Testimonials
Jonathan Fields from CareerRenegade.com says:
I’m the classic example of a hyper-creative, idea-bomber entrepreneur. The challenge has always been to figure out what’s worth building out, what should be left alone and how to focus on what really matters.
Figuring that out just happens to be Charlie’s personal killer app. He’s that rare bird who has the ability to honor the maniacal nature of the creative professional and the need for freedom, while also creating a framework and approach that lets you actually get stuff done.
If you’ve got ideas that aren’t making it from your head into the world, you need Charlie… now.
Havi Brooks (& Selma) from FluentSelf.com says:
Working with Charlie was very helpful because he was wonderfully calm, broke everything down into manageable parts, and gave me this really logical and doable plan that showed how I could manage everything I was trying to do. It was absolutely brilliant how he had such a grasp of the big picture and, at the same time, was willing to dig in with me about the details or step in there and hang out with me whenever I was freaking out about something in the moment.
I loved his structured take on things – it’s very methodical, calm, and steady, and was the perfect kind of foil to my chicken-with-a-head-caught-off way of trying to figure out what I was doing. He helped me start believing in the Kitchen Table [online community] way sooner than I thought I would.
If you’ve bitten off something that’s bigger than you can chew and need someone to have a holistic approach to you and your project, then you need to get in touch with Charlie.
Jonathan Mead from IlluminatedMind.net says:
Charlie will take the roof off of whatever you thought was possible and show you a whole new sky of possibility. He’s helped me see the blockages in my business, free them up and get the energy flowing in ways that I didn’t know were possible. I’m getting more clients and repeat customers thanks to Charlie.
But probably the greatest benefit I’ve gotten through working with him is overcoming my belief that systems = evilness. I now realize that systems give me power in my business and it’s freed me up to do more of the stuff that matters, and do more of what I shine at. Which of course means more money, freedom, and enjoyment.
Charlie is really one of a kind, and there’s no one else I’d rather have on my team.
Marissa Bracke from MarissaBracke.com says:
When I first started working with Charlie, I wasn’t even sure exactly how I wanted him to help me–my webpage was stalled and stagnant, my workflow was more “lurch forward then suddenly halt” than flow, and I was having difficulty connecting with potential clients that “fit” what I was looking for. I knew I wanted things to change, but wasn’t sure how to make it happen.
Within my first hour of talking to Charlie, he’d not only listened to me fully but had also started putting structure to my thoughts and goals, and offering very un-scary ideas for steps I could take toward change. Charlie has a knack for nudging me beyond my comfort zones without it seeming intimidating or un-doable. His approach to what seems from my perspective to be a chaotic jumble of issues and concerns is unwaveringly centered, reassuringly structured, and stop-me-in-my-tracks insightful.
Thanks to Charlie’s help, my webpage is live and drawing traffic (and business inquiries!), my workflow has a noticeable pattern and flow that lets me actually get stuff done in a painless and sometimes even fun way, and I’m connecting with new clients on a regular basis. Because of Charlie’s help, my working life is finally beginning to resemble the dream I had for it but was never quite sure I could achieve. I’m not sure how to put a price to that, but I can confidently say that my investment with Charlie has already paid off in spades!
Mynde Mayfield from MyndeMayfield.com says:
Being a small biz owner is sometimes overwhelming since we wear so many hats. I felt stuck and totally “in my stuff” (What am I doing here? Can I really do this? What was I thinking?) And I felt really alone in the “how-do-I-make-this-work?!” part of it.
Charlie met me right where I was and helped me get back into the place (within myself) where I could be most productive (the cool, fun productive; not the drill sergeanty, ass-whooping kind.) He also helped me organize a plan and introduce processes that made my biz life work better. I can always count on Charlie to help me get things moving. Every time we talk, I get so much good stuff.
My bizes (and I) just plain do more stuff on a day-to-day basis so that at the end of the week, I feel really good and that I’ve accomplished important things that have moved me forward with doing that cool thing I do.
