Welcome to Productive Flourishing!

We live in a time of massive disruption. Most of the forces of our society – business, education, politics, media – are changing so quickly that what worked for us in the past won’t work for us today.

But in this disruption lies a world of opportunity. We can create the businesses we want to live in and really believe in. We can educate ourselves in ways we never could before. We can use our voices to create political change. And we are the media.

This is a world ready-made for changemakers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. But we need to learn how to navigate this world both productively and in ways that foster human flourishing.

This site arms you with the resources, mindsets, and strategies you need to do that navigation.

Our discussions of business are focused on three things: getting more customers, increasing profit, and growing strategically. We also cover what it takes on the personal side to be a changemaker, entrepreneur, and business leader, because to build a better business, you have to address the people within the business.

And because the true end of any activity is human flourishing, we’ll also share content that helps you thrive.

How do we help you thrive?

Besides the great free content we offer on our blog, we have several service options geared to help you based on your business needs, including our Weekend Workshops, Implementation Services, and Growth Catalyst Services.

We also create products that help you convert ideas into action. Whether it’s the Email Monster giving you problems or getting your cashflow moving today, we can help.

Why us?

Because we get it.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find business advice that understands what it’s like to be running your own small company?

Small businesses have a unique set of problems that are often left unaddressed by major business publications. Since 99% of all businesses have 20 employees or less, though, this doesn’t make much sense. Just because you’re not a huge venture doesn’t mean you’re not a viable, valuable business.

Led by Charlie Gilkey, an in-demand speaker, coach, and consultant, Productive Flourishing is a small business development company helping people build better businesses by focusing on getting more customers, increasing profit, and growing strategically.

Charlie’s work is routinely cited, showcased, and shared in places like Inc.com, BNET, MSNBC, Project Domino, Under30CEO, Upmarket, Small Business MO, and Carol Roth’s Unsolicited Business Advice Blog, among many others. His forthcoming book, Beyond Bootstrapping, helps entrepreneurs and small business owners become better executives and build better businesses from the business they’ve already built. His focus is on strategy, planning, execution, and leadership development, and he’s worked with hundreds of clients and participants – and he’d love to work with you, too.

Where do I start?

There’s a lot of content here at PF! We’ve curated the New Here page just for you, so you can get what you need and add your voice to the conversation.

You can also get small business advice by signing up for our newsletter.

Thanks again for visiting Productive Flourishing. If you don’t read anything else, please read this: what can you do to have a more productive, prosperous, and wholesome day? Go do that.

About Team PF

Charlie GilkeyCharlie Gilkey | Writer – Speaker – Business Advisor
In addition to being the chief writer, coach, consultant, speaker, and program developer, Charlie is the leader of this small team of awesome people. He’s currently writing a book that helps people move beyond bootstrapping and become better small business executives. If you’d like to learn more about Charlie, check out his longer bio.


Angela Wheeler, Ph.D. | Author – Speaker – Community Engagement         
Angela Wheeler is the Community Engagement Manager at Productive Flourishing. With a Ph.D in sociology and through her work at PF, the best way to describe Angela is a catalyst for applied sociology within business. She’s passionate about women’s well-being, results-driven non-profits, creating and navigating business relationships that work, and bringing the female voice of business to light.  Read more here.

Lisa WoodLisa Wood | Visual Coordinator
With a background in business and a flair for design, Lisa is an uncommonly intuitive designer, as committed to educating clients about their sites as she is designing them. She’s an artsy type with a techy brain, making her an incredible designer with the skill to carry out the details that can make or break a website. She’s also responsible for the design of Productive Flourishing and has the unenviable task of keeping Charlie from breaking it while trying new things.


We are a veteran-, minority-, and woman-owned business that cultivates diversity, empowerment, and social good. We appreciate your support and being able to serve you.