Should schools that teach Entrepreneurship also teach Executive Functioning?

Hey, what’s up interns and teachers? It’s me, Seth from SethPerler.com.

I have an interesting question here that I got from a parent about a school that is trying to help kids learn about entrepreneurship. The parent is asking about executive function and becoming an entrepreneur.

I’ll read part of the email to you so you understand specifically what she’s asking.

Anyhow, as I said, my name is Seth Perler. I’m an executive function coach based in Colorado, and I help struggling students navigate this thing called education so that they can have a great life.

This is totally related to the question because when a student struggles with executive function, it can negatively impact their future quality of life. That’s the whole reason this matters. If they don’t figure this out, it can limit their choices and opportunities later in life.

So here’s the question:

“How do you think executive functioning applies to being an entrepreneur?”

That’s the first question. Then she goes into a little more detail, which I’ll get to in a second.

Basically, I think executive functioning applies to entrepreneurship in every possible way.

I’m an entrepreneur myself, and anybody who wants to run their own business has to be able to execute. What Seth talks about all the time is helping students move from Point A to Point B.

Point A is where they are struggling with executive function.

Point B is where you can say:
“This kid is going to be okay.”

Not perfect — but they have what I call “good enough executive function.”

I personally have very legitimate executive function struggles, and I’ve dealt with them my whole life. My struggles absolutely, positively impact my ability to be an entrepreneur.

Sometimes I feel like I have to work ten times harder than everyone else just to get the same things done.

But I have “good enough” executive function to build a business that I love — one that is meaningful and purposeful to me, where I can pay the bills, have a good life, and create the kind of freedom, flexibility, and meaning that matter to me.

For me, what’s meaningful is helping kids who struggle with this stuff. That’s what I’ve built my business around.

So how does executive functioning apply to entrepreneurship?

It’s everything.

If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, you have to execute on building your own thing. That means:

* Planning
* Managing time
* Organizing
* Advocating for yourself
* Staying focused
* Paying attention
* Concentrating
* Managing multiple responsibilities at once

All of those are executive function skills.

Now let me continue with the email.

The parent says:
“I’ve recently joined a group at my son’s school whose goal is to improve the entrepreneurial program, which is the foundation of the school.”

That’s very rare, and honestly, very cool.

Most of the students I work with don’t fit into the traditional box. If they had to work typical jobs, many of them would struggle. But I actually think a lot of my students are naturally built to become great entrepreneurs.

The issue is execution.

The parent continues:
“In a recent brainstorming session, we came up with a bunch of ideas geared toward improving the program. I suggested strengthening the teaching of executive functioning skills because I feel the school does a great job of giving kids opportunities to practice these skills, but not a lot of teaching about what the skills actually are.”

Let me address that right now.

Schools generally do not directly teach executive function skills.

The problem with this is that students who naturally have strong executive function appear to be “trying harder,” while students who struggle with executive function appear lazy or unmotivated.

One of the biggest myths is:
“You’re just not trying hard enough.”
“You need to work harder.”
“You need more discipline.”
“You need more motivation.”

But many of these students are genuinely struggling.

When executive function skills are not explicitly taught, the students who naturally pick them up seem successful, while the students who struggle are misunderstood.

So yes — directly teaching these skills is incredibly important.

We need language around executive function. We should absolutely be talking about it in schools, but most schools still don’t.

The parent then says:
“Schools assume students will pick these skills up through osmosis. The ones who don’t are labeled lazy, unmotivated, or undisciplined.”

That is absolutely true.

I’m a huge believer that having language around these issues improves communication, problem-solving, and the ability to create solutions more effectively.

If schools understood executive function as a set of learnable skills, it would help everybody.

The parent continues:
“The administration seems open, but many staff members are resistant.”

Honestly, many of those people probably have naturally strong executive function themselves. Because things came easily to them, they often don’t fully understand what legitimate executive function struggles feel like.

They think:
“Just try harder.”
“Work harder.”
“Be more disciplined.”

They don’t understand that the struggle is real.

The parent also mentions:
“A lack of understanding about what executive function skills actually are.”

Yes. Absolutely.

I always encourage people to use assessments, articles, or resources from experts in the executive function field so that the conversation isn’t just based on personal opinion.

