Hi, it’s Neil Cowmeadow here with episode 436 of The Tutor Podcast, the Monday morning shot of uncommon sense for anyone who wants start, grow and love their own tutoring, teaching and coaching business – the same way I love mine. 

As usual I’ve been rummaging through the ragbag of my mind and my notebooks, the ones I’ve made during all the courses, seminars, classes, webinars, conferences, field trips, research projects, books, trade press, videos and a ton of other stuff I’ve done over the years… Boiling it down to get at the good bits so I can give them to you in a no-nonsense, No BS kind of way... So I’m squeezing a little more juice out of it for myself, and –at the same time - sharing it with you here in the hope that it helps you have as much fun at work and in life as I do.

And – of course - I’m not just here to talk, I’m listening - so if you have any ideas that might be worth sharing via the show – get in touch [email protected] or on X where I am @TutorPodcast, and maybe you can help me to learn something new, something better? Because I’m smart enough to realise that I don’t have all the answers, and if I rely on my own tiny, pea-sized brain to solve all of my problems…. Well.....

If you’re good with that, let’s crack on... 

Ah….. summer holidays are here, and many people take the opportunity to kick back, go somewhere or (most hated phrase) CHILL OUT…

That’s all well and good – for them.

Maybe they’re not on their mission and need to escape from te real world into the fantasy life basking on a beach somewhere, sipping margheritas by the poolside or some other cliché version of somebody else’s best life.

Maybe…

And maybe that’s you – if it is, all power to you – do what makes you happy.

Frankly, we should all do whatever makes us happy – as long as we hurt no-one else in the process.

For myself – and some of my friends and associates – that’s not a version of reality we care to embrace… we are The Odd Squad, the difficult ones, the misfits and screw-ups… the driven, the drawn and the ever-so-slightly-peculiar ones.

We’re the ones who fidget after ten minutes under a parasol, who recoil at a loved one’s attempt to smear us in a dubious chemical concoction which will “protect us from the sun’s harmful radiation”… 

We’re the arsey, grumpy curmudgeons who’d much rather be doing something useful than baking our brains in a socially-enforced estrangement from what makes our lives fun and makes us useful.

If that’s you, I’m pleased to meet you; welcome to the tribe.

This summer, man of us will squirm and inch through other people’s idea of a good time… you’re not alone…

Our hands are restless, the book that looked interesting isn’t enough to hold our attention, alcohol holds no lure…. We doodle, scribble, scroll – trying to find ways to channel our unbounded energy…

We are sometimes uncomfortable being comfortable… the discomfort of challenge is our natural domain, we crave the pushing of boundaries, the struggle is our everyday life.

And the place that others call “comfortable” does nothing for us.

Whilst other dream of chilling out   (grrrrrr) or taking a break (because I deserve it…) we shake our heads and think “they don’t get it, do they?”

Their comfort zone is an alien land to us, and the comfort zone is where dreams go to die.

The clocks of our lives tick relentlessly.

Our days are few in number.

We have a deadline.

Days spent in aimless stupor are days lost forever, regardless of whether it’s a holiday or simply adding up all the hours you spent doing nothing that you consider valuable or useful.

So, my dysfunctional friends – never take your foot off the gas, because you will lose momentum and – having chilled out – you will have to work harder than ever to recover that momentum.

And the usual structures and habits of your normal (!) life take a hit too… 

If you still want to chill out – go for it.

But me, I’ll keep on being uncomfortable and pushing myself to do a little bit better every day, if that’s alright with you.

And if it ain’t alright with you, well…. 

What do you think – are you all for chilling out or keeping your foot on the gas?

Let me know

Drop me an email to [email protected] and  if you have any comments, questions or problems,  get in touch  - again it’s [email protected]    or on X where I am @The Tutor Podcast

Let’s leave it there for today – I hope this show has got you thinking and has been some help to you and that you’ll join me next time on The Tutor Podcast for more No-BS tips and ideas of how to Start, Grow and Love YOUR Tutoring Business – just like I love mine.

Till then, remember that Life is largely what you make it, so make it good. Be excellent to yourselves - stay healthy, stay useful, and Have a Fabulous Day!