Work With Jeff
I believe in the power of καλὸ ἀγῶνα (kalo agona) — the good contest, the worthy struggle.
As a former 4th grade teacher, I discovered something profound: real growth happens not by avoiding challenges but by embracing them in a supportive environment. My students didn't just need information—they needed to develop initiative, resilience, and perseverance—muscles that only grow when properly flexed.
In 2022, I decided to live this philosophy fully. My wife and I sold our belongings, rented our home, and began a nomadic journey across Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, and back again. This constant motion and adaptation became our own good struggle, transforming us in ways we never imagined.
Now, I help others create their own worthy struggles—challenges that lead to genuine transformation rather than quick-fix solutions that fade with time.
The Philosophy: Beyond Information
Most educational approaches focus solely on content. Good Struggle is different. I believe transformation happens through:
Self-Understanding: Knowing how every human brain works and discovering how your unique brain and body respond to challenges.
Growth Containers: Creating systems, routines, and habits that structure your development.
I call this "the curriculum behind the curriculum"—not just what you learn, but how you learn to approach difficulty.
The Transformation: Real Results from Worthy Struggles
In my classroom, students who were behind grew by two grade levels in a single year—not through magical shortcuts but by placing them in their "zone of proximal development" where challenge meets capability.
When given material at their actual level—not too easy, not impossibly hard—and the containers to track progress and set goals, they experienced the exhilaration of earned success.
This same approach works for adults seeking personal and professional growth. The right challenge in the right container creates transformative results.
How We Can Work Together
The Good Struggle Newsletter
Insights, strategies, and reflections on embracing worthy struggles in education and life. A place to begin exploring these ideas without commitment.
The Lab @ Good Struggle
A collaborative Slack space for adults, included with paid Substack membership. Here we discuss goals, create accountability structures, and support each other through our individual challenges. We do hard things, together.
The Gym @ Good Struggle
A comprehensive micro-school for high school students (primarily homeschoolers, but open to all) focused on entrepreneurship, digital tools, and philosophy.
One-on-One Coaching
Personalized guidance drawing on cognitive science and ancient wisdom. Together, we'll design containers that facilitate your specific growth journey.
The Invitation
If you're looking for overnight transformation or effortless success, I'm not your guide. But if you're hungry for meaningful challenge and sustainable growth—if you're ready to embrace a worthy struggle—I'd be honored to work with you.
The path isn't always easy, but as we say here: We do hard things together.