Guided Goals Podcast

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling celebrates the New Year 2025 with Stacia Crawford of Stay Ready Media, community builder and business consultant Keith Spiro, and Jennifer Watson of Twister Twins LLC. Stacia, Keith, and Jennifer share their biggest wins from 2024 and the aha moments that led to them there. They also talk about their focus words for 2025, as well as their personal and professional goals for the new year. Gifted Goals  - Jennifer: Stop waiting to restart! Have a clear focus and stay on track - Keith: Block time for yourself. Put it in the calendar, book it for the year - Stacia: Pay attention to how you are spending your time. Be consistent with progress Final Thoughts - Stacia: The new year is coming, ready or not. It's never too late to set new goals - Keith: Focus on the positive - Jennifer: Believe in yourself. Dream big and then dream bigger Stacia, Keith, and Jennifer are just three of the awesome leaders in business, tech, entertainment, food, etc., Debra interviewe

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about food and cooking with Aaron Hamburger, Babette Pepaj, and CW Silverberg. Aaron is a food writer, baker, and novelist; Babette is founder of Bakespace/BakeBot and co-founder of TastyUpdate.com; and CW is host of “Schmoozing & Cruising” and “Tripping Kosher.” The trio swaps food stories and recipes, as well as cooking and baking tips. Happy Holidays! Favorite Appliance - CW: Waffle maker - Aaron: Stand mixer, tool: chocolate dipper, embossed rolling pin - Babette: Water kettle, egg maker Easiest Fancy Dish - CW: Roast chicken - Aaron: Spinach pie - Babette: Soda bread Goals - Aaron: There is nothing sadder than brownie mix. Stock your pantry with the basics, and you can make so many things. Upgrade the food you have on hand - Babette: Start your day with a clear head. Don’t leave your dishes overnight - CW: Learn the fundamentals, roast a chicken. Make chicken in your waffles Final Thoughts - Babette: Make 2025 your best year ever - CW: Transce

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks embracing your persona with Bobbie Carlton, founder of Innovation Women; executive stylist Nina Fountain; and media strategist Cheryl Tan. The trio offers their takes on the external sides of persona from the perspectives of speaking, style, and media, and the internal work needed to identify and project your aspirations to the world. Bobbie, Nina, and Cheryl also discuss the value of personas, the challenges women speakers face, how to balance TMI (too much information) with authenticity, and more. Happy DEBcember!   Goals - Bobbie: Spend time thinking about your overall goals of becoming known. Create a personal Venn diagram: see where your knowledge overlaps with your brand and what your audience needs - Nina: Figure out your core personality/strengths/uniqueness, and your style persona - Cheryl: Get on camera. Do a 5-day video challenge; 30 seconds a day Final Thoughts - Nina: Let style be liberating - Bobbie: Get comfortable with yourself and spe

On this episode of GoalChat host Debra Eckerling discusses Identity with Jeni Jonte, Bring On Possible; screenwriter and author Angela Page, and author and storyteller Yuliya Patsay, "Until the Last Pickle." Jeni, Angela, and Yuliya offer their takes on identity, how they identify, dealing with an identity crisis, and more. As you prep for 2025, embracing or reconfiguring your identity will help you align who you are with your goals for the new year! Happy DEBcember! What is Identity? - Yuliya: A fluid concept that can change from case to case; it's a choice and something you can claim - Jeni: How you see yourself - Angela: Is linked to reinventing yourself Goals  Jeni: Write out a self-image script: "I am..." whatever it is you want to be. Then read it out loud every day Angela: Identify which of your traits came from your family, good and bad; embrace them Yuliya: Our voice is a truth telling instrument. Pay attention to your voice. See how you feel when you are in your authentic voice; what activitie

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling jumpstarts the new year with a Start2025Now Party. For the third year in a row, her guests are Chris Cherian, Analytics at MoMA; Annie P. Ruggles, founder of Quirk Works Consulting and the Non-Sleazy Sales Academy; and business strategist and community builder Keith Spiro. This annual reminder that you actually get 13 months in a year - the Decembers overlap - is all about checking in and making plans. Chris, Annie, and Keith share their wins and challenges from 2024, along with their personal and professional goals, giggle projects, and themes for 2025. Guests 2025 Goals - Chris: Working on the itinerary for the voyage of 2025; put info into written form (giggle project) - Keith: Gratitude (personal) and alignment (professional); Something in the arts, not photography (giggle project) - Annie: Discover and craft a joyful, beneficial gratitude-grounding morning routine (personal) and be shamelessly stupid for profit (professional); performing (giggle proje

