This story appears in the September 2026 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
Whether you’re grabbing a sandwich, wings or BBQ tacos, you’ve probably visited one of TC Krueger’s stores. That’s because he owns multiple restaurant franchises, including Jersey Mike’s Subs and Wingstop, and is the co-owner of The Smoked Taco.
“In restaurants and building new locations, each [one] feels like a new business,” Krueger says. “Each one has its own new challenges and lease to negotiate. Every single one is like its own miniature startup.”
Operating at that scale requires immense organization. As a serial entrepreneur, these are the tools, apps and daily habits that Krueger relies on to stay focused as he scales.
WHOOP band
“I use the WHOOP band and app a lot. It’s how I track if I’m sleeping well and getting enough exercise. In the early days of the business, I wasn’t very healthy and had tons of back problems. It’s very easy to let things slip when you don’t really know what’s going on. I’m more productive with work if I’m healthy.”
‘Rocks’
“As a leadership team, the biggest thing is deciding what the core things are, which we call ‘rocks,’ that need to get done in the next 90 days. Every week, we review them because it’s easy to get caught in the weeds and the daily tasks that come up. So having those ‘rocks’ and deciding [on them] every quarter and following up on them every week has been the biggest thing that’s changed for us the last few years. ‘Rocks’ are how I’m able to dig through the noise to get to the things that really move the needle.”
Spotify
“I listen to a lot of podcasts. Typically, I’m either listening to general business podcasts and a lot of restaurant-specific podcasts on what’s going on in the market. … It became a habit during COVID-19, when I was spending every day consuming what’s going on and what people are talking about. … I need to know what’s going on out there so I don’t only see my own data.”
Fly Delta app
“I travel a lot with my family. Delta is an app I use a lot whenever I travel. I’ve never really taken a vacation where I’ve logged off completely. … I can work all morning, but because I’m somewhere on ‘vacation,’ it forces me to take time to spend time with my family.”
OGIO travel bags
“I have an OGIO backpack that has exactly what I need, like a computer compartment. I travel more than most people and have had all kinds of luggage. I’ve been using my OGIO bags for years, and they’re still in pristine condition. If I were to go out and buy anything, it would probably be another OGIO bag.”
‘Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business’ by Gino Wickman
“Gino Wickman wrote a few books about the entrepreneurial operating system, and … we’re in a heavy people and operations business. ‘Traction’ is my favorite one and a great book even if you don’t use the system.”
Home office
“I split my time between my home office and our company office. Every day, I look at my calendar and decide where I’ll be most effective. I get distracted less if I work from home: If I have a day full of long Zoom calls or deep focus work, working from home keeps people from knocking on my door so I can get done what I need to get done.”
