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| Jim Holthouser, CEO of GoTo Foods, he's up by 6am daily, snacks on raw veggies, and avoids TV news. GoTo Foods |
Jim Holthouser, CEO of GoTo Foods the powerhouse behind beloved brands like Cinnabon, Jamba, and Carvel has built a career on making people feel welcomed and well-fed. With more than 7,000 locations globally and a growing footprint, including Moe’s Casa Mexicana expanding into India, his role is as demanding as it is people-focused. For Holthouser, maintaining a steady rhythm both personally and professionally is the key to managing it all.
From intermittent fasting and early workouts to mentoring staff and playing piano at night, Holthouser’s day is a well-choreographed routine that blends discipline with intentional downtime.
He’s up by 6:30 a.m. even on weekends
Holthouser rarely sleeps past 6:30 a.m., alarm or not. His day starts with black coffee and a scan through several newsletters, including The Wall Street Journal, Morning Brew, Kiplinger, and 1440.
Then comes a daily dose of humor. "I go meme-hunting," he says. Holthouser exchanges memes with longtime friends as a way to stay connected. “Some are political, some are absurd it’s more about the people than the punchlines.”
Daily workouts are a must and he tracks everything with a Whoop ring
Six days a week, Holthouser works out alternating between cardio and weights. He hops on the Peloton at least once a week and often listens to '70s music or follows trainer Leanne Hainsby through intense sessions.
“I love my Whoop ring,” he says. “It gives me more data than I sometimes want, but I like knowing what my body’s doing.”
He’s in the office by 8:30 walking the floor is a daily ritual
Holthouser visits GoTo’s Atlanta headquarters every day. He doesn’t strive to be the first one in, but he prioritizes face time with employees. “Culture doesn’t grow passively,” he says. “You have to nurture it.”
Whether it’s remembering someone’s dog’s name or checking in on a new baby, Holthouser views small connections as meaningful leadership.
Intermittent fasting keeps him away from daily Cinnabon temptations
Given his workplace, Holthouser jokes that fasting is a strategic move. “When I joined the company then Focus Brands they warned me about the ‘Focus 15.’ Sure enough, I gained 11 pounds.”
Now, he skips breakfast and sticks to grilled chicken and salad for lunch most days. Snacks include raw veggies and a hard-boiled egg no dressing, dips, or frills. “I get teased about it constantly, but it works.”
He mentors employees over lunch and holds weekly one-on-ones with 10 direct reports
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| Jim Holthouser meets with his direct reports weekly over lunch, a beer, or just in the office. GoTo Foods |
Holthouser has 10 direct reports, and he meets with each one weekly for an hour. But he also connects with employees across the org chart, hosting casual skip-level meetings and mentoring anyone bold enough to ask.
“If someone reaches out, I’ll almost always say yes,” he says. “We feed people potential that’s our purpose. I want every team member to leave here stronger than they came in.”
His master plan? It lives in the Notes app
Every Friday, Holthouser lists out the coming week’s tasks in the Notes app on his iPhone. No fancy productivity tools, just a digital to-do list he constantly updates. “I’ve got about 15 lists at any given time,” he says. “It helps me stay focused and reduces stress.”
If something’s nagging at him a project gone quiet, an unresolved decision he’ll scroll through his lists to bring it back to the surface.
His days stretch long often ending with evening meetings
Many of Holthouser’s workdays extend into the evening with after-hours commitments, including events and political meetups. “You never know when you’re going to need those connections,” he says. Still, his philosophy remains: leadership is about service. “It’s not about pulling levers at the top it’s about showing up for people.”
Music is his nightly decompression
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| Jim Holthouser has been playing piano since he was 6 years old, and was invited to study at Juilliard before he turned 13. GoTo Foods |
Holthouser has played piano since age six and was even invited to study at Juilliard at 11. He didn’t take that path but played in piano bars and restaurants to fund his education.
Today, he unwinds most evenings with 30 minutes at the Steinway in his home. He also records albums for Nashville-based nonprofit American Entertainment Works, donating all royalties to cultural preservation efforts. “I’ve recorded eight albums so far,” he says, “and I’m working on four more.”
Inbox zero is a nightly ritual and franchisees always come first
Holthouser is a stickler for an empty inbox. “If I don’t clear it before bed, I don’t sleep well.” He fields about 100 emails daily, but only about 30% are mission-critical.
Franchisee emails always go to the top. “They’re the lifeblood of our company,” he says of the more than 2,000 franchise operators in the GoTo system.
Evenings are for his wife and rest
Holthouser aims to wrap up work by 8 p.m. and spends the rest of the evening catching up with his wife over tea or wine. They’ll watch the news or a show, and by 10:30 or 11 p.m., he’s in bed aiming for a full seven hours of rest.
“I used to function on five or six,” he says. “But I’ve learned that sleep is part of success.”
