"Charlie and I co-led 6 Lift Off Retreats (a group program for creative entrepreneurs) from 2009 to 2012. If you've ever read his body of work, it's obvious that he comes with a wealth of experience, tools, and frameworks that helps people focus on what matters, but it's his warmth, passion, service ethic, and ability to compassionately challenge our participants that really makes all of difference. I don't just recommend Charlie to other people - when I need someone to help me navigate my own business's growth, he's one of the first people I call."
Jonathan Fields
JonathanFields.com
"I brought Charlie on as a guest faculty for productivity and strategy in my original GLP Immersion and his ability to teach, coach, and mentor the group blew me and my participants away - so much so that they demanded he come back and I knew I had to have him be a co-facilitator for the entire next Immersion.
He has a wicked genius at catching people exactly where they are - sometimes when they don't want him to catch them there - and coaxing them into stepping into their fullest potential and then co-creating a doable, understandable roadmap for growth. If you get a chance to work with Charlie, whether in a group or one-on-one, jump at it while you can."
Havi Brooks
FluentSelf.com
"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
IlluminatedMind.net
"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
MarissaBracke.com
"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
MyndeMayfield.com
"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
SankofaSong.com
"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
JoVanEvery.ca
"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
SmartFreshWriting.com
"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."
Rob Mod
RobMod.me
"Charlie is AMAZING. He's a man of incredibly high integrity and goodwill. It's evident in all he does how much he cares about his work and his contribution to his clients. And beyond his caring, he absolutely knows his stuff. Charlie has a strategic and organizational-oriented mind that is perfect for helping his clients gain clarity on where to take their business endeavors and how to get there without beating their heads against a wall.
Work with Charlie. Hire him. Read his stuff. Say hello. You will be thrilled you did."
John Corcoran
SmartBusinessRevolution.com
"I met Charlie through a class he offered, the Epic Launch Class, in summer 2012. He was incredibly impressive from the outset and the class itself definitely exceeded my expectations.
To say that Charlie speaks and writes about business strategy is a vast oversimplification. The man speaks off the cuff in fully formed paragraphs. When you ask him questions, he answers like he wrote the question you just asked him. He is incredibly well informed about business fundamentals and strategy.
Even calling him a small business coach doesn’t really give what he does justice, given how many people run around calling themselves a business coach these days.It’s kind of like me saying I like to swim, and Michael Phelps likes to swim, so we’re both swimmers. I’m not even in the same league as Michael Phelps. Most small business coaches aren’t in Charlie’s league.
Charlie is able to size up a business or a business owner’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities and make recommendations that will make them far more efficient and effective. He focuses in like a laser on what steps you should be taking to be more productive and move more of your lofty goals from pie-in-the-sky to “done." I highly recommend him."
Barbara Stafford
BarbaraStafford.com
"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
EatYourCareer.com
"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
YaelWrites.com
"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
WorkHappyNow.com
"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
ChrisGuillebeau.com
"Feeling stuck? Get Beat The Summer Slump 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
"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
JohnnyBTruant.com
"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
BridgetPilloud.com
"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."
Chris O'Bryne
"Before I started working with Charlie, I had a vision of a focused business that could make a difference and actually help people. Unfortunately, I did not know how to get there. Charlie helped me accurately assess my business and clearly define the path to get to my vision. With Charlie’s expertise and tools, I not only achieved my goal, but gained more free time to spend with family and give back to my community. We set a financial goal to double my business revenues by the end of the year. Instead of doubling, my revenues actually multiplied five times!"
Marie-Jeanne Juilland
"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
SnapWebMarketing.com
"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
TheExpressiveArtsCoach.com
"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
OriginalImpulse.com
"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%!
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
JenniferLouden.com
"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."
Megan Everett
MeganEverett.com
"Beat The Summer Slump 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?!"
Molly Gordon
ShaboomInc.com
"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."
Ellen Lerner
MyDramaticSolutions.net
"Charlie Gilkey is my idea of a dream coach. That’s right, he is making my dreams come true. He is smart, creative, resourceful, supportive, funny, and my biggest fan. What more could you ask for in a coach?
Charlie is walking me step by step through the development and growth of my company. I need some hand holding and he is available. In fact, he is available for whatever your business needs might be. I can’t put into words how much value, heart, soul, and passion he puts into his coaching. I am so grateful to be working with him, and learning from such a devoted and accomplished professional.
Charlie is a wonderful investment in myself and in my business. Did I also mention what a wonderful man he is. Yes, I am part of his fan club. He is the best of the best. Thank you Charlie for having my back!"
Hi everyone, I'm Jeffrey Davis. I'm the founder of Tracking Wonder consulting and programs. Not too long ago my business came to a crucial near-breaking point. I was keeping up with 3 complimentary brands and my efforts in trying to serve if not over-serve my clients and my fan packs felt really scattered. I was just not feeling at my best while trying to serve them, develop new content, write a new book, and spend time with my wife and daughter. I knew my business needed to go to another level. I even laid out ten goals to accomplish in 6 months and I also knew I couldn't go it alone.
As an author, consultant, and coach, I'm pretty discerning when it comes to choosing someone to consult and coach me, so I interviewed four business coaches and one marketing specialist, and I knew hands-down that of those very well-established coaches and specialist, Charlie Gilkey was the one to take me through. And I was right.
For six months, Charlie showed up; he was ready to listen, guide, advise, and catalyze me - and he could actually keep up with me. Charlie is grounded, he's wise, he's got business savvy, and all three of those things helped us tick of nine of those ten goals. And the tenth goal was my issue, not his.
Nine goals in six months.
Those goals included crafting a new business tagline, consolidating the business brand, restructuring my client packages, revamping the website navigation, [and] hiring an online business manager. As a consequence of all that, I have even more time now to dive deep into the content, the programs, and my new book that really serve my clients and my packs. My business operates the most smoothly frankly than it ever has in 12 years and probably, most importantly, I spend more time dancing with my little girl each night and spend more time hiking with my wife during the day.
If you want a smart, grounded, wise business consultant to get your business to the next level and to get your mind in the right place, choose Charlie.
Transcript: Hello, my name is Susan Piver and I am a writer, and a blogger and a teacher. I was lucky enough to hire Charlie Gilkey to work with me a couple of months ago at a time where my business was threatening to sort of spin out of control. Ideas that I had were sort of coming to fruition, and I was unable to keep myself organized and there were a lot of projects that I wanted to work on that I couldn’t quite get to. It all seemed like a mess!
But then I worked with Charlie and he really showed me how to organize my day and even more important, how to organize my mind, so that I could look at all of my tasks with a sense of ease and with the confidence that I could actually accomplish them. You can’t put a price tag on that. He helped me so much with landing my ideas in the real world and helping me not to be one of those people who has a lot of ideas, so what, but doesn’t know how to make them come to fruition.
Also he seems to know everything about everything. I don’t quite know how. He knows about every technology, every organizational system, every kind of hardware, every kind of software. He’s really well versed and a good advisor for anyone who is doing any kind of business online.
I recommend working with Charlie without any hesitation.
