Debbie Stanley

ALLi Author Member

Debbie Stanley is an author, educator, and consultant who writes for both consumers and peers on the topic of organization. Debbie holds a B.F.A. in journalism, an M.A. in industrial and organizational psychology, an M.S. in mental health counseling, and a perpetual devotion to continuing education. She’s a licensed mental health counselor and organizational psychologist with extensive field experience who enjoys translating the eye-glazing rhetoric of her scholarly education into concepts that make sense in everyday life.

Debbie’s latest book, The Organized Musician, helps independent artists around the world to get their act together and live their dream of a career in music. Her next book, Modern Music Patronage, will teach music fans how to give substantive support to the artists they love in the post-pandemic age of independent music. Debbie is also the author of books for peers including Newbie Pitfalls, Ethical Pitfalls for Professional Organizers, and Let Me Show You the Basement: A Guide to Staying Safe in Clients’ Homes.

Since starting her company, Thoughts In Order, in 1997, Debbie established herself as a speaker, instructor, author, and consultant to clients across all industries. Upon moving from Detroit to Austin in 2012, she sharpened her focus to the music industry, digging into the systems that drive every aspect of a music career including booking, touring, production, marketing and promotion, recording and distribution, copyright and royalties, and the wellbeing and protection of artists and their creative gifts. Her past and current project portfolio ranges from large-scale conference and festival production to one-on-one consultation and coaching of music creators and industry professionals.

As an educator, Debbie has offered courses, workshops, and conference presentations for both client groups and peers for over twenty years. She is the developer and instructor of “Fundamental Organizing and Productivity Principles,” a flagship course of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, as well as other courses in the NAPO curriculum. In 2021, Debbie joined the faculty of Austin Community College’s respected Music Business, Performance, and Technology department as the developer and instructor of “Music Career Organization,” a foundational course that is the first of its kind in any college or university music industry degree program.