We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jane Cueto. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jane below.
Jane, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Our journey with The Organized Mind Track Out Camp began when our family relocated from Miami to North Carolina in 2016, armed with a rich background in teaching and a personal investment in the challenges associated with neurodiversity, highlighted by our own daughter’s experiences. As she embarked on her 6th grade year at Lufkin Road Middle School, we faced firsthand the struggles and triumphs that came with her executive functioning challenges. This period not only deepened our understanding but also sharpened our resolve to create a supportive environment for children facing similar hurdles.
Drawing from both our professional expertise and personal dedication, we were inspired to establish The Organized Mind Track Out Camp. This initiative was not just about addressing a gap in educational services; it was a heartfelt response to our daughter’s journey of overcoming obstacles, which illustrated the transformative power of tailored support and strategies. Her eventual venture into entrepreneurship at 17 with Spots and Stripes Facepainting, and her academic achievements culminating in honors graduation and continuing her education at Appalachian State University, stand as a testament to the efficacy of the approach we advocate at our camp.
Throughout this journey, our guiding principle has been a deep-seated belief in the potential within every child, a belief validated by our daughter’s accomplishments. It underscores our commitment to providing a nurturing and enriching environment at The Organized Mind Track Out Camp, where we treat every child with the same love, support, and dedication as we have our own. This story, rooted in personal experience and professional dedication, shapes our mission and fuels our passion for making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Embarking on a journey to revolutionize the educational experience for tweens, my husband Vincent and I founded The Organized Mind Track Out Camp, driven by a blend of extensive educational expertise and a deeply personal connection to the unique challenges of neurodivergent learners. Our venture into this specialized sector was motivated by our firsthand experience and a desire to fill a critical gap in traditional education, focusing on the development of executive functioning skills alongside academic learning.
At The Organized Mind Track Out Camp, we offer an innovative educational service that stands out in its approach and offerings. Specifically designed for students aged nine through 14, our year-round Trackout Camp and after-school programs provide a nurturing environment where academic learning is interwoven with essential life skills. From organization and time management to critical thinking and problem-solving, our curriculum is tailored to meet the diverse needs of tweens, ensuring they are prepared not just for school, but for life.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to creating an engaging and supportive community where each student’s individual needs are acknowledged and addressed. Our programs, including specialized “Adulting” classes on Saturdays, are designed to empower teenagers with the real-world skills necessary for success. Furthermore, our convenient pickup services from local schools underscore our dedication to accessibility and ease for families.
We pride ourselves on the positive impact our camp has had on students—boosting confidence, enhancing academic performance, and nurturing independence. Our holistic approach validates the belief that education, when combined with empathy and innovation, can transform lives.
For those discovering The Organized Mind Track Out Camp for the first time, we invite you to explore a unique educational experience that goes beyond conventional teaching methods. Our camp represents a commitment to the comprehensive development of the whole child, offering a blend of academic excellence and life skills education in a nurturing and inspiring environment. We are dedicated to preparing your child not only for academic achievements but also for the adventures and challenges of the real world.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Upon deciding to start our own business, I embarked on a quest for knowledge, eager to soak up every bit of advice that could steer our venture towards success. In this sea of resources, many podcasts recycled familiar advice, offering little that I hadn’t already considered. However, my discovery of Stacy Tuschl’s “Well-Oiled Operations,” formerly the Foottraffic podcast, marked a turning point. Her podcast, listened to during my commutes, broke through the noise with its actionable strategies and insights. Stacy’s advice reshaped my approach to our business and has remained a cornerstone of our growth and development strategy.
Alongside the invaluable daily insights from Stacy’s podcast was “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, a book that has become a recurring guide in my entrepreneurial journey. Newport’s deep dive into the essence of focused and meaningful work has been pivotal, teaching me the importance of dedicating uninterrupted time to work ON the business rather than being mired in its daily operations. This principle has ensured that strategic planning and the pursuit of high-value tasks are not just prioritized but are integral to the fabric of our business operations.
The combination of actionable advice from “Well-Oiled Operations” and the disciplined focus advocated in “Deep Work” has profoundly influenced the development and ongoing success of The Organized Mind Track Out Camp. These resources have guided us from the initial stages of conception to the continuous task of shaping a business that not only meets but exceeds our vision for what it can achieve.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One significant lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that multitasking is an effective way to increase productivity. Initially, coming from a teaching background where handling multiple tasks at once seemed essential, I carried this belief into running The Organized Mind Track Out Camp. It seemed logical that doing more simultaneously would lead to achieving more in less time.
However, my perspective shifted dramatically after delving into “Deep Work” by Cal Newport. The book champions the idea that deep, focused work, rather than multitasking, is the key to achieving exceptional results. This concept challenged my prior beliefs and led me to reconsider how I approached task management in both my personal and professional life.
Incorporating these insights into our operations, I moved from multitasking to dedicating specific blocks of time to individual tasks, significantly improving both the quality of work and my satisfaction with it. The transition from multitasking was a challenge, given its widespread acceptance as a norm in today’s work culture, but the benefits of this shift were clear and profound.
This realization was so impactful that it became one of the first lessons we now teach in our morning sessions at The Organized Mind Track Out Camp. We emphasize to our students the importance of focusing deeply on one task at a time, showing them that this approach not only enhances productivity but also leads to a greater sense of accomplishment and reduced stress. Unlearning the habit of multitasking and embracing the practice of deep work has not only transformed my approach to work but also become a cornerstone of our educational philosophy at the camp.
Contact Info:
- Website: tomtrackout.com
- Instagram: @theorganizedmindcamp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomtrackoutcamp
- Google Reviews: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yeGne3xeyERiXs9DA