Work doesn’t wait for Todd Graves, even on vacation.

Sometimes, the billionaire co-founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers starts work at 4:30 a.m. while traveling, so he can join his family at the beach by the time they wake up around 11 a.m., he says.

Graves defines work-life balance as scheduling family time into his calendar, to avoid getting lost while growing his company. He could ease his workload if he was happy or comfortable with his level of success, he adds — but he’s unlikely to stop trying to grow his restaurant chain, which could finish this year with nearly $5 billion in sales, anytime soon.

“I’m as busy as anybody I know, I travel as much as anybody I know, but I can work my schedule where I can make most of the things I need to be at with kids, family or important friends,” says Graves, who has helmed Raising Cane’s since opening its first location nearly three decades ago in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Running a reportedly billion-dollar company while spending time with his wife and two children is a matter of “extreme logistics,” he says — setting family time in stone in his calendar, and making a conscious effort to be present during those times, even if he’s tired. At times, his wife has even brought their two kids to his office for dinner and playtime, so he could see them before their bedtimes, he told CNBC Make It last week.

“There’s always something to work on and you’ll just constantly do it, so it’s being very diligent on planning,” says Graves. “You might be tired, but you’re not going to be dragging around … You’re going to be just as enthusiastic for those special times [with your family].”

Graves’ “extreme logistics” approach includes elements of timeboxing, a productivity strategy where you set allotted times in your schedule for specific tasks, and when each time is up, you move to the next box on your calendar — no matter what.

Using a timebox calendar can help with procrastination, bestselling author and behavioral design expert Nir Eyal told CNBC Make It in June: “If you don’t have time for exercise, time with your family, time with your friends, time for focused work, it’s not going to get done.”

You can similarly schedule wellness days into your life, psychologist Casey Tallent told CNBC Make It in September. Intentionally dedicate your days off work to specific goals, she recommended: connecting with others, catching up on sleep, focusing on yourself, a day with less social media and a day with no schedule.

“Our society focuses so much on keeping up and doing things for others, but bringing that back to you so that you have more to give on those other days is so important,” said Tallent.

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Why do decision-makers at work really choose one person for a role over another? What actually makes them trust someone’s judgment? How do they decide in practice who to tap for important opportunities?

For the last 12 years, I’ve coached top performers at some of the world’s largest and most competitive Fortune 500 companies. As a result, I’ve been a trusted advisor to executives, C-suite leaders, and hiring managers who’ve confided in me their answers to all these questions. 

Over time I’ve seen that technical expertise gets you far, but your ability to communicate persuasively determines whether your opinion is actively sought out or you have to fight to get your voice heard. 

I’ve watched this play out across different industries and ranks. The ability to influence others can set you up for success. And vice versa. Take the smart subject matter expert who can’t translate their work into the language of decision-makers, for example, or the skilled but inarticulate manager who gets passed over for promotion.

Your impact and advancement at work depends on your ability to persuade others.

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Becoming persuasive doesn’t mean resorting to manipulation, mind games, or politicking. In fact, the most powerful communicators I’ve worked with are thoughtful professionals who’ve learned to leverage their perceptiveness strategically. They understand psychology: how people think, what drives their choices, and how to present ideas to get seen, heard, and paid. 

The good news is that persuasive communication is a learnable skill. Here are my three favorite strategies to get started. Pick one to try today, and watch how differently people respond to your contributions.

Decision-makers are busy and overwhelmed. When you take too long to get to your point, you risk losing their attention, and you may inadvertently signal that you don’t have a good handle on your own message.

Contrast this with someone who can articulate their key point in a few crisp sentences. That level of clarity suggests expertise and confidence.

To be more persuasive, start with your conclusion, request, or recommendation, then follow with supporting evidence as needed. This might sound like: 

• “I recommend pushing the product launch to September. The three factors driving this are ….”
• “We need to consider redesigning our app’s navigation by Q3 to stop losing users. The data shows ….”
• “Can you review this report by Thursday? I need your input specifically on X and Y.”

Before your next meeting, write down your main “take-home” message in one to two clear sentences. That constraint forces you to filter out the fluff and focus on the information that matters. 

Persuasive communicators have mastered the art of translation. They reframe their messages through the lens of their audience’s needs.

People in power don’t just want clever solutions. They want good ideas that speak directly to their pressures, pain points, and priorities. Make that connection and you’ll gain a competitive edge. 

For example, instead of saying, “This new system will improve data processing efficiency by 40%,” you might say, “This solution will help you deliver quarterly reports three days faster, giving you more time to prepare for board meetings.” 

Even when you need to defer or push back, the same principle applies. Jazz up a simple “I’ll get back to you,” by saying instead, “I want to make sure I give you the most useful answer for your quarterly planning. Can I have until Friday to gather the specific data you’ll need?”

