How do you ensure a balance between work and personal life, and what practices help you manage stress?

Multi-unit restaurant franchisees wear a lot of hats. They lead teams, oversee operations, deliver a great guest experience, and still have to find time to grow the business. Many restaurants are open seven days a week, and the hours and responsibilities can add up. What is left for operators when the work week is over?

Franchise Update spoke with several multi-unit restaurant franchisees about how they managed the stress of balancing both their work and personal lives. The most common response is developing a strong team they can trust. Knowing there is a team in place that can effectively handle operations is extremely important. It allows a franchise owner to step away and enjoy time with family and friends, while reducing the stress of wondering how the business is doing while they are gone.

Others said having good systems and processes in place makes operations more efficient and reduces stress. That creates greater consistency and confidence for staff members. Developing those successful systems helps franchisees run their business more effectively while devoting enough time to their personal lives.

One of the things a busy owner can do in their free time to reduce stress is to relax and watch a good movie. In this week’s Franchisee Bytes, we asked a few multi-unit restaurant franchisees what their favorite movie is. From classics to action to drama, this set of franchisees covers all the bases. Take a look at their responses below and see if they list one of your favorites.

Victor Miltiades

Company: Home-Grown Industries of Georgia, Inc.
Brands: 3 Mellow Mushroom
Years in Franchising: 26

Restaurant leadership requires balance and trust in your team. I focus on developing strong managers who can make decisions and lead effectively. That allows me to spend time with family, stay active, and maintain interests outside of work. Managing stress comes down to staying organized, prioritizing what matters most, and remembering that challenges are opportunities to improve and grow.

Matthew Keiser

Company: Paxton Keiser Enterprises
Brands: 22 Taco John’s, 1 Nothing Bundt Cake
Years in Franchising: 8

The best way I’ve been able to find a sense of work-life balance is by putting together a team I can trust. I’ve made sure my team has a shared determination to grow our business and make it successful. By doing so, I’m able to unplug every now and then and take the time to focus on my family.

Brent Weaver

Company: BWR Enterprises, Inc.
Brands: 3 East Coast Wings + Grill
Years in Franchising: 21

It was hard in the beginning to manage everything at once. My wife, Sherry, was working as a labor and delivery nurse, and with three kids, she had little time to put into building the business. I was working close to 100 hours a week. Once we built up our team, we were able to step back knowing our business was in good hands. It is important to hire people you trust and to know their work ethic, because that gives you the room to relax. One of our general managers started at 15 as a dishwasher and worked his way up. That kind of longevity builds trust. To unwind, we spend time with family or get out on the lake in our boat.

Soo Heu

Company: Heu Hawaii LLC
Brands: 2 Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
Years in Franchising: 3

Work-life balance is a personal challenge because I genuinely love the food and beverage industry. My work has become a big part of my life. I enjoy the challenges that come with it and find a great deal of fulfillment in solving problems and seeing positive results. For me, stress is often tied to opportunities for improvement. When an issue arises, I focus on finding solutions, implementing them, and watching the outcome. That process gives me a sense of accomplishment and is actually one of the ways I manage stress.

Pushpak Patel

Company: Mitra QSR and CMG Companies
Brands: 173 KFC and Taco Bell
Years in Franchising: 18

The best way I have found to manage stress is to reduce unnecessary complexity. As we have grown, we have focused on building systems and processes that make the right decision the easy decision. When decisions are easier to make, work gets done more consistently. The fewer people who have to remember, the fewer mistakes they make. The fewer mistakes we make, the less stress everyone carries.

Confidence comes from consistency. When people know what is expected and have the tools to succeed, they spend less time worrying and more time executing. That is why we invest heavily in routines, processes, and automation.

To me, balance is about creating separation. We try to build an environment where people can leave work at work. When systems are working, decisions are easier, and people have confidence in the process, they are less likely to take work problems home with them. That allows them to be more present with their families and more effective when they return to work the next day.

Franchisee Bytes

What is your favorite movie?

“The Devil Wears Prada” for its lessons on leadership, resilience, and growth under pressure.
-Misha Punwani, Multi-Unit Franchise Owner, Playa Bowls, 16 Playa Bowls

“Remember the Titans.”
-Clement Troutman, CEO, Troutman Management, 2 Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 1 PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans

“Forrest Gump.”
-Chris Aslam, CEO & Principal, Rock Strategies and various entities, 59 Jack in the Box, 5 Golden Chick, 5 Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

“The Silence of the Lambs.”
-Nadeem Bajwa, Co-founder and CEO, Bajco Group, 270+ Papa Johns

“Gone with the Wind.”
-Lisa Starnes, Franchise Owner, Starnes Holdings, 8 Captain D’s

Movies that carry a social meaning in life. One of my favorites is “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
-Yunus Shahul, Franchise Owner, Smartfoods Group, 24 Cousins Maine Lobster, 1 German Doner Kebab

“Top Gun.”
-Matt Davis, President, The Davis Restaurant Group dba the Honey Baked Ham Co., 22 Honey Baked Ham

“Braveheart” and “Gladiator.”
-David Weeks, CEO, The Bean Team, 9 Barberitos, 8 Dunkin’, 4 Newk’s Eatery, 1 Dunkin/Newk’s co-brand