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about giving with Noah Bleich, founder of The TeaBook; David Chiu, marketing and communications manager for The Braid; and Nicky Pitman, director of Shemesh Farms. The three talked about their work, the role of food in it, and what inspired their giving spirit. Noah, David, and Nicky also shared their thoughts on community in philanthropy, art in energy, and mission in everything.  Goals  - Noah: Get to know new people - Nicky: Be curious, ask what people need and see how you can best contribute - David: Start developing long term relationships with organizations Final Thoughts - David: Giving is about relationships - Nicky: Love big! - Noah: Thanksgiving is Thanks and Giving; be thankful that you have things to give Learn More About Noah Bleich: TheTeaBook.com David Chiu: The-Braid.org Nicky Pitman: ShemeshFarms.com Debra Eckerling: TheDEBMethod.com/blog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about Leadership with Marisa Wheeling Ciesluk, MWC Leadership; Monique Daigneault, MD Consulting; and Jess Dewell, Managing Partner, Operations + Strategy, Red Direction. The panel shares their thoughts on what leadership is, qualities of good and bad leaders, ways to develop leadership skills, and more. As Marisa says, leadership is not a title, it's an action. The skills of leadership are applicable no matter what your role or business. What is Leadership? - Jess: Making decisions, whether they starts with your heart, gut, or brain - Monique: Being a healthy example - Marissa: A process of radical self-inquiry Goals  - Jess: Take 10 days - 2 5-day weeks - and pick something to notice about yourself/what challenges are you facing; find the patterns and see what solutions you can try to create a different outcome - Monique: Share a gap that you have with someone that you trust; it brings awareness and helps you figure out how to improve it - Marisa: D

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about the power of dance with Jennifer Ballard, founder of Joy Scoutz and Disco Ball Designs; Missy Lawrence, CEO or TransformMaven LLC; and Jessie-Sierra Ross, author of Seasons Around the Table and founder of Straight to the Hips, Baby. Jennifer, Missy, and Jessie-Sierra revealed their earliest dance memories, their takes on the power of dance, and more. They also shared their dance mantras. Jessie-Sierra: Loosen up more, shake your booty; Jen: Dance a good turn daily; and Missy: Dance like Beyoncé is watching. Goals  - Jen: Find time to dance every day. It can be 2 minutes - Missy: Create a signature mantra or affirmation that includes dance - Jessie-Sierra: The next time you are at a place where there is dancing, start dancing, Final Thoughts - Jen: You can dance if you want to - Jessie-Sierra: Silence that voice that says you can't - Missy: You have permission to dance Learn More About Jennifer Ballard: DiscoBallDesigns.com Missy Lawence: Tran

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling has an uplifting, yet practical, conversation about Stress and Relationships with Angela Miller Barton of WellCoaches, the Original Pause Lady Kim Groshek, and Spiritual Mentor Terri Ann Heiman. The panel shares their takes on the topic, along with helpful tips for dealing with people and being good to yourself. Goals - Angela: Practice compassion you can buy; be realistic in your self-praise - Terri Ann: Take a moment for gratitude - Kim: When dealing with a stressful situation that involves someone else, commit to fostering open and honest communication, pause, and respond with empathy - Bonus Goal: Go outside; the earth is a wonderful healer Final Thoughts - Kim: Pause for 5 minutes every day - Terri Ann: Drop out of the mind and come into the heart - Angela: We are all living a human life So in this human life. Have compassion for yourself and the world around you, those around you, and that will make the journey all that much better Learn More About:

On this week's GoalChat, I discussed #advocacy with Howard Brodwin, Rich Holman, and Sandy Rosenthal. Howard is the founder of Sports and Social Change, Rich is the author of Killing You Softly: How Sugar is Killing Us, and Sandy is author of Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina. The panel shared their origin stories, as well as their takes on advocacy, including the process and the pros and cons. Goals - Sandy: Decide what your values are and pursue those - Rich: Get educated so you can educate - Howard: Be brutally honest with yourself about why you want to become an advocate Final Thoughts - Sandy: There is nothing to be afraid of. Don't let fear get in the way - Rich: Health is the most critical issue. Take charge of your health - Howard: As Nelson Mandela says, "Sport has the power change" Learn More About: Howard Brodwin: SportsandSocialChange.org Rich Holman: https://www.amazon.com/Killing-You-Softly-How-Sugar/dp/B0CJLLLTCZ Sandy Rosenthal: SandyRosenthal.com Debra

