We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deborah Franklin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deborah below.
Hi Deborah, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
As a survivor of verbal abuse, I never felt like I belonged. Can you imagine what it’s like to believe that nothing you do is ever good enough? That you never look good enough or measure up to those around you? Being constantly compared to others made it hard for me to accept my own unique gifts. So when success began to show up in my life, I didn’t feel like I deserved it.
Clients were saying yes. My podcast numbers were growing. I was building a team. From the outside, everything looked amazing—but inside, I couldn’t see my progress. All I saw was that my brand didn’t look like someone else’s. I fell victim to that dangerous mind game called comparison syndrome. And soon, I lost sight of who I was.
Eventually, I lost everything and had to start over. That painful reset became my turning point. During that time, I began therapy and took a deep dive into my past. I discovered how much my earlier experiences had shaped my self-worth and decisions. It was eye-opening. That awareness gave me the power to reclaim my identity and trust myself again.
I made a decision: I would no longer live as a victim of my past. I would see myself as a winner. I began to affirm that I was worthy of greatness—that success wasn’t something to fear or question, but to embrace.
As my mindset shifted, so did my life. My confidence grew, and suddenly, I could envision bigger projects and bolder goals. Visualization became a key part of my growth—I began to see the future before it happened.
That vision led me to incredible milestones: becoming an international conference host, a global speaker, and an award-winning author. I wrote my first book, Adjectives, which tells my story of surviving verbal abuse and choosing to launch out into the deep—to live boldly, free from comparison, and aligned with the purpose God had for me.
Overcoming imposter syndrome wasn’t about becoming someone new—it was about remembering who I already was.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Professionally, I wear a few different hats – I’m a coach, speaker, publisher, and author – but everything I do centers around empowering others to share their stories. I run the DFP Group, a full-service coaching and publishing company where we guide high-achieving individuals through the journey of writing and publishing their books. Many of my clients come to me with a wealth of content or expertise already, but they need accountability and a clear roadmap to finally get their book out of their head and onto the page. What excites me most is witnessing that transformation: seeing someone who once only dreamed of being an author actually hold their published book in their hands is deeply rewarding. To make that happen, I developed the DFP 21-Day Method – a focused, hands-on writing bootcamp that takes you from a rough idea to a polished manuscript in just three weeks, complete with daily check-ins and support to keep you on track.
I’m a firm believer in practicing what I preach, so I’m also an active author myself. My devotional 30 Days of Motivation & Inspiration even became an Amazon best-seller (reaching the Top 5 in its category), and another book I wrote, The Prayer of Jabez in the Marketplace, is a 30-day journal designed to help entrepreneurs merge faith with business growth. Writing these books has been another way for me to pour encouragement and practical wisdom into people I might never meet in person. In addition to writing, I also host a weekly podcast called Conversations with Deborah Franklin, which has become one of my favorite platforms for sharing real stories and insights from fellow entrepreneurs, authors, and changemakers.
In January 2026, I’ll be releasing my debut novel Church Girl After Dark – and I’m incredibly excited to be venturing into fiction for the first time. The story is very close to my heart; it peels back the curtain on what happens when a “church girl” faces real-world challenges once the spotlight is off. It’s a new creative direction for me, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone – we’re planning a big launch with some fun events and discussions around the book’s release.
Looking ahead, I’m also expanding my coaching and speaking endeavors. I’m planning to launch some live writing workshops and possibly a retreat for aspiring authors through DFP Group in the next year, which is something I’m really looking forward to. But no matter what new project I’m working on – whether it’s a book, an event, or the next podcast episode – the core of my brand remains the same. It’s all about encouraging others, amplifying voices that need to be heard, and giving people the tools (and confidence) to pursue their purpose.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
What’s truly special about my work is that it’s all centered on empowerment through storytelling. I firmly believe that sharing your story can be a life-changing, liberating experience – not just for you, but for everyone who reads or hears it. Every day, I get to wake up and help people realize that the knowledge, experiences, and even the trials they’ve been through have value and can inspire others. Whether I’m coaching a client through our 21-day writing sprint, speaking to a crowd of aspiring entrepreneurs, or hitting “record” on my podcast, I’m driven by the excitement of watching others step into their purpose. My brand is ultimately about more than books or speeches; it’s about building platforms for voices that need to be heard.
Looking ahead, I’m focused on expanding the ways I can serve and reach people. The launch of Church Girl After Dark in early 2026 is a big milestone, and I’m planning some events and discussions around that to engage with readers (so stay tuned!). I’m also continually developing new programs through DFP Group – for instance, we’re enhancing our publishing packages and considering a virtual writers’ retreat to complement the 21-Day Method, which is very exciting. Through it all, I remain committed to the core of what I do: helping others share their God-given stories, professionally and authentically. It’s incredibly rewarding work, and I feel blessed every day to be able to call this my career.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is a high-achieving individual who’s been carrying the vision of a book in their heart and mind—but hasn’t yet given themselves permission to start. They’re often speakers, entrepreneurs, professionals, or creatives who already have a wealth of content and life experience, but they’re stuck in the “someday” mindset. They know their story matters, they just need structure, accountability, and the right support to bring it to life.
What makes someone a great fit for my process is openness to guidance, a willingness to trust the journey, and a deep desire to impact others through their story. I work best with those who are ready to be stretched. They may not feel 100% “ready” (few of us ever do), but they’re committed to showing up for themselves every day during the process. That’s exactly what the DFP 21-Day Method is built for—it’s a results-driven, no-excuses writing framework designed to get that book out of your head and into motion.
At the end of the day, I love working with people who want to leave a legacy. If you’re someone who feels called to share your truth, teach through experience, or inspire through testimony—you’re my kind of client.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dfpgroup.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.franklin.1232
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-franklin-1a767738/
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