For over four decades, Debra Poneman has been a pioneer in personal transformation, long before the self-development industry became mainstream. As the founder of Yes to Success, she has mentored some of today’s most influential thought leaders, guiding them in unlocking true success—not just in wealth, but in purpose, resilience, and inner fulfillment.

Eram Saeed sits down with Debra to share the four secrets to creating true and lasting success, along with her personal journey of surrender, faith, and transformation. From a near-death experience that shifted her perspective on life’s true priorities to her radical decision to walk away from a thriving career at its peak, Debra’s story is a testament to the power of listening to your heart and trusting the divine path.

If you’ve ever faced obstacles that made you doubt your dreams, struggled with work-life balance, or felt the weight of societal expectations, this episode will inspire you to rethink what success truly means. You’ll discover how gratitude, faith, and authenticity can become your greatest tools in crafting a life of purpose and abundance.

Success is an Inside Job

True success isn’t just about wealth or status—it’s about inner alignment, authenticity, and gratitude. Debra Poneman teaches that before success manifests externally, it must first be cultivated internally. Through principles like positive affirmations, mindset shifts, and surrendering to divine timing, she has helped thousands create a life of abundance and fulfillment.

When you align your thoughts, words, and actions with your purpose, opportunities flow naturally, and success becomes inevitable.

Your Dreams Were Given to You for a Reason

One of Debra’s most powerful lessons is that if you have a dream, it’s because you are meant to bring it to life. She emphasizes that ideas don’t come to us by accident; they are divine assignments that require action.

However, she warns against sharing dreams too early. The "Discouragement Committee"—well-meaning friends and family who project their own fears onto you—can crush a vision before it has the chance to grow. Instead, Debra advises nurturing ideas in private. Take small steps and build momentum before showing your dreams to the world.

Action Precedes Clarity: Take the First Step Now

Debra shares that waiting for the perfect moment is the fastest way to stay stuck. When she launched her first seminar, she wasn’t fully “ready”—but she took action anyway. She rented a room, put up posters, and stepped into her purpose. The result? A packed event and the beginning of an internationally recognized transformational career.

Eram Saeed echoes this sentiment, sharing how she launched her first telesummit with no prior experience, limited resources, and a bank account near zero. Despite the odds, she moved forward, trusting that clarity would come through action.

Don’t wait for the right moment. Don’t hesitate. Start now and take one irreversible step toward your dreams. Once you’re in motion, the path will reveal itself.

Gratitude is the Fastest Way to Transform Your Life

Both Debra and Eram emphasize the profound impact of gratitude and positive affirmations. Debra teaches the 7-Day Mental Diet, where you monitor your thoughts and immediately cancel any negative self-talk, replacing it with empowering affirmations.

Eram shares her own experience of surrounding herself with sticky notes filled with positive declarations before launching her business. This practice rewired her mindset, strengthened her belief in success, and ultimately helped her build a million-dollar brand.

Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s missing to what’s possible. Say “thank you” for everything—even the challenges—and watch how quickly your reality shifts.

Balancing Career and Family Without Guilt

The pressure to "have it all" is real, especially for women navigating careers, motherhood, and personal fulfillment. Debra shares her deeply personal decision to step away from her career at its peak—turning down a TV deal, a book contract, and international expansion—so she could be a full-time mom.

Many questioned her decision, but she knew she was following her heart. And in the process, she found a new passion: raising her children with the same success principles she had been teaching the world.

Love and Service: The Ultimate Measures of Success

At the end of the day, what truly matters? Debra shares a story that shifted her perspective on success forever. She once read about a man who, at the end of his life, didn’t reflect on his career, his wealth, or his status. Instead, he looked back on moments of love, kindness, and service.

This realization became even more profound when Debra had to deliver a presentation at a leadership council event—with a broken foot. Unable to rely on polished delivery, she simply spoke from the heart. And the result? One of the most impactful talks of her life.

The Challenges of Life Create Purpose

Hardships often feel unfair in the moment, but they are the catalysts for growth. Eram shares how her own struggles—including abusive marriages—led her to a deeper understanding of purpose and self-development.

Similarly, Debra highlights the power of perspective, faith, and gratitude in overcoming difficulties. Rather than resisting challenges, she encourages embracing them as lessons guiding you toward your higher path.

Trusting Divine Guidance

Sometimes, the universe speaks in whispers. Eram shares how she seeks divine guidance daily through a prayer practice called the Du’a Istikhara — a prayer for guidance from God.

Debra echoes this, sharing Napoleon Hill’s practice of writing to God each morning, asking for direction. One of her students even followed this practice — and it led him to meet his future wife in an unexpected place.

Investing in Personal Growth  

The most successful people in the world share one habit: they never stop learning. Debra and Eram both stress the importance of investing in mentorship, courses, and personal development. Eram recalls how she once hesitated to invest in herself—but when she finally took the leap, it changed everything.

Debra Poneman’s Journey: From Meditation to Global Transformation

Long before personal development became mainstream, Debra Poneman was teaching success principles based on ancient wisdom and modern psychology.

Her journey began in the 1970s when she left college to become a meditation teacher in Europe. While deeply fulfilled, she realized that spiritual enlightenment alone didn’t pay the bills. Seeking financial stability, she moved to Los Angeles and attempted to build a career in investment sales—only to fail miserably.

At her lowest moment—broke, heartbroken from a miscarriage, and trapped in a difficult marriage—she had a dark night of the soul. Sitting by the ocean, she cried out for guidance. The very next day, she attended a seminar on the law of attraction and it changed her life forever.

She devoted herself to studying the great success masters—Napoleon Hill, Wallace Wattles, and Florence Scovel Shinn—and applied their teachings. Within a short time, she went from struggling to thriving, and soon, others were coming to her for guidance.

Debra went on to train some of the biggest names in transformation—Marci Shimoff, Janet Attwood, and other leaders—before making an even bigger life-altering decision.

At the peak of her career—when she was about to land a TV show, a book deal, and global expansion—she walked away.

Her reason? Motherhood.

She followed the whispers of her heart, knowing that raising her children was her next divine assignment. Though the decision shocked many, she never regretted it. Years later, after experiencing a near-death event, she was reminded once again that success is not about accolades—it’s about love, service, and authenticity.

Expert Advice & Powerful Quotes

 “An idea comes to you because it needs to be manifested by you. If your idea wanted to be manifested by me, your idea would have come to me. You dream the dreams that you're supposed to live. I dream the dreams and I'm supposed to live.” – Debra Poneman

 “What is sacred must be kept secret. When you have an idea, don't go around telling people what you're going to do. Because in your case, you were able to overcome the discouragement committee telling you it was a crazy idea, because you put up the affirmations and you knew these principles.” – Debra Poneman

 “Have gratitude for what is good in your life at the present moment, because gratitude is magic, and what we put our attention on grows in our lives.” – Debra Poneman

 “Take a step out a little bit more outside your comfort now, your comfort zone is expanded, and pretty soon you will have the courage to do whatever you want to do in this lifetime, but it always starts out with small steps.” – Debra Poneman

 “Ideas are the starting point of all great achievement, and the road to despair is paved with great ideas that are never acted on." – Debra Poneman 

Are You Ready to Step Into Your Next Level of Success?

If this episode resonated with you, here’s how you can take action: Listen to the Full Episode – Gain deeper insights and hear Debra’s full wisdom on success, mindset, and faith. Join the Yes to Success Program – Learn Debra’s proven success formula and start creating your dream life. Share This Episode – If you know a woman who needs to hear this message, send it her way!

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