Fabeku Fatunmise from SankofaSong.com says:
Before I hired Charlie to help me with the launch of Sankofa Song, I had this HUGE project on my plate. And no idea how to start. So I didn’t. It just sat there doing nothing. And I was completely freaking out because I had to get this project done, but I was lost.
Charlie took a gigantic thing and broke it down into totally doable pieces. And he gave me a clear sense of how much time to spend on each thing, what sequence to do it all in and a deeper structure that supported it all. And it worked!
Beyond that, his encouragement to do the site in WordPress was a big thing. I totally doubted my ability to manage the site once it was up. So I was going to piece it together in some kooky way. He said something like, “You’re obviously a smart guy. So you can easily handle WordPress.”
Not only did that make me feel better about WordPress, but the underlying I-believe-in-you support was at least as important as the actual WordPress advice. It came at a time when I was having serious doubts in my ability to pull all of this off. That deeper support also gave me some momentum, which made all the difference in getting started.
In one session, Charlie didn’t just show me how to make this dream happen. He made me believe that I could to it. His follow-up support and check-ins helped me to remember that I wasn’t alone, and that help was available if I needed it. Plus he kept reminding me that the hard stuff was only temporary, which kept me moving forward instead of getting stuck in the ack.
Charlie is totally my go-to guy for stuff like this, and he’s the first person I recommend to other people, too. One hour with Charlie totally rocked! I will never launch another big project without getting Charlie’s help.
If you’re lost, overwhelmed, and freaking out, take a deep breath and then call Charlie.
Jo VanEvery from JoVanEvery.ca says:
Charlie is great at helping me turn my crazy ideas into actual workable plans. When I’m too focused on the big stuff, he points out the small steps that will get me there. And he helps me see what others might value in my work.
As an extrovert decision maker and big picture thinker, I particularly value having Charlie to bounce ideas off and help figure out the details that will fill out that big picture.
Rebecca Leigh from SmartFreshWriting.com says:
In just four weekly sessions, Charlie gave me the support I needed to finally trust my own knowledge and intuition – to basically get out of my own way. Together we gently shifted deeply ingrained habits that were wearing me down and preventing me from experiencing real joy in my work. For the first time I’ve found flow in my writing and, even more importantly, I’m calmly confident that I can continue on this path.
I know there will be challenging days, and old habits don’t disappear overnight, but Charlie, with his own very special approach, has shown me how I can always find my way back to where I want to be.
Barbara Stafford from BarbaraStafford.com says about Beat The Summer Slump:
Listening to the Beat The Summer Slump modules is like putting on goggles that help you see opportunities everywhere. If you do the homework on top of that, you can radically transform you business in a very short time.
Charlie’s brilliant insights and gentle prodding inspired me to get out there and offer new creative solutions. In less than a month, I’ve already attracted 8 new clients! I’ve been able to shift my business to do more work that I love, and I’m excited to keep innovating.
Chrissy Scivicque from EatYourCareer.com says:
Charlie has a rare ability to cut through clutter and simplify business processes. I worked with him when I was feeling overwhelmed and confused, unsure of the next steps I needed to take to reach my business goals.
He listened and provided down-to-earth insight from the perspective of an invested business partner. He cares about his clients and it shows. When he makes a recommendation, it’s thoughtful and based on concrete experience, not just theory.
Almost every day, I recall some piece of advice he shared and it guides me through my business challenges. The wealth of resources and knowledge I received from working with Charlie made the financial investment feel insignificant in comparison.
Yael Grauer from YaelWrites.com says:
I worked with Charlie when I was desperately in need of some coaching and direction with my business, and he provided that and more. Very few people have Charlie’s talent of assessing a business holistically, analyzing potential obstacles and paving the way for success with clear, step-by-step guidelines. I also appreciate how he asks for feedback along the way to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
Highly recommended!
Karl Staib from WorkHappyNow.com says:
Charlie embodies the term “on the money.”
He gets straight to the heart of the matter and helps you through your issues. I was stuck on which direction to take my business and in one session I figured out what I needed to do. I’m so thankful that Charlie is out in the world helping people like me keep their positive momentum going.
