As the Tokyo 2021 Olympics drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on Esther Kim, the first office manager of Dallas Maids. She played a crucial role in helping the company navigate its vulnerable early years as a startup. So, what prompted this recollection during the Olympics?
Prior to her time at Dallas Maids, Esther was an Olympic-level athlete who made a remarkable sacrifice for her best friend, Kay. In a decisive match to determine who would secure a place on the U.S. Taekwondo team for the 2000 Olympics, Kay, having suffered an injury, faced Esther in the ring. Recognizing the match would be unfair, Esther graciously stepped aside, allowing Kay to take her spot. For this extraordinary act of selflessness, Esther was honored as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 2020 Female Athlete of the Year.
I thought it would be wonderful to reconnect with Esther, catch up on her journey, and perhaps share some fond memories from the early days of Dallas Maids. Unfortunately, that reunion was not meant to be.
My Memories of Esther
A few months ago, I conducted a quick Google search for Esther’s contact information, hoping to find her Facebook or some way to reconnect. To my dismay, I stumbled upon her obituary. Esther passed away on December 10, 2019, due to liver and kidney failure. She was only 40—a tragic loss, far too young and utterly unfair. I was left in a daze, the weight of this news heavy on my heart. The opportunity to reconnect with Esther was now forever lost.
I feel incredibly blessed to have known Esther and to have called her a friend. On dignitymemorial.com, a friend named Bindi beautifully captured her spirit, writing, “She was fun, fierce, and fabulous.” This succinctly encapsulates Esther’s essence. I’d like to take a moment to share some of my cherished memories of her—the fun, the fierce, and the fabulous.
Before I continue, I want to preface this reflection with a few thoughts. First, Esther’s passing and the memories we shared have lingered in my mind for some time. I felt compelled to put those memories into words, perhaps as a way to keep a small, precious piece of Esther alive. Second, while some of these memories are joyful, others touch on moments in Esther’s life that she often shied away from, as they were too painful. Sharing them here, in this blog with its handful of readers, feels like a safe space to reveal the deeply personal and heart-wrenching parts of her story while also honoring her memory by celebrating the happier moments. If you knew Esther, you can understand my hesitation, and I can almost hear an eye-roll from above as I write this.
Lastly, it’s important to mention how much Esther loved her mom. Her last request was to ensure her mother was taken care of after she was gone. I’d like to thank Jake for establishing the GoFundMe that supported this effort
The Interview
Our journey began in 2004 with the launch of Dallas Maids. From the outset, my goal was to build a high-quality cleaning service. To achieve this, I needed a versatile individual who could handle customer calls and assist our field staff. At that time, we operated with just two teams: a mother-daughter duo and a cleaner alongside myself. Flexibility was crucial in our small operation, especially when a cleaner called in sick or was unable to work for any reason. This versatile team member would also help distribute flyers and, when necessary, pitch in with cleaning tasks.
I placed job ads in the Observer and the Green Sheets back then, and I believe Esther discovered us through the Observer. Regardless, what truly matters is that this remarkable young woman called in, impressing me with her phone interview and earning herself an invitation for an in-person meeting at Starbucks.
At the time, I was running the business out of my apartment, which coincidentally was located on Esther’s road—perhaps a sign? Lacking a formal office, I chose Starbucks at 2501 West Airport Freeway in Irving as my interview spot. With its relaxed atmosphere and comforting cups of coffee, it was the perfect place for job candidates to open up and share more about themselves.
An Outstanding Candidate
Esther walked in, dressed to impress in a stylish yet professional white shirt, and took a seat as the interview began. Even though 17 years have passed, I vividly remember that day—especially three key moments:
- Outstanding Qualities: Esther was simply exceptional. She was professional, intelligent, and socially adept. I felt my search had finally ended, although I worried she might be overqualified for the position.
- A Compliment on Professionalism: During the interview, she complimented me on how professionally I conducted our discussion. I appreciated the praise, though I couldn’t take full credit for it. I had drawn on Gary Goranson’s playbook from his House Cleaning Biz 101 system. It was a tremendous loss to the world when Gary passed away six years ago. His how-to guide has helped countless cleaning businesses, including Dallas Maids, establish themselves in their early years with its field-tested strategies. I even recorded a video referral for him.
- Olympic Athlete Claim: Esther claimed to be an Olympic athlete. My initial thought was, “Yeah… right.” I silently lamented that the interview would have to continue. However, given the extraordinary nature of her claim and her composed demeanor, I felt compelled to Google it. To my surprise, her story was true—she wasn’t fabricating anything.
