise
✔️ How The Strangest Secret helped transform Ken's thinking
✔️ Why comfort is often the greatest obstacle to success
✔️ The role The Zee Suite® played in helping Ken prepare for business ownership
✔️ How veterans can successfully transition from military service to entrepreneurship
Resources
Explore Franchise Ownership
https://www.TheDalyCoach.com
Schedule a Discovery Call
https://www.TheDalyCoach.com/contact
Learn more about The Zee Suite®
https://www.TheZeeSuite.com
New episodes every week featuring franchise owners, entrepreneurs, and inspiring stories about creating wealth, freedom, and purpose through business ownership.
Chapters (Approximate)
00:00 Meet Marine Veteran Ken Schoonover
2:45 Leadership Lessons from the Marines
7:15 Why Ken Chose Kim Daly
11:30 Finding Alignment Through Faith and Mindset
16:45 How The Zee Suite® Changed His Perspective
21:30 The Strangest Secret and Connecting the Dots
25:45 Choosing Paint EZ for the People, Not the Product
30:15 Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
33:00 Advice for Veterans and Future Franchise Owners
35:00 Final Thoughts
About The Host
Hosted by Kim Daly
Kim Daly is a franchise consultant, mindset and manifestation coach, and the founder of The Zee Suite®. Since 2002 she has created nearly one thousand franchisees by aligning their goals and dreams to the best franchise opportunities, and has coached more than 5,000 franchisees on the inner work behind outer results.
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