Chris Guillebeau from ChrisGuillebeau.com says about Beat The Summer Slump:
Feeling stuck? Get these audios and frantically write down everything that Charlie has to say.
Take action on just two of his action points… and say farewell to the slump.
Jonathan Goins says:
Charlie is mastering his craft. He has the skills to get to the heart of a matter and the knowledge to take you where you need to be next. Priceless.
Johnny B. Truant from JohnnyBTruant.com says:
I really can’t recommend Charlie highly enough.
He has the most ridiculously firm grasp on the principles behind why businesses work or fail, but what’s most amazing is the way he’s able to turn that theoretical stuff into actionable steps that will help just about anyone.
If you’re stuck, Charlie’s the guy to get you up off your ass and moving in the right direction.
Bridget Pilloud from BridgetPilloud.com says:
When I talk with Charlie, I can bring him the entirety of my experience, and he can take the disparate parts and fit them together in ways I didn’t imagine. One two-hour conversation with Charlie changed how I view my work, how I present it to the world, and who I impact, all for the better.
I’m a metaphysician. My work has a somewhat intangible quality to it. People say, “What do you do?” and until now, I’ve been giving them an answer that is both long and incomplete. Charlie doesn’t have a background in my industry or my work. He didn’t need to. His solid understanding of business wisdom and the human condition enabled him to find tangible structure and a workable path for my business, even though my line of work is unconventional.
I’m deeply appreciative of our time together, and excited by the fundamental changes in my business.
Marie-Jeanne Juilland says:
Let me put this in plain English: Charlie Gilkey rocks!
He rocks for folks like me who were desperately trying to find a person in the internet marketing landscape who excels at big picture and strategy. Tons of folks out there all about tactics, but few are smart enough to know that building your business by focusing on fast tactics destines it to implode if you haven’t spent the time first building a strong strategy. Rock on Charlie! Looking forward to more strategic conversations.
Karri Flatla from SnapWebMarketing.com says:
While it’s true that, as entrepreneurs, we must hold our dreams close to the heart at all times, it’s our life’s work to execute on that which we dream of. And it can be incredibly difficult to suss out and sustain the actions necessary to make the right things happen in our business. From overwhelm to burnout to just focusing on the wrong things, we are constantly at risk of losing sight of what matters most in our work … and in our lives.
Working with Charlie is like having an operations-savvy Dream Catcher standing guard over you and your business. Charlie doesn’t just catch stuff for you, he helps you catch the right stuff … and when you wake up in the morning, you’ll find yourself carefully executing on what you dreamed was possible.
Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli from TheExpressiveArtsCoach.com says:
What could have been another small business strategies teleseminar was instead an inspirational program with both principles AND real-life how-to processes and techniques. Charlie brought it. He deeply understands the needs and struggles of GNEAF members, a bunch of hyper-creative professionals.
With the soul of a philosopher combined with the smarts of a logistics officer, Charlie is a fantastic business coach. Highly recommend him!
Cynthia Morris from OriginalImpulse.com says:
I hired Charlie to help me strategize my business efforts. I’m on the verge of breaking through to the next level and I needed a strategic consultant who also understands and appreciates my creative wellspring.
I didn’t expect our first session to focus so much on my writing life, but it pretty much transformed everything. Frankly, I’d lost the zip for both my business writing and my novel.
Charlie helped me reframe my work writing. He pushed me to commit to a tight deadline for finishing the novel. He said, “This book is taking a lot of your emotional and creative energy.” I hadn’t thought of it that way, and this new perspective helped me to restructure the writing I do for my business.
That restructuring gave me structure and peace of mind – I now don’t stress about any of the writing. This has also lead to guest blogging and columnist opportunities, an increase in subscribers and new clients.
Charlie is a great coach/consultant for those ready to learn and implement solid business practices. Probably best if you’ve got something going already and need pointers on how to grow.
As a creative professional, I became a businesswoman by default. As my success grows, so does my hunger to really succeed at business. Charlie knows and can articulate business concepts to help save time, money and effort.