It was an easy decision; Esther was…
Hired
On a side note, I do recall one other memorable interview at that Starbucks. A woman was applying for a professional home cleaner position. While discussing her work history, she launched into a tirade about her former boss, describing him in unflattering terms. To paraphrase, she said, “He was a sneaky, slimy, cheap Jew.” I was taken aback. First, I thought about her background; as a Black woman, she had faced her share of racism and discrimination. Second, I’m of Jewish heritage myself. She didn’t get the job.
Sacrifice
Esther expressed her gratitude for the job at Dallas Maids, eager to move forward from the recent memories of her selfless sacrifice for a friend. That sacrifice was soon followed, just four years later, by an unbearable betrayal that I believe haunted her for years to come. To provide some context:
In 2000, Esther found herself facing her injured friend, Kay, in a match that would determine who would represent the United States on the Olympic Taekwondo team. In an extraordinary act of kindness, Esther chose to bow out of the match, allowing her best friend Kay the honor instead.
Esther believed that Kay was the superior athlete, having entered the Olympic trials ranked No. 1 in the world in the flyweight class. The hope was that Kay would heal and have a better chance at winning the gold. Ironically, this unexpected act of altruism may have affected Kay’s mindset, ultimately leading to her early upset in the Olympics.
For her selfless decision, Esther received an invitation from the U.S. Olympic Committee as a guest, securing a prime seat to watch Kay’s match. From her vantage point, Esther noticed that Kay was not her usual aggressive self during the fight. Throughout the match, Kay frequently glanced toward Esther, wearing a look of longing and confusion. Perhaps she felt she was letting Esther down; maybe the weight of such an unfathomable gift became overwhelming, or perhaps guilt crept in. One thing was clear: Kay was not as assertive as she typically was, which resulted in an unexpected loss.
The Olympics
Fast forward to the 2004 Olympics, and Esther was once again in the running as she went through the qualification process. As her father shared in a Deseret article, “Esther feels like 2004 is her time to go to the Olympics.” She had eagerly anticipated this moment for four long years. Now, as I reflect on this, I can vividly recall the pain etched on Esther’s face as she recounted her story—one that I feel compelled to share here.
During a crucial match, Esther faced a situation that would determine whether Kay would secure a spot on the Olympic team. Tragically, Esther lost. From her vantage point in the stands, she watched as Kay erupted in joyful jubilation, celebrating the very outcome that denied Esther her Olympic dream.
Esther had selflessly relinquished her place on the Olympic team for her friend, only to witness that same friend reveling in her defeat. On the surface, Esther exuded strength and fierceness; any cruel words or actions directed at her seemed to bounce off without leaving a mark. Yet, for those who knew Esther on a deeper level, it was clear that she was a tender soul at heart. I can hardly fathom the unbearable heartbreak this betrayal must have caused her. Following that moment, Esther wanted nothing to do with the Taekwondo world.
Early Morning Flyer Runs
I was frantic to ensure that the few staff members I had could make a living. I did everything in my power to secure cleaning jobs for them. Within just a couple of weeks, our website had climbed to the first page of Google, and I began receiving calls even before hiring anyone! This was the total motivation I needed to act and form my first crew.
However, despite our website’s visibility bringing in some business, it was still 2004—the internet was in its infancy. Not many people were actively searching for house cleaning services online as they do today. To generate a full schedule of jobs for my staff and help them support their families, we relied heavily on passing out flyers.
That’s when Esther came up with a brilliant yet inconvenient idea: waking up at 3 a.m. to distribute flyers at local apartment complexes. This strategy was genius for several reasons. First, Dallas was still asleep, meaning our flyers and business cards would be the first things residents found before heading off to work. Second, we wouldn’t have to contend with others passing out flyers and potentially removing ours, a common nuisance. Third, the cooler night air spared us from the relentless heat of the sun.
Sure, getting up that early was tough, but it worked. I was grateful to have Esther as my partner during those early morning flyer runs.
Squeezing In
Where Esther truly proved invaluable was in her remarkable ability to open locked apartment entrance gates from the inside. During those early morning hours, while everyone else was asleep, waiting for a car to enter or exit so we could sneak in could take quite a while. But that was never a problem with Esther around. Her slender frame allowed her to easily slip through the front gate and quickly scurry back to the unreachable open button. As soon as the gate swung open, I would drive the car in, park, and we’d grab our bags of flyers for the early morning distribution.
Apartment complexes were ideal for our flyer campaigns because all the units were clustered closely together. We typically took a break around 7:30 a.m. as residents began to hop into their cars and head off to work. After our brief respite, we’d resume our flyer run for a few more hours.
