My Story
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 their achieve 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
- 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 and WriteOnOnline.com, a website and community for writers, creators, and entrepreneurs, and #GoalChat Twitter chat, Sundays at 7pm PT
- Editor, Social Media Examiner and My Kids Adventures
- Special Projects, Social Media Marketing World
- Co-producer, LA #140 conference
- Senior Editor, Campus Explorer
- Director of Communications, Benefits Group WorldWide
- Production Editor, Publications International
- Writer and editor for a variety of websites, as well as numerous print and online publications
- Workshop leader for groups, including LAX Chamber of Commerce, LA Review of Books, and Journalism and Women’s Symposium
For more on me, go to LinkedIn and read Testimonials. To book me for an interview or speaking engagement, contact deckerling@gmail.com or call 310.908.8980.
I hired Debra to help me organize my creative projects, not only did she deliver on that, but she provided me with the structure and goals that enabled me get a project launched from an idea to the web in less than 3 months. Awesome personality, holds you to task and offers great creative advice and insight. I highly recommend Deb’s services to any one looking to further their creative or professional career!
Los Angeles
Debra helped me jump start a complex side-project website that was on the back-burner for about six months. I’m highly motivated, but was too busy working on client projects and other existing businesses to get yet another side project going. Within a few weeks of in-person meetings and email exchanges, I had a solid plan. Within a month the project was live and in production. If you need help getting a project moving, I highly recommend getting help from Debra.
I’ve worked with Debra at print and online publications for over a dozen years. And as a professional editor (and writer, and producer, and editor) I am skeptical of self-proclaimed “experts” — especially those offering advice about creative endeavors — but Deb’s insights have helped me immensely. She knows what works.
Her book 
I recommend Deb as a goal coach if you want to get your book out for the world to enjoy! Within the first hour of working with me and my writing partner, Debra brought awareness and focus on our project’s strengths. We also realized areas where our visions of the book were vastly different. These conversations were important to get us off on the right foot.
Debra pushed us from merely discussing the book to actually writing the first chapter within days of our conversation.
The most ambitious and audacious goals need a road map, and Debra’s insight and direction is unbeatable. Whether you take her upbeat and fun workshop or want the extra personalized project management, Debra’s spot-on guidance and insight will help you turn your big ideas into reality.
I went to Deb from a recommendation of a friend and I am so glad I did! I was in the beginning stages of writing my cookbook and she helped me put all of my whirling thoughts into a cohesive and manageable process. Deb was my calm to my crazy and I can’t recommend her enough!
When I set my sights on being a serious writer with attention-deficit, I had trouble focusing and felt overwhelmed. I found Deb’s Facebook page, Write On! Online and began following her posts and podcasts. Every 
It’s been very helpful to talk to Deb every couple of weeks.
She’s given me good advice and clear next steps that I could accomplish. I’ve gotten positive results (and saved a lot of time!)
Thank you for the wonderful session on planning and reaching my goals. I can’t believe in the short half hour of conversing, I was able to walk away with an executable plan of action and timeline to reach an immediate pressing goal. In fact it was so simple, I thought I’d missed something.
Deb did a great job building our blog and social media CRM channels. She is very energetic and passionate about creating quality consumer-centric content. In a short time she was able to recruit and build relationships with education subject matter experts and guest experts. She is up-to-date on all the social media channels and understands how to write engaging and compelling social content.