Todd Graves, the billionaire co-founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, a well-known fast-food chain in the US, begins his workday at 4:30 am, even while on vacation, ensuring he completes his tasks before his family wakes up around 11 am.
“I’m as busy as anyone I know, and I travel as much as anyone, but I’ve learned to manage my schedule so I can be present for my kids, family, and close friends,” he told CNBC Make It last week. His approach? Detailed planning.
Central to his strategy is what he calls “extreme logistics,” which includes prioritizing family time as a fixed event in his calendar and making a conscious effort to be fully engaged during those moments. “You might be tired, but you don’t drag yourself around… You’re going to bring the same enthusiasm to those special moments with your family,” Graves, 52, explained.
To balance work and personal life, Graves often blends the two. On occasion, his wife has brought their kids to the office for dinner and playtime so he can spend time with them before they go to bed. He believes these efforts help him maintain focus on what truly matters while growing his restaurant empire, which started nearly 30 years ago in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
His approach aligns with productivity techniques like timeboxing, where tasks are assigned specific time slots in the schedule. He typically works 15-16 hour days.
For Graves, the key is maintaining a delicate balance—ensuring his business goals don’t overshadow his role as a father and husband. “There’s always something that requires focus, and staying disciplined with my planning is essential,” he said.
