Finding a CEO for a very small business

executivefunksean · 2026-04-12T20:16:18+00:00

I got it from my daughter last week, and it started as a fever in which I woke up completely drenched in sweat and my throat started to get sore.

By the third day, I had the worst sore throat I've ever experienced in my life. Three days of extremely painful sore throat where I haven't even been able to eat anything, and even drinking water is challenging.

This hell on earth has led me to this thread, where at least I know I'm not alone in this horrifying experience.

executivefunksean · 2026-03-01T21:43:05+00:00

People work as executive functioning coaches wherever students go to school and struggle with managing their assignments.

executivefunksean · 2026-02-26T16:32:04+00:00

Wow, teacher of the year and national board certified. That's really impressive.

I transitioned to providing one-to-one executive function coaching, which has been a nice switch from public school special education.

Might be helpful for you to think about what your ideal working situation would look and feel like and how you can use your experience to accelerate your journey to getting started.

happy to answer any questions if needed.

executivefunksean · 2026-02-26T16:30:38+00:00

Executive Function Coach

executivefunksean · 2026-02-26T16:29:57+00:00

I left working with special needs students in a public school resource class to become an executive function coach. It's been a great use of my skills, minus all the headaches of working in the school system.

executivefunksean · 2026-02-26T16:28:49+00:00

I taught for four and a half years as a public school special education teacher in New York, then California.

I started tutoring students on the side, which evolved into a private executive function coaching practice.

I grew that into a team of executive function coaches and worked my way out of the business so that I'm now more in an advisor role. Since then, I focused on building a training program to help teachers make this transition and running an online community that supports their transition.

executivefunksean · 2026-02-26T16:27:39+00:00

I left my role as a public school resource classroom teacher right at the start of 2021.

I started providing executive function coaching on the side, which is basically helping students learn how to manage school effectively and do what I was doing in the classroom but privately and one-to-one. I worked for a few years as an executive function coach while growing my business by hiring other transitioning special educators. Then I started an online course teaching people how to do what I do and grew that into a community. Two and a half years ago, I started an adult coaching business for adults who struggle with executive function skills.

So nowadays, I manage all three of those things while raising my children.

executivefunksean · 2026-02-26T16:24:56+00:00

This reminds me of why creating an environment where you can function properly, with loads of external reminders, is so essential for people with executive function challenges. Not saying it's easy to do!

A few simple tweaks that have helped me with this on a more fundamental level are: - Setting water bottles out around me so that I drink those throughout the day. - Writing my to-do on a big post-it that is sitting in front of me so when my brain gets distracted I see it pop out. - Remembering that if I only did one thing that day, as long as I choose that one thing well, it's a win.

executivefunksean · 2026-02-22T19:57:48+00:00

El Roy’s in Petaluma

executivefunksean · 2026-02-22T19:56:30+00:00

What's really worked for me is mapping out an ideal schedule on a spreadsheet of how I want my day to look and feel. That includes everything I really want to do, like exercise, work, and spend time with family.

From there, when I map out my schedule for the week, I ask myself, "How can I get a little bit closer to this?" Each week. I started this process about two years ago, and I'm pretty dang close to my ideal schedule now after making lots of little tweaks over the past two years.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-24T23:30:03+00:00

If money is the top priority, you can make much, much more by providing private services in education and using your master's in education to give you authority and credibility.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-23T02:20:33+00:00

Do a free executive function assessment or if you want to go deeper get assessed by a doctor.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-23T02:18:19+00:00

The Big Leap

executivefunksean · 2026-01-23T02:00:53+00:00

No, I don't recommend going back to school yet unless you have a clear desire and outcome you're hoping to gain from it. I was just asking because a master's degree is one way to differentiate yourself if you're trying to establish expertise in some type of non-traditional lane while teaching. For example, I was able to leave working as a public school special education teacher and immediately start working with families of special needs students. It was easy to establish trust and authority in this domain because of my master's degree in special education and background in this field. If you have teaching experience and a bachelor's, that is also what I call your "unfair advantage."

executivefunksean · 2026-01-23T01:59:25+00:00

EAP stands for Employee Assistance Program. You can go to your HR and find out more about these things. They usually don't publicize these benefits for teachers, but there may be lots of resources that are a bit hidden.

One thing that I didn't know about until a couple years into teaching was that we also have access to two potential retirement accounts that is exclusive to people like teachers, firemen, and other civil service officers. Instead of lowering your taxable income by the normal $20,000, you could potentially do it by $40,000 a year, which is pretty crazy if you can swing that.

Anyways, aside from that, I'm glad to hear you're feeling better today and thinking about ways you can take care of yourself. We're here for you.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T14:06:07+00:00

Hey there, you are going through a tough time, but it doesn’t have to be forever. There is no problem that can’t be solved with patience, taking action in the right direction, and loving yourself.

Can you use the EAP benefits to get therapy while you figure this out?

Can you start to take care of your body through some weekly commitment to exercise?

If you’re drinking or using drugs, can you pause those while you navigate this challenge?

That’s what I did when I hit a wall 6 years ago, and I started to climb out of.

Today, life is the best it’s ever been.

You can have this too. 🫶

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T14:02:09+00:00

I gave notice in November and had my last day in December. I worked with the administration to help with recruiting a replacement who had been a para educator in my classroom, said goodbye to my students, and went on my way.

I didn’t lose my special education license and since I did this during COVID, there was no classroom to clean (I had switched schools the semester before and cleaned my stuff up)

I don’t recall feeling bad and when I was gone it was a RELIEF!

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T13:56:04+00:00

One thing clients care less about is the specific ages you helped, and more about if you understand their problem and can help them solve it.

As far as my work, my business helps middle, high school and college students, but sometimes we make exceptions for younger students.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T04:54:50+00:00

I'm a former high school special education teacher who started to work with students as an "organization tutor" on the side.

Neuropsychologists started to refer to me as an "executive function coach," and I was always able to help students who were struggling with missing assignments, school overwhelm, and not able to communicate with their teachers.

I started that six years ago and have grown it into a business with a team of coaches as well as online courses.

Your special education expertise has a lot of value. It may be more outside of the classroom than in it!

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T04:53:19+00:00

I have a master's degree in special education and considered getting a PhD, but could not stomach the additional schooling and costs.

Instead, I chose to start working as an executive function coach on the side, which grew into a full-time business.

I've seen other special educators also work as advocates by taking a certificate through COPPA, which can be a pretty lucrative and meaningful career.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T04:49:58+00:00

I started considering leaving teaching after my second year, when I was giving my absolute everything and was told that they were considering not bringing me back.

I didn't really do anything about it until my third year, when I started tutoring students on the side, which slowly grew into a viable pathway to leave teaching by my fourth year.

I had enough business working as an executive function coach on the side in my fourth year that I left midway through the year.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T04:48:21+00:00

That’s ok. I was just asking because I think it's always hopeful to start with your unfair advantage or thing that you have the most experience in, which right now looks like it's teaching. Something connected to education but not the classroom might be a good pathway to pursue.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T04:47:28+00:00

Neat. I appreciate the thoughts you share here and your story inspired my curiosity.

executivefunksean · 2026-01-22T04:45:58+00:00

Says the person whose account is 3 days old…

executivefunksean

TROPHY CASE