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.

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.

Contact: terra@nextevolutionconsulting.com · Book a free discovery call