Small shifts in your word choice can dramatically change how your message lands, especially with senior stakeholders.

Consider the difference between saying “I think we should …” versus “In my experience …” One signals uncertainty, the other expertise.

Or how about “I’m trying to …” versus “We’re implementing …”? The first suggests struggle, the second implies purposeful action.

Look for opportunities to swap weak verbs with more powerful ones. For example: 

• “Had to” can become “decided to,” “chose to,” or “opted to” 
• “Helped” could be replaced with “guided,” “directed,” “led,” “advised,” or “oversaw”

Don’t get caught up in fancy words or corporate jargon. This is about choosing more precise language that reflects the scale and scope of your actions. 

Melody Wilding, LMSW, is an executive coach, human behavior professor, and author of ”Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge.” Download exact scripts to diplomatically say no at work here.

Want to earn more money at work? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Negotiate a Higher Salary. Expert instructors will teach you the skills you need to get a bigger paycheck, including how to prepare and build your confidence, what to do and say, and how to craft a counteroffer. Pre-register now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 50% off through Nov. 26, 2024.

Costco may have raised its prices, but right now you can snag a membership for cheaper than ever.

The warehouse store chain’s Gold Star Membership normally retails for $65. For the next few weeks, shoppers can purchase a 12-month membership through affiliate marketer StackSocial and receive a $45 Costco gift card, effectively reducing their annual rate to $20 for their first year.

The same offer is also available for Costco’s premium Executive Membership, which costs $130 per year and gives members 2% cash back on all Costco purchases. Factoring in the $45 gift card, you can get an Executive Membership for an effective annual rate of $85 for your first year.

Costco recently increased its membership rates from $60 and $120 for the Gold Star and Executive memberships, respectively.

In order to score the savings, you’ll need to purchase your membership through StackSocial. After creating your account, you will receive your $45 digital gift card via email from Costco within two weeks.

The deal is available through Dec. 22 and must be redeemed before Jan. 31 of next year. You can access the offer here.

The offer is only eligible to new members or to people whose Costco membership expired more than 18 months ago, meaning that if you already have a Costco membership, you’re out of luck.

If you’re thinking about joining Costco, which membership should you choose?

Costco’s basic Gold Star Membership gets you access to Costco warehouses, the chain’s website and its famously affordable gas stations.

The Executive Membership has all the benefits of the Gold Star membership, as well as 2% cash back on all purchases and additional savings on Costco services like their bottled water delivery and pet insurance.

If you buy your home or auto insurance through Costco, the Executive membership will get you some exclusive benefits such as roadside and lockout assistance.

Costco’s membership page includes a calculator where you can enter how much you spend at the store each month to see how much cash back you can expect to receive at the end of the year to see if the higher rate makes sense for you.

If you’re on the fence about getting the pricier option, Costco has taken the stress out of the decision. the chain promises to refund the difference in cost between a Gold Star membership and an Executive membership in your first year if you aren’t satisfied.

Keep in mind that the refund won’t happen automatically. To get your money back, you’ll need to go to your local Costco location and have the reimbursement processed at the membership desk. 

Want to earn more money at work? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Negotiate a Higher Salary. Expert instructors will teach you the skills you need to get a bigger paycheck, including how to prepare and build your confidence, what to do and say, and how to craft a counteroffer. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 50% off through November 26, 2024.

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Housing costs are the biggest expense most people face, so knowing how much you can afford to spend can be key to staying on top of your budget. However, that amount is not always clear.

As a rule of thumb, financial planners commonly recommend spending no more than 30% of your gross income on housing, whether that’s mortgage or rent costs. This advice is often based on guidelines set in the 1980s by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which defined spending beyond 30% as “housing cost burdened.”

That means if you earn the U.S. median income of around $80,000, you should aim to keep your housing costs to $2,000 a month.

But with housing costs soaring over the past few years, a significant portion of Americans now spend more than 30% of their income on housing, including nearly half of all renters, according to a recently published U.S. Census report. Among homeowners, 21.1% of those with a mortgage and 11.5% without a mortgage exceed this threshold.

Considering that Americans are routinely spending more than 30% of their income on housing, the guideline can feel more like an ideal than a realistic rule of thumb.

Here’s a look at how much you can afford to spend on housing at different income levels if you’re aiming to stay within a 30%, 40% or 50% threshold.