By the end of the day, we managed to cover approximately 800 doors. From our efforts, we would typically receive one or two calls for service the same day, with another couple trickling in within the next few days. Knowing that 800 doors would translate into about three jobs, it became clear that this was simply a numbers game: distribute a set number of flyers, and secure a certain number of jobs in return. This gave me confidence that we could keep our teams busy, ensuring they received healthy paychecks.
Even better, I later discovered that hitting the same apartment complex twice would yield slightly more jobs than our first round, while a third visit would produce results similar to the initial outreach. The lesson was clear: repetition is key in advertising.
How To Win at Taekwondo
While sitting on a curb in an apartment complex, taking a break from passing out flyers, Esther, puffing on a cigarette, shared her strategy for winning at Taekwondo. Her approach was straightforward: in a match, she would focus on one specific area to hit repeatedly. This relentless targeting would quickly wear down her opponent. Just the thought of being kicked in the left shoulder over and over makes me cringe at the imagined pain. I can easily see how such a tactic would be painfully effective.
From my conversations with Esther, it became clear that the world of competitive sports can be ruthlessly unforgiving. Athletes at that level will do whatever it takes to secure victory. I can’t help but recall the tragic story of Tonya Harding, who infamously orchestrated an attack on her teammate Nancy Kerrigan, hoping to increase her own chances of medaling.
Speaking of ruthlessness, I remember a traumatic incident involving Esther’s close friend, Mandy. I met Mandy through Esther, and the two were inseparable. One day, Esther was visibly upset with a man named Stephen. I suspected that he had done something terrible to Mandy, though Esther kept the specifics to herself. Later, I came across a CNN article in a Reddit thread that shed light on the source of Esther’s anger.
It’s evident why Esther felt compelled to distance herself from the toxic environment surrounding Taekwondo.
A Friend
Although I was Esther’s boss, after a couple of months of working together, she confessed that she saw me more as a friend than an employer. Looking back, we certainly engaged in many activities typical of friends. We spent evenings at bars, enjoyed nights out clubbing with her and her friend Mandy, and dined at a local Korean restaurant where Esther would charmingly demonstrate traditional Korean etiquette. One of my fondest memories is celebrating my 30th birthday with her, where she had “In Da Club” by 50 Cent blasting all day—“Go shawty, it’s your birthday!” I miss Esther.
As I write this, I vividly recall one night at a bar when a waitress offered shots in vials. I politely declined, but in a moment of not-so-sober mischief, I stealthily snagged one as she walked away (looking back, am not proud of this incident). Esther erupted in laughter. I asked her what was so funny, and she explained that, given my usual demeanor as a stand-up guy who always did the “proper thing,” this unexpected act was just too much for her. Her laughter continued, non-stop, for a good five minutes.
Having a friendship rather than a traditional boss-employee relationship was a double-edged sword.
Speaking Her Mind
The positive side of our friendship was that Esther felt more comfortable sharing her opinions about my management skills. Her candid and constructive feedback was invaluable, especially since my management experience was still developing. I remember a particular incident when I asked her to complete a task, and she took visible offense at how I phrased it. She suggested that it would be more constructive for me to say, “I need your help with xx…” instead of simply asking, “Can you do xx…?” To this day, nearly two decades later, I still use the phrase “I need your help with xx” with my current staff.
However, Esther’s stubbornness occasionally became a point of frustration. As the traditional boundaries of our boss-employee relationship blurred, her headstrong nature surfaced more frequently. For instance, when a cleaner called in sick and I needed her assistance in cleaning a home, the prospect of her stepping in was no longer a viable option.
Can I Have a Kiss Please
At the time, my girlfriend was Korean, and I thought it would be fun to ask for a kiss in her language. Esther was more than happy to teach me. While I can’t recall the exact spelling, I learned to say “Can I have a kiss, please?” in Korean by sounding it out in English: “Boo-boo Jew-Say-O.” Angie, my girlfriend at the time, found it quite amusing.
However, Angie would later not find humor in Esther’s blunt remark one day: “Why are you with her? Your girlfriend is ugly.” I was taken aback—thanks for the honesty, Esther! Naturally, I didn’t share her thoughts with Angie. I couldn’t help but wonder what prompted Esther to say this, especially since Angie was undeniably beautiful. Her job, which I personally wasn’t fond of, required her to maintain her looks and often involved late hours, which allowed for platonic outings with Esther.
Angie had started as a waitress at The Lodge, a gentleman’s club, and, like many waitresses there, she was encouraged to work as a dancer, which she eventually did. This unfortunate turn of events led me to end our relationship. I told her, “I can never marry a stripper.” While outer beauty is appealing, inner beauty is more important to me.
