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What is the CHOPS Method?
The CHOPS Method™ is a research-backed leadership development framework created by Terra Utter. It builds five trainable inner capacities — Confidence, Hope, Optimism, Perseverance, and Spirit — grounded in Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and grit research, so purpose-driven leaders and small business owners can lead from clarity instead of chaos.
What are the five CHOPS pillars?
- Confidence — Identity-rooted self-belief that holds under pressure (not performance-based).
- Hope — Vision forward and pathways thinking — finding routes when the first one closes.
- Optimism — Realistic positive expectation and resilient recovery from setbacks.
- Perseverance — Long-game commitment and sustainable momentum through the hard middle.
- Spirit — Authentic core — calling, values, and connection to something larger than outcomes.
Free 5-Day Inside-Out Leadership Reset
A free 5-day email challenge: one practical tool each day to strengthen Confidence, Hope, Optimism, Perseverance, and Spirit. Join the free 5-Day Reset
Who is it for?
- Purpose-driven entrepreneurs and small business owners
- Women in leadership transitions or ministry leadership
- Coaches and consultants ready to claim their authority
- Organizational leaders running on empty
- Any leader experiencing self-doubt, impostor syndrome, or burnout
CHOPS programs and prices
- CHOPS Core (group) — $847: 8-week live group coaching following all five CHOPS pillars — from Foundation through Integration.
- CHOPS VIP 1:1 — $1,847: 8-week personalized transformation with private coaching, leadership audit, and ongoing support.
- Small Business Kickoff Workshop — $997–$1,497: half-day live workshop for teams of 2–10, in-person or virtual.
- The CHOPS Foundation — Core: $497/month, 2 coaching sessions per month.
- The CHOPS Foundation — Growth: $697/month, 3 sessions per month with priority access, quarterly re-assessment, and an annual strategy session.
About Terra Utter
Terra Utter is a leadership consultant, doctoral candidate in I/O Psychology at Grand Canyon University, author of Grace Over Doubt™, and founder of Next Evolution Consulting and the CHOPS Method™. Her dissertation research focuses on Psychological Capital and grit among small business owners. She has 30 years of leadership consulting experience working with entrepreneurs, organizational leaders, and ministry builders.
Popular leadership reads
- Psychological Capital Leadership: What It Is and How to Build It
- Self-Doubt in Small Business Leadership: What Actually Helps
Frequently asked questions
What is the CHOPS Method?
CHOPS is a proprietary leadership transformation framework built around five internal capacities: Confidence, Hope, Optimism, Perseverance, and Spirit. It integrates Psychological Capital, Social Capital, and Spiritual Capital to help leaders build sustainable resilience and purpose-driven performance.
Who is the CHOPS Method for?
CHOPS is built for purpose-driven leaders who are doing the real work of running something — small business owners, solopreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and faith-based founders without a big HR department or L&D budget behind them. It also fits women in leadership transitions or ministry leadership, coaches and consultants ready to claim their authority, organizational leaders running on empty, and any leader experiencing self-doubt, impostor syndrome, or burnout. It works for corporate teams too.
How much does CHOPS coaching cost?
The CHOPS Gap Assessment and the 5-Day Inside-Out Leadership Reset are free. Paid programs: CHOPS Core 8-week group coaching $847, CHOPS VIP 1:1 $1,847, and The CHOPS Foundation monthly coaching at $497 or $697 per month (https://chopsmethod.com/chops-foundation).
How long does the free CHOPS Gap Assessment take?
The free Mini CHOPS Gap Assessment takes about 3 minutes. You score yourself across the five pillars — Confidence, Hope, Optimism, Perseverance, and Spirit — and get a personalized growth edge plus next steps.
How do I get started?
Start with the free Mini CHOPS Gap Assessment at https://chopsmethod.com/free-assessment — it takes about 3 minutes and shows where you stand across the five CHOPS pillars. You can also join the free 5-Day Inside-Out Leadership Reset at https://chopsmethod.com/5-day-reset, or book a free discovery call at https://scheduler.zoom.us/t/0twe-dnv/chops-method-booking.
Contact: terra@nextevolutionconsulting.com · Book a free discovery call