On this epiosde of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about Creativity and Tech with author and screenwriter Rob Kutner, Deborah Pardes VP of Swell Audio, and Yael Swerdlow of Maestro Games. Rob, Deborah, and Yael give their takes on creativity and how it does and does not relate to tech. They also share their "why," along with tips for introducing more creativity into your life. Goals  - Deborah: Go to Swellcast.com and start a personal podcast. Find your why, and claiming and amplify your voice - Yael: Inspired by the books "Your Brain on Art" and "Awe." Gift yourself daily awe and also spend a couple minutes on the arts every day - Rob: Gift yourself an hour to play: try a new creative thing Final Thoughts - Yael: Everybody has the power within them to uplift - Rob: Everyone is creative - Deborah: Be true to yourself Learn About Rob Kutner: RobKutner.com Deborah Pardes: DeborahPardes.com Yael Swerdlow: MaestroGames.com Debra Eckerling: TheDEBMethod.com/blog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about writing books with Scott Huver, author of Beverly Hills Noir; cozy, romance, fiction, and non-fiction writer Jessica Mehring; and Melody Owen of Author Nation.  Whether you are writing long-form or short-form, fiction or non, writing has benefits for the author, as well as the reader. The panel discusses what led them to writing books; their approaches to the art, craft and promotion of writing; and more.   Goals  - Scott: Make a list of the people in your network who can help you accomplish your book goals - Melody: Start one conversation every day. And follow up - Jessica: Commit to writing something small every day Final Thoughts - Melody: If you have a book in you, don't let it sit - Jessica: There is nothing wrong with perfectionism - work with it, don't let it stop you from writing - Scott: Find the yes! If you believe in what you are doing, talk to whomever you need to until you find the yes Learn More About Scott Huver: Instagram.com/th

On this week's GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about Magic and Change with Emily Hawkins, LeaderSHIFT; Jonathan Pritchard, ZAVANT Enterprises; and Bob Woods, Social Sales Link. Magic leads to change and vice versa. Add faith and the ability to let go of what no longer serves you, and have a recipe for success. The trio shares their take on the topic, their own "aha" change moments, steps for moving forward, and more. Goals - Emily: Write down everything you want - Bob: Be present on LinkedIn. Start commenting on other people's content. Add value - Jonathan: Start a YouTube channel, stop keeping what you know a secret - Bonus from Deb: Schedule 15 minutes a day to do these items, work toward your goals and change Final Thoughts - Emily: Let go to let in - Bob: Stop talking about how you are going to help and just help - Jonathan: Not all change is an improvement, better is always different, different is rarely better. Be strategic Learn More About: Emily Hawkins: EmilyHawkins4u.com Jonathan Pritchard:

On this week's GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about First Impressions with Book Marketing Mentor's Judy Baker; Kate Paine, Standing Out Online; and Sandy Saburn, Gifted Travel Network. The panel discusses best practices for making a good first impression in person, as well as online. They also share how the second impression comes play, the "quirky facts" that help them stand out, and more. How to Make a Good First Impression - Sandy: Come with the right attitude - Kate: Put effort into how you appear - Judy: Be there to be helpful - Judy: Don't sell to me - Sandy: Don't talk down to me To Create a Strong First Impression Online - Kate: On LinkedIn, show your personality and make sure you use a professional photo that looks like you. Come across as a resource, not a resume: show who you are, what you do, and how you help. For the headline, include the keywords you want people to search and add a quirky fact - Sandy: Be different, get rid of the cookie cutter phrases - Judy: Be authentic without oversh

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about LinkedIn content with brand strategist Ivonne Ribeiro, chief coaching officer Stan Robinson, Jr., and LinkedIn whisperer Brynne Tillman. The trio offers insights on what and how to post, as well as tips for staying consistent with posting, using tech to your advantage, and more. Why Create LinkedIn Content - Stan: To position yourself as a resource - Ivonne: It's one place to remain on the radar of your ideal client and share who you are - Brynne: You have to earn the right to have the conversation with your ideal client, which you can do through sharing good social selling content Goals  - Brynne: Curate your own transcripts (take transcripts from your meetings, ask AI to "pull out YOUR NAME's content;" ask AI "create a blog post, do not research," ask AI "create 10 quotes from the blog post") - Ivonne: Create an inspirational content bank process - Stan: Record a video on your phone and send it to a friend Final Thoughts - Stan: Dive into Link