Coincidentally, the owner of The Lodge, Dawn Rizos, happened to be one of my customers. I found the Rizos family to be a quintessential all-American family—almost like something out of Leave It to Beaver—which made it hard to believe they ran a strip club.
In the Closet
Near the end of 2004, I rented office space in a snazzy office building at 2351 W. Northwest Hwy, Suite 2110, Dallas, Texas 75220. Well, they called it an office, but “Suite 2110”—being windowless and about half the size of my current office room—felt more like a utility closet. Still, at the lovely low price of $250 a month, it was perfect for a budding business, so I had no complaints. Although I wish I had known about the strip club across the street and the general vibe of the area. Being relatively new to Dallas, I was unaware of the seediness that often accompanied Harry Hines Boulevard. Esther would occasionally get calls requesting a type of maid service we just didn’t offer.
The office was a compact 300 square feet. Esther set up her desk along the south wall, while mine occupied the east wall. We created a second “room” using two cubicle barriers generously donated by my friend Richard Burnside, where we stored cleaning supplies—most of which just sat on the floor.
Richard was the owner of Thank God Small Moves & Home Delivery. His work as a moving company often led him to collect office furniture (like cubicles) and décor from jobs, which inspired him to start Second Hand Sams. Quite a clever business model, I must say.
Anyway, back to Esther…
Starting From The Bottom
There we spent the hours building a cleaning business, customer by customer. Esther was exceptional in customer service. Customers loved her. This was crucial because if customers liked you, they were willing to overlook mistakes—an important factor when you’re running a young business, where many mistakes were made.
Day in and day out, Esther worked her magic on the phones. She scheduled cleaning services, ensuring every customer was happy. She managed the cleaning crews, making sure they had everything they needed to do their jobs while troubleshooting any issues that arose in the field. All of this happened alongside her occasional smoke breaks or snacking on the beef jerky she always seemed to have on hand, which I later learned was her go-to snack for long hours.
One day, Esther discovered that I wasn’t paying myself a salary. She urged me to do so, insisting I deserved to be compensated for my hard work. But that wasn’t an option. The business was precariously hanging by a mop thread and needed every cent to survive. I lost money in the first year, even selling some of my stocks to cover costs as we continually cultivated cash flow. The second year, I didn’t lose money, but I didn’t make any either. By the third year, I was finally able to pay myself a modest salary of $150 every two weeks. In the fourth year, I began to climb out of the hole, with a salary of around $40,000 a year. Today, Dallas Maids is a million-dollar business.
Looking back, the pay I put off in those early years paid dividends in the future for fledgling ventures. Esther was a big part of that journey, her encouragement and dedication shaping not only the success of Dallas Maids but also my own personal growth.
In The End
I don’t recall exactly why Esther left Dallas Maids, but I have a feeling that becoming more friends and losing the employee/boss dynamic ultimately contributed to our separation. And, let’s be honest, she could be quite stubborn. Yet sometimes I wonder what might have happened if she had stayed. What did my life miss out on? What could we have accomplished together if she had remained part of the team?
In the end, I hope sharing some of my memories honors the memory of Esther Kim, allowing a piece of her to live on. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to work alongside her. Esther was a tremendous talent and instrumental in lifting Dallas Maids off the ground during those first, precarious years when a startup’s survival is at its most vulnerable.
How lucky I was to have known Esther—not just as a coworker but as a friend. Her laughter, wisdom, and unwavering dedication were gifts that shaped not only the company but also me as a leader. Every time I reflect on those early days, I am reminded of her spirit, her strength, and the lessons she imparted. In many ways, she helped define who I am today, and for that, I will always be gratef
Afterward
While writing down my memories, I recalled a rough time line of event. The accuracy of this time line may be questionable but it’s to the best of my recollection.
- Sept 2003 to Sept 2004. The Chelsea on Southern Apartments (Then called Southern Villas) – Came up with the idea of starting a maid service for Angie and Cassie, one of our roommates. They weren’t interested so I had a go at it myself. Set up Dallasmaids.com 3/31/2004 and started getting calls, prompting me to hire first cleaning team of two. A history of www.dallasmaids.com.
- Sept 2004 – Sept 2005. Lived with Angie in Creekwood apartments on Esters Rd. Rented a closet office.
- Sept 2005 – August 2013. After lease ended, moved into condo which doubled as my office and separated from Angie. Bought Frisco home and move out of “office” on Oct 2008. Used condo as office.
- August 2008 – Present. Bought office building for Dallas Maids’ headquarters. Condo became a rental property.