Tutor Doc

From rock bottom to Global Mentor

How One Tutoring Franchise Owner Went from Living in His Car to Growing His Local Empire

In 2015, Byron Zahm embarked on a journey of self-discovery to reclaim his life after losing everything and being forced to live out of his car.

A true experience seeker and risk taker, Zahm traveled across the country to find his new purpose in life. From working as a guide in Alaska for a year and a half to leading zip-lining courses in Minnesota, Zahm sought to make a bigger impact. That is when he discovered Tutor Doctor, the leader in one-to-one private tutoring. In 2019, his life changed as his franchise journey began. Zahm has taken his ownership of Tutor Doctor by the horns. Earning companywide praises, he has been named a Global Mentor at the company, serving as a mentor for both prospective and current franchise partners of the brand from across the world. His specialty? Touching others with his inspiring road of rediscovery and perseverance. While starting over can be scary, whether that be in business or life in general, you are never alone in your journey. Zahm has some words of advice for others going through a similar situation as a reminder that everyone can overcome even the most difficult times.

Value Relationships

Build bonds with quality people. Zahm puts a lot of trust into his employees, clients and corporate, all of whom he owes part of his success to. When you surround yourself with good people, your confidence begins to soar in every aspect of life. His equation to success is hiring great people that turn into great tutors who then put forth great systems that result in great reviews and great success. The self-proclaimed “match maker for education” loves connecting families with tutors – it’s actually his forte. Zahm has been invited to speak on four Global Team Calls for the company, sharing his success in converting consultations into loyal clients. In fact, his first consult as a Tutor Doctor owner ended up being his first client and they still have a great relationship to this day.

take the Leap

Take the leap of faith – you never know what may come out of it. Zahm’s greatest challenge in starting over was the fear of past failures and risking it all once again not knowing the outcome. Never be afraid to branch out and try something new. Zahm had a background in sales, but made a few career jumps along the way before he decided on entrepreneurship. Now, it’s the thing that changed his life. “Faith without action, is merely hoping. Faith with action is, believing. And believing is everything!” said Zahm. Having the courage to start over is something not many people have. Believe in whatever it is you are doing – trust the process. Zahm is eternally grateful that Tutor Doctor gave him the opportunity to restart his life, and encourages others to trust and take that leap of faith as well.

inspire others

Always appreciating the mentor mentality, Zahm loves inspiring people. He was given a unique opportunity by someone who believed in him, and he

follows suit, wanting to help others grow personally and find their purpose. As a mentor, he shares in the success he has been grateful to have. Zahm proudly serves his community of Albuquerque, New Mexico and surrounding areas. Now a local celebrity, he can’t go anywhere without families recognizing him and sharing the impact he’s made. In fact, he even drives around in a Tutor Doctor wrapped Jaguar – talk about dedication!

embody Your spirit and Values

Identify your strengths and use them to excel. Zahm firmly believes that we all are doing the best we can with what we know. One of the values he most embodies is understanding and empathy. To Zahm, it is essential to extend grace to others in an empathetic and understanding way. Another is ownership. “We never have to doubt ourselves if we do the right thing. And if we do fail in trying, own it and add a little ingenuity in the next effort,” said Zahm.

In the end, Zahm has been able to find his mission’s purpose – Tutor Doctor. Thanks to the franchise, he has been given a second chance and the opportunity to grow as a person and heal from his past, paving the way to a brighter future for not only himself, but students and families across Albuquerque. To everyone out there who may feel like they have hit rock bottom, remember that no matter your situation, you are starting over with more knowledge, strength and power than you had before. Any progress is still progress.

SOURCE: Byron Zahm, owner of Tutor Doctor – Albuquerque, the leader in one-to-one private tutoring. Since joining the franchise system in 2019, Zahm has been named a Global Mentor at the company, inspiring others through his journey of re-discovery and perseverance.