Charles Leslie

Age: 30

Family: Wife, Deanna

Education: 4-yr. College Graduate, B.A. Business

Employees: 0

Type of Business: Network Marketing

Year Started in Business: 1991

Best month (gross revenue): $12,200

Hours worked per week during start-up: 50

Hours worked per week now: 45-50

Heros: Bill McCarthey of Promise Keepers, Billy Graham, Dr. James Dobson and Gary Bauer

Favorite Business Periodicals: Working at Home, MLM Insider, Money Maker's Monthly

Favorite Business Books/ Authors: Anthony Robbins

Relaxes by: Taking walks in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Also, trips to the ocean and the San Juan Islands.

Favorite part of his business: The challenge of taking himself to the highest limits of his potential, being creative and seeing people's lives change in a positive way as they break out of their comfort zones, work hard and reach their dreams.

Least favorite part of his business: Working with people who treat their business like a hobby and at the same time expect success without time and effort.

Stays in shape by: Working out at a local athletic club five days a week, utilizing primarily the stationary bike, stair climber, and treadmill.

Admired Companies: The Peoples Network, a company whose mission is to bring positive TV programming and personal growth into one million homes by the year 2000.

Unlike most Business Majors he knew, Charles Leslie was not interested in getting a job working for a corporation and being limited to a 9-5 schedule. “I was fascinated and intrigued by the possiblities of living the American Dream - the dream of being my own boss and being financially free,” Charles explains.

But where to start? Initially, Charles looked into real estate. Entrepreneurial magazines picked up at the newstand further fueled his search for a business of his own. Eventually, Charles would discover network marketing. “When I was introduced to network marketing I knew that this would be my vehicle to reaching my dreams of being my own boss and having financial and time freedom.”

He was right. Today, that network marketing business not only employs Charles but also his wife, Deanna. Working side by side, their income now easily tops $100,000 a year. So that others could learn from his success, Charles also now teaches network marketing at colleges in the Pacific Northwest.

What drives Charles Leslie? The opportunity to create a life instead of making a living tops the benefits list for Charles. “Building a walk-a-way residual income business is very rewarding and gives me the time and money to pursue my passions which include starting a ministry dedicated to inspiring, equiping, and educating individuals to rise up, take action, and utilize their God-given potential to live lives full of passion, purpose, and integrity.”

Charles points out, however, that it wasn’t quite an overnight success. “I started in December of 1992 with a $32 check.” But within six months, that $32 check had climbed to $1000 and the Leslie’s were looking at their first real profit.

Charles credits his parents with instilling in him the attitude to succeed in business. “My parents have been so influential, they have loved me unconditionally and encouraged me to be my best. They were so dedicated to my success that when I decided to play on a hockey team in Seattle (1 1/2 hours away) that they drove me to all of the games and practices (five days a week, 8 months out of the year for three years). Specifically, my mother and father taught me about how to present myself. My mom, being from England, always reminded me to speak well and my dad always kept sure that I was presenting myself as someone with purpose and direction.”

Those influences were invaluable when a health crisis developed. “There were days when the prognosis for my improved health were dim,” remembers Charles. Scripture further strengthened his hope, especially a verse from Isaiah 40:31, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." So moved by these words was Charles, he later rechristened his company, "Eagle Flight Enterprises.”