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling discusses living Beyond Type A with KeishaMarie Douglas, Veteran Wingwomen Community; AJ Lauer, Thriving Ibis Leadership Solutions; and Evelyn Pacitti, Measurable Wellness. KeishaMarie, AJ, and Evelyn share their relationship with perfection, what caused them to embrace imperfection, and more. What is Perfectionism? - Evelyn: The vision of what in your head vs what's real .. and the non-stop loop of trying to match them - KeishaMarie: Doing the same thing and trying to get different results - AJ: Having an idea of how you want something to go Goals - AJ: Put something out into the world that is not 100% polished and perfect! - KeishaMarie: Stop holding yourself back - Evelyn: Put doing something imperfect/uncomfortable on your todo list Final Thoughts - KeishaMarie: Enjoy the journey. Laugh as much as possible - Evelyn: There's more flexibility in life than you give it credit for - AJ: Strive for progress over perfection Learn More About: KeishaMarie Dougl

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling discusses The Freelance Life with Judy Gruen, Tyler Schmidt, and Keith Spiro. Judy is a freelance writer/columnist/book reviewer, whose books include Bylines and Blessings. Tyler Schmidt's company is Little Big Media; she also does work for FranklinCovey and Gray Miller Agency. Keith Spiro, Keith Spiro Media, is a writer and photographer, as well as business strategist and community builder. The trio talks about their experience and expertise in the freelance realm, including working for many bosses--not just one or two--and client/promo/project development. They also share their takes on boundaries (setting and keeping them) and balance. Goals - Judy: Give yourself permission to work on your passion project for small amounts of time every day - Keith: Say yes and be kind - Ty: Take the time to define your ideal client Final Thoughts - Judy: Look for the blessing in what you are doing; keep having that positive impact - Keith: Don't do it alone. Build your

On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling has a fun conversation about cooking and tech with Jerome Amos, BFAM Cooking; Debbie Kennedy, The Food Coach Academy; and Faith Kramer, author of 52 Shabbats: Friday Night Dinners from a Global Jewish Kitchen. The trio shares their love of food, cooking backstories, plating tips, and more. Favorite Cooking Toy - Faith: Microwave for defrosting or reheating/pressure cooker, immersion blender - Jerome: Sous vide, smoker, SIS machine (whipper), vitamix - Debbie: Vitamix, cast iron pans What's on Their Foodie Bucket List - Jerome: Timpano pasta (referencing the movie "Big Night") - Debbie: Low country boil - Faith: Southern Indian food, Yemenite breads Goals - Debbie: Find a recipe you like but change it up; experiment with the flavors and make delicious mistakes - Faith: Take a chance on an exotic ingredient - Jerome: Eat local; when traveling, ask the person at the front desk where to eat and what foods the city is known for - Bonus from Jerome: Join a spice

On this week's GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about #Reinventing with Howard Brown, Shining Brightly, Christopher Johnson, Calm Clear Media, and Jessie-Sierra Ross, Straight to the Hips, Baby. Howard reinvented himself after surviving stage 4 cancer twice; Christopher went from tech to running virtual events; and Jessie-Sierra reinvented herself from ballerina to food blogger to TV personality to cookbook author.  However you decide to reinvent yourself, it starts with the desire to change. Howard, Christopher, and Jessie-Sierra share their takes on the topic, their reinventing stories, and what's in the center of their Venn diagram, along with tips for soaring through your reinvention journey. Goals - Howard: Give yourself grace. Take an inventory of where you are at, and see where you want to go and don't want to go. - Jessie-Sierra: Give yourself the belief and courage to move forward, celebrate all wins, and build your new life one step at a time - Christopher: Play at the edge of your comfort zon

Trust is all about being real, relatable, and relevant, according to Larry Levine, Selling from the Heart. Larry, Barbara Drady of 360 Visibility, and Jim Fuhs of Fuhsion Marketing joined me for a lively, yet comprehensive #Goalchat on Trust. The trio talked about the evolution of trust, especially as it relates to sales. They also shared insights and tips about developing trust with others and yourself. #Goals - Jim: Record a 2 - 3 minute video of yourself telling what you do and upload it to LinkedIn - Barbara: Look at yourself in the mirror, and be honest: Do you think people will be able to trust you? If not, what do you need to change? - Larry: Ask yourself every day: What do I want to known for? Final Thoughts - Barbara: Make a splash! - Jim: Be real, relatable, and relevant for developing know, like, and trust - Larry: People would rather do business with those who sell from the heart Learn More About Barbara Drady: Visibility-360.com Jim Fuhs: FuhsionMarketing.com Larry Levine: SellingFromtheHeart.