The parent also mentions:
“A resistance to the idea of planning in connection with entrepreneurship.”

And then:
“A desire to focus only on innovation and risk tolerance.”

I think that happens a lot in schools.

Schools often develop programs around what is measurable:

* Grades
* Percentages
* Test scores
* Letter grades

These things feel meaningful because they’re concrete.

But what does a “B” actually mean?

Did the student deeply learn the material?
Was the assignment easy?
Did they memorize answers?
Did they cheat?
Did they simply comply?

Grades don’t always measure meaningful thinking, creativity, imagination, or innovation.

And entrepreneurs absolutely need creativity and imagination.

A lot of education focuses more on compliance than on teaching students how to think independently.

Now let me go back to executive functioning and entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurs have to manage many moving pieces at once.

My business, for example, is like a giant grandfather clock with a million moving parts.

A student starting a business has to keep track of:

* Deadlines
* Communication
* Planning
* Money
* Marketing
* Scheduling
* Problem-solving

That’s all executive functioning.

Now, one important thing is that many brilliant entrepreneurs with weak executive function skills become successful because they learn to delegate.

They hire people to handle the things they struggle with.

I personally have several people on my team because I can’t do everything myself, and I don’t want to do everything myself.

I want to focus on my strengths and let other people support the areas where I’m weaker.

So if your child struggles with executive function and you’re thinking:
“They could never run a business because they’d forget everything.”

You might actually be right.

That’s exactly why teaching executive function skills is so critical.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is “good enough” executive function so they can either:

* Do things themselves
* Or build systems and support around themselves

Now here’s something I believe very strongly.

A lot of education still looks like this:

* Read the textbook
* Answer the questions
* Complete the worksheet
* Memorize the material

For many kids, especially those who struggle with executive function, that kind of learning is painfully boring.

Meanwhile, students with naturally strong executive function can often jump through the hoops successfully.

Traditional education often teaches compliance more than creativity.

We focus too much on grades, numbers, and scores instead of meaningful engagement and purposeful learning.

What I think we should really be doing is helping students become strong project managers.

If students had ownership over meaningful long-term projects — projects they actually cared about — and we taught them:

* Planning
* Timelines
* Organization
* Problem-solving
* Follow-through

…then we would actually be teaching executive function in a meaningful way.

That’s project management.

And project management is executive functioning.

A student who struggles in traditional school might thrive if they were empowered to create something meaningful instead of just complying with assignments all day.

Many kids who struggle with executive function hate constantly being told what to do.

They want to create.
They want to imagine.
They want to build something meaningful.

Traditional educational systems can unintentionally crush that.

If we help these students become good project managers, we are also helping them become future entrepreneurs.

The parent finishes by saying:
“My thought is that creativity and risk tolerance have a lot to do with executive functioning skills.”

Yes, absolutely.

Many students with executive function struggles actually have very high risk tolerance, which can sometimes help tremendously in entrepreneurship.

Every time I create something new — a summit, a book, a video like this one — I’m taking a risk.

I’m putting myself out there for people to judge, criticize, or reject.

But my risk tolerance allows me to move forward anyway because my focus is on being of service.

I’m not stuck in perfectionism:

* The lighting doesn’t have to be perfect
* My hair doesn’t have to be perfect
* The microphone setup doesn’t have to be perfect

I care more about delivering the message.

So yes, risk tolerance, self-regulation, shifting attention, and adaptability are all connected to executive function.

And finally:
Taking an idea from a vision to a profitable business involves enormous amounts of executive functioning.

People who have strong executive function often execute in a very linear, organized way.

Visionary people who struggle with executive function may have amazing ideas but difficulty executing consistently.

What they need is:

* Good enough executive function
* Systems
* Support
* Delegation

There are many highly successful entrepreneurs who struggle with executive function but succeed because they’ve learned how to support themselves effectively.

Again, my name is Seth Perler. I’m an executive function coach based in Colorado.

I’m really glad you’re here.

I hope you, your family, and your friends are safe and healthy during this crazy time.

And during a time when so many people are stressed, frustrated, angry, and overwhelmed, I hope you have:

* Peace in your heart
* A smile on your face
* Some joy in your life
* And most importantly, real connection with your child

Be well. I’ll see you soon.

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Take care.