The maximum amount you can put toward monthly housing costs without spending more than 30% of your gross income:

• $30,000 income: $750
• $40,000 income: $1,000
• $50,000 income: $1,250
• $60,000 income: $1,500
• $70,000 income: $1,750
• $80,000 income: $2,000
• $90,000 income: $2,250
• $100,000 income: $2,500
• $110,000 income: $2,750
• $120,000 income: $3,000

The maximum amount you can put toward monthly housing costs without spending more than 40% of your gross income:

• $30,000 income: $1,000
• $40,000 income: $1,333
• $50,000 income: $1,667
• $60,000 income: $2,000
• $70,000 income: $2,333
• $80,000 income: $2,667
• $90,000 income: $3,000
• $100,000 income: $3,333
• $110,000 income: $3,667
• $120,000 income: $4,000

The maximum amount you can put toward monthly housing costs without spending more than 50% of your gross income:

• $30,000 income: $1,250
• $40,000 income: $1,667
• $50,000 income: $2,083
• $60,000 income: $2,500
• $70,000 income: $2,917
• $80,000 income: $3,333
• $90,000 income: $3,750
• $100,000 income: $4,167
• $110,000 income: $4,583
• $120,000 income: $5,000

While the 30% rule is still a useful guideline, it’s not always practical — especially in urban areas where housing costs are often higher, says Melissa Caro, certified financial planner and founder of My Retirement Network.

For many, “flexibility is necessary,” but spending more on housing should still be done carefully, she says. That’s because other parts of a household budget, such as discretionary spending on things like entertainment, have some built-in flexibility, while housing costs do not.

“Rent or mortgage payments won’t adjust if you face a job loss, so carefully weigh what’s essential versus what’s ideal,” Caro says.

That said, spending 50% or more of your income on housing is a “red line” to avoid since it limits your financial flexibility, Caro says.

Other experts recommend sticking closer to 30%, if you can.

“The 30% rule is still a good starting point for housing costs,” says Emmanuel Eliason, a CFP in Colorado. However, in places with high housing costs “something in the range of 35% to 39% could be ideal for most families if they take proactive steps to revert back to the standard 30% housing budget allocation over time.”

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In 2023, Anna-Marie Ortiz worked remotely for a fintech startup, where she earned $60,000 a year.

She liked the job well enough, but wasn’t sure what her future at the company would look like. “I realized I can’t wait around for other people’s dreams, and that’s when I decided to go all in on mine,” she tells CNBC Make It.

That July, Ortiz used the last of her $2,000 in savings to start a cleaning company on the side. By November, she took the business, Cool Aunt Cleaners, full-time.

Although she’s only able to pay herself around $29,000 this year — a significant pay cut from her last position — she’s happy with her choice to strike out on her own.

“I love being my own boss,” she says. “It allows me the flexibility to make my own decisions and create a work environment that reflects my values.”

Cool Aunt Cleaners isn’t Ortiz’s first experience with entrepreneurship.

After working at a series of tech startups in her early 20s, she opened a plant store in Wichita, Kansas, in 2020. Although the store closed in early 2021, it taught her about managing inventory, customer service and budgeting — key lessons she later applied to launching Cool Aunt Cleaners.

Ortiz decided to start a cleaning business instead of another retail store because of the low startup costs and solid return on investment, she says. Low overhead gave her the flexibility to start solo and gradually expand, hiring employees as demand increased.

She also liked that cleaning is a “tried and true” service that’s been “around forever,” giving her hope that the business would offer stability for her future.

In its first month, Cool Aunt Cleaners brought in about $2,600 in revenue. That has steadily grown over time, and the business has brought in about $10,000 per month so far in 2024.

After taking Cool Aunt Cleaners full time in November 2023, Ortiz was eager to scale it up. She hired four employees, but quickly realized the challenges of expanding too fast. She decided to scale back her team to the point where she was running the business solo during the summer of 2024.

“When you start a business, you have no idea how it’s gonna go,” she says. “But you keep going because you believe in what you’re building.”

The business has since stabilized, with about 15 to 20 recurring clients. And in August, Ortiz hired a part-time worker using a commission-based pay structure.

She plans to continue expanding as she secures more cleanings, eventually growing Cool Aunt Cleaners into a seven-figure business.

“When you have a vision for your business, it is a long-term investment, it’s not something that can be rushed,” she says.

Although Ortiz’s $29,000 salary is less than she’s earned in previous roles, she sees it as a small sacrifice for the long-term independence her business will bring.

“I think people have a false sense of security with their 9-to-5 jobs,” she says. They can get “used to being told what to do every single day,” which can be “dangerous” and lead to staying in a place where “they’re no longer happy.”

While Ortiz has taken on more risk to be a small business owner, she finds fulfillment in creating her own path: “I’d rather put in the work now to build something that lasts.”

Want to earn more money at work? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Negotiate a Higher Salary. Expert instructors will teach you the skills you need to get a bigger paycheck, including how to prepare and build your confidence, what to do and say, and how to craft a counteroffer. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 50% off through November 26, 2024.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.