My Story
As a top goal-setting expert, my mission is to help as many people as possible figure out what they want and how to get it.
My passion for goal-setting started several years ago. I was doing events for Barnes & Noble in Schaumburg, Illinois, and one of my customers asked if I’d start a writers’ support group.
I did. And it was a hit. I saw the power of goal-setting and accountability first hand.
At these meetings people would share what they were working on, report on their goals, and set new ones. Almost everyone, myself included, would get something done for the next meeting. Seeing others achieve is encouraging – “If they can do it, so can I” – but the positive feedback you get when you reach your goals is even more motivating. The process works!
Fast forward several years. I had moved to Los Angeles, and re-started my goals group at Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica. It was dubbed Write On shortly thereafter. Over the years, the group has had many changes, and now embraces creatives and entrepreneurs, as well. We have live meetings, where I give out “stars” – a gold star when you achieve the goals you set, any color star for effort. There’s also an engaged online community: a page and group on Facebook, as well as a #GoalChat on Twitter.
After a member asked me to help him one-on-one, I began doing personal coaching. I also started speaking and leading workshops, live and online. Over the years, I’ve helped people around the world set and achieve their goals through strategizing, trouble-shooting, and offering resources, encouragement, and deadlines. Their projects ranged from writing books and starting blogs to social media, business development, and more. I’ve also worked in publishing, education, financial services, social media, and technology.
After years of working, adapting, and polishing my goal-setting and productivity techniques, I put them into a simplified process, called The D*E*B Method.
My Experience
- Goal Coach, Project Catalyst, and Founder of The D*E*B Method
- Author, Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals, Mango Publishing, January 14, 2020
- Author, Write On Blogging: 51 Tips to Create, Write & Promote Your Blog and Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages
- Founder, Write On Writers Support Group and WriteOnOnline.com, a website and community for writers, creators, and entrepreneurs
- Host, #GoalChat Twitter chat, Sundays at 7pm PT, and #GoalChatLive on Facebook, Mondays at 4pm PT
- Speaker and workshop leader. Groups include LAX Chamber of Commerce, LA Review of Books, Agorapulse Social Pulse Summits, Greater Los Angeles Writers Society, and Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco and Los Angeles Chapters
- Co-producer, LA #140 conference
- Writer and editor for a variety of websites, as well as numerous print and online publications
- Editor, Social Media Examiner and My Kids Adventures
- Special Projects, Social Media Marketing World
- Senior Editor, Campus Explorer
- Director of Communications, Benefits Group WorldWide
- Production Editor, Publications International
For more on Debra Eckerling, go to LinkedIn and read Testimonials. To book me for an interview or speaking engagement, contact deckerling@gmail.com or call 310.908.8980.