Why Asking for Help Is the Real EF Skill | Seth Perler

In this episode, Gretchen sits down with Seth Perler — executive function coach and creator of TEFOS, the Executive Function Online Summit, now in its 8th year. Gretchen expected to unpack what TEFOS has taught Seth over the years, and they do — but the conversation also goes further, into Seth's personal story and the single biggest skill that turned him from a self-described "lazy failure" into an internationally known EF coach. They also talk business, including Seth's "heart of service first" approach to building a referral network, which flips the usual competitive mindset around private practice. It's a conversation between two longtime colleagues in the academic/EF coaching world — equal parts personal and practical.You'll Hear Us Talk AboutThe skill that turned Seth from "lazy failure" to EF coach — and it starts with asking for helpSeth's path from 12 years in the classroom to pioneering EF coaching before the field really existedHis "heart of service first" approach to referrals — and why it beats a competitive mindsetWhat 8 years of running TEFOS has taught him about this field and its communityWhy this conversation goes deeper than the usual "what is EF coaching" interviewAbout Seth PerlerSeth Perler is an executive function coach, speaker, and creator of TEFOS (The Executive Function Online Summit), now in its 8th year and one of the largest free gatherings in the ADHD and neurodivergent education world. He taught for 12 years before leaving the classroom in 2010 to pioneer executive function coaching, holds a Master's in Gifted Education/Special Education, and has spent over a decade helping neurodivergent, twice-exceptional, and struggling students build the skills school never taught them.Links + ResourcesSeth's website: https://sethperler.com/Learn More About the Anti-Boring Learning LabDownload our free Toolkit: https://antiboringlearninglab.com/resourcesConnect with Gretchen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-wegnerWatch the video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Z9VtLpAGl-oBonus — TEFOS 2026: Get your FREE ticket to TEFOS (The Executive Function Online Summit), August 14–17, 2026. A VIP pass with lifetime access + bonuses is also available, with early bird pricing through August 13. Register: https://theantiboringapproach--sethperler.thrivecart.com/tefos26/