‘Worked 90-hour weeks’: CEO says work-life balance isn’t for start-up founders

A billionaire co-founder and a CEO has a simple message for aspiring entrepreneurs: work-life balance is a myth, especially in the early stages of building a company.
“Work-life balance isn’t for entrepreneurs,” Todd Graves, Raising Cane’s co-founder and CEO, told CNBC Make It, explaining that the commitment required to build a business is far more intense than most realise.
Despite his massive success, Graves emphasizes that the path to greatness was paved with long hours and sacrifices, the CNBC report added. To make his Baton Rouge-based chicken finger chain a success, Graves worked relentless 90-hour weeks at a California oil refinery, fished for salmon in Alaska, and did whatever it took to lay the foundation for Raising Cane.
“I can’t tell you how many 15, 16-hour days I’ve worked in a row,” says Graves, who now oversees a company valued in the billions. He also goe on to say that at times, his family life became intertwined with work—his wife would bring their two kids to the office for dinner and playtime before he’d return to the grind.
Today, Graves, who owns 90 per cent of Raising Cane’s, still maintains a demanding schedule but has figured out how to balance his commitments, allowing him to spend quality time with family and friends. According to an instance shared by him with CNBC, during vacations, he’s often up by 4.30 am to get work done, so he can join his family by 11 am and make the most of the rest of the day with them.
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In recent months, growing concerns have emerged about the mental health of young professionals, with many struggling to maintain a work-life balance amid erratic work schedules and overwhelming expectations.
Experts warn that the high-pressure environment many young employees face is contributing to rising health issues, including heart attacks and other stress-related ailments.
Numerous reports have surfaced of professionals in high-stress jobs experiencing severe burnout, with some tragically succumbing to heart attacks or strokes at an alarming rate. These incidents have brought to light the unhealthy work culture that many young workers are grappling with, particularly in fast-paced industries where long hours and constant availability are often expected.
(Also Read: Company asks candidates not to apply if their goal is ‘work-life balance’, Reddit post shocks people)