Sometimes I Just Need to Be a Coach
A couple of weeks ago, I joined the Anti-Boring Learning Lab call that Gretchen Wegner hosted—a gathering of tutors, teachers, and coaches who love to dig into the “how” and “why” of learning. Gretchen had invited me to attend to help answer a few questions, and I was happy to join in.
As I listened, something shifted for me. I realized how thankful I am to be part of that community—a community I’ve been connected to for over seven years. It has shaped me, supported me, and reminded me again and again why this work matters.
When I’m in that space, I’m not the owner of a company or a course creator. I get to just be an Executive Function coach, reflecting on my students, my practice, and the small moments that make this work meaningful.
During the call, one participant said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“The more I coach, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”
That line stayed with me because it captures the truth of our work so perfectly. When you work with humans, things will always be shifting. Our instincts will be challenged. Our certainty will wobble. And gratitude—for the work, the community, and the learning—helps us stay grounded through all of it.
Executive Function Spotlight: Cognitive Flexibility
Cognitive flexibility is what lets us adjust when things don’t go the way we expected. When a strategy that worked last month suddenly falls flat, we get to pause instead of panic.
That pause lets us ask:
What’s different here?
What did this experience teach me?
What could I try next?
It keeps us curious instead of critical—and our students feel the difference.
Reflection Lens: Metacognition
Metacognition isn’t technically an executive function, but it’s the awareness that connects them all.
If cognitive flexibility helps us shift, metacognition helps us notice a shift is needed.
Together, they help us model what we want students to internalize:
self-awareness, openness, reflection, and growth.
Wrapping It Up: Gratitude in Growth
When I think back on that call, I feel deeply grateful—grateful for Gretchen, for the Anti-Boring Learning Lab, for the educators who show up vulnerably, and for the reminder that the best coaches are always still learning.
And that reflection ties directly into something I’ve been thinking a lot about: how we build our own professional growth with intention. When we support students, we talk constantly about structure, consistency, and reflection—but those same ingredients matter just as much in our practices.
That’s why I’m so excited to debut Practice with Purpose, opening for registration during Black Friday week. This series is built to help coaches strengthen the foundation of their work so they can serve students with more clarity and confidence—not more exhaustion.
Our very first session will be held on December 11 at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and it focuses on one of the most important pillars of a sustainable practice: referrals.
No cold outreach. No awkward asks.
But authentic, human relationships with psychologists, schools, and other professionals who genuinely value the work you do.
Together, we’ll explore:
How to build meaningful, mutually supportive referral relationships
How to nurture those partnerships over time
How to avoid the “reach out once and hope something happens” trap
How to track who you’ve connected with, when you last spoke, and when to follow up
And you won’t just learn—you’ll create.
You’ll walk away with a completed referral letter or rack card and a simple relationship-tracking system you can start using immediately.
If you’ve been wanting to grow your practice with intention—not hustle—I would love to have you join me.
Because gratitude isn’t just something we feel… it can also be something we build into the way we do our work.
One last thing.
Want more information?
Black Friday Burst starts Monday.
And Monday’s offer is a first look at something brand new: the Practice with Purpose workshop series. These workshops were designed to help you build a stronger, more sustainable coaching practice with clear systems for referrals, consultations, and scheduling. If you’ve been wanting a little more clarity and structure behind the scenes, you will not want to miss day one.
Check your inbox Monday morning to get early access.