My novel is finished (2 weeks past tough deadline!), my business is booming and I feel great. Some numbers: comparing the stats from the months I worked with Charlie to this time last year: my gross is up 64.3% and my net is up 1,558.6%!
Very cool!
I would definitely work with Charlie again, and continue to think about and implement the business practices he has taught me.
Hire Charlie if you are ready to develop solid roots for your business’s success.
Jennifer Louden from JenniferLouden.com says:
Charlie has the brains and the heart to help you map your business and take it to the next level with total integrity.
I trust Charlie. He’s the real deal.
Jo VanEvery from JoVanEvery.com says about Beat The Summer Slump:
Within the first two weeks of Beat the Summer Slump, I had landed 1 new client who purchased a $510 package of coaching sessions. We were only half-way through the material & I already had results.
As hard as it was to get over fears about sleazy marketing, making the shift in how I thought about selling services and products was probably the most important thing Beat The Summer Slump did for me.
The homework assignments asked us to do scary things. But every time I did what Charlie had suggested, I got a positive response.
Now, a month or so after the course, I reply to email queries much more quickly and positively. I’ve started building a system of contacting people based on the principles Charlie taught. I have more effective sales conversations with my potential clients and look forward to talking to them about how I can help them reach their goals.
Megan Everett from MeganEverett.com says about Beat The Summer Slump:
BTSS cut through my mile-long list of have-tos and helped me focus on what I needed to do: talk to real people and offer them specific solutions.
If I can do it, anyone can! When I signed up, I had been preparing for years for “someday,” but all I had was the experience, desire and ability to provide the services – no existing business, offers or clients. Within 60 days of starting BTSS, my brand new business is supporting me, growing like crazy and I am working with no less than my actual “ideal client” – yep, the actual one, in person. And one of my other real-life ideal clients has requested a business proposal from me.
I knew Charlie was good, but I am amazed!
New opportunities are popping up like popcorn every day, and my partner told me that I can forget about getting that part-time job. WHAT summer slump?!
Carol Ross from ABiggerVoiceBlog.com says:
What makes Charlie Gilkey so powerful is his secret schema for how the world works. I’m privileged to see parts of his schema when he’s advising me on my situation.
Charlie’s view of how the world works is based on:
- Breadth and depth in personal experience. He’s seen a lot of client situations and gone deep into their situations.
- Absorbing lots of models from multiple worlds and seeing the underlying patterns that bring them all together.
Many people can learn from the world around them and take in massive amounts of information. Very few can understand it all and distill it to a usable, accessible set of frameworks that can be applied to help others, no matter what the situation. Charlie does this with exceptional elegance for the entrepreneurial world.
In less time than it takes to watch my favorite show on Hulu.com, Charlie helped me identify where to spend time and what to focus on to implement a new business strategy and model. Just as important was identifying what NOT to spend time on. Having Charlie as an objective, savvy business advisor is invaluable for not making the same mistakes twice.
Molly Gordon from ShaboomInc.com says:
Charlie is one of the best people to work with I’ve ever met. He’s easy going, smart, and delivers more than he promises. Charlie was one of the most popular presenters at the 2010 Self Employment Telesummit. He simplified complex business choices without dumbing them down–quite a feat. His combination of warmth, intelligence and clearly organized information was much appreciated by all.
I highly recommend Charlie as a teacher, mentor, and guide.
Sinclair from SelfActivator.com says:
Charlie is the missing counterpoint to all of the push-and-shove business growth advice that crowds the marketplace. His work does more than provide a balance to the leap-ahead strategies and tactics, it illuminates their proper place in a holistic business, so that they’re finally actionable.
Charlie has his ear to the ground. He knows the challenges that entrepreneurs are experiencing even before they do, and he has the rare breadth of strength and skill sets to tackle them head on, at every level. He knows just when to provide a resource for the immediate situation, or zoom out to think long term. I’ve seen it happen again and again – when entrepreneurs spend time with Charlie, they can’t help but be strengthened, educated, energized, and equipped for the journey ahead.
