For tutors, offering a figurative handshake means starting each session prepared, attentive, and warm. It means being aware of the student’s energy, adjusting to their pace, and creating an environment where they feel safe taking academic risks. It is not about perfection. It is about presence. A student can tell right away when a tutor is truly with them, rather than simply going through the motions. That awareness is what brings a session to life.

A few days ago, I pulled out Ben & Jerry’s: The Inside Scoop. I read it a few years ago. Its lessons still resonate. The book tells the story of how two childhood friends with no business experience turned a tiny Vermont ice cream shop into one of America’s most recognizable brands by building on values, not spreadsheets. Fred “Chico” Lager’s account captures the messy, funny, idealistic energy that defined Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield’s early years: their obsession with quality ingredients, commitment to local sourcing, and belief that business could be a force for good. It shows how they balanced idealism and pragmatism, building a profitable company without losing humor or humanity. Their story demonstrates how social mission can be woven into the core of an organization rather than added as an afterthought.

I am a founder of a tutoring company, I’m a former wrestling fan during my most awkward middle school years in the late ’80s, and I fully recognize that it might seem unconventional (even a little odd) for the owner of a tutoring company to write a blog post about a professional wrestler. But I’m doing it anyway.

When students work with an executive functioning coach or academic tutor, they’re often gaining more than just help with math or English. They’re gaining a boss, someone who sets clear expectations, helps create a plan, follows up, and holds them accountable. And students respond.

What the commercial sets up as irony is actually a subtle form of academic shaming. The implication is that the manager’s degree is irrelevant, maybe even laughable, and that requiring a college degree at all is outdated or elitist. That’s a deeply unfair portrayal of the value of higher education, and it ignores the hard work, discipline, and transferable skills that even (and especially) a dance degree can offer.

“Careless errors” sounds like a character flaw. It implies the student isn’t paying attention, doesn’t care enough, or is simply being lazy. That’s rarely the case.

I’m a firm believer in trusting your gut. Science may not have fully explained why humans have this instinct, but we all know that feeling—the little nudge that says something is off or, conversely, that something just feels right. 

While it’s ideal for a child to agree with the decision to seek tutoring, the reality is that sometimes the final call may need to rest with the parent. Parents must approach tutoring as a decision made for their child’s best interests, rather than something the child gets to opt in or out of.

If Holden Caulfield had received executive functioning tutoring, it likely would have been a disaster—at least at first.

Think of executive functioning as the brain’s air traffic control system. It decides which tasks take priority, when to switch gears, and how to navigate unexpected changes. When these skills are strong, life feels manageable. When they are weak, even the simplest tasks can become frustratingly difficult. 

Name the movie:

Head Valet: To win big you gotta do what? 
Carparkers: Lose. 
Head Valet: Lose big. What are we doing now? 
Carparkers: We're losing big.

This willingness to confront difficulty is not just refreshing—it’s essential. Struggle is universal, and acknowledging it is one of the most powerful ways to connect with others.

When it comes to tutoring, the landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years. Once dominated by in-person sessions, the industry has evolved to embrace the flexibility, convenience, and effectiveness of remote learning. For families navigating their options, this change opens the door to exciting new possibilities—but also raises questions about what’s best for their child’s educational journey.