Tara Sophia Mohr | wise living

What is Playing Big?

• It’s realizing you have world-class ideas.
• It’s realizing you have a story to tell and telling it – loudly, boldly, courageously.
• It’s raising your hand in the back of the lecture and saying what you think the speaker is just not seeing.
• It’s publishing the book, putting up the art show, launching the business, taking your work to the next level.
• It’s the end of fear and self-doubt holding you back.
• It’s activating voice, owning power, amplifying impact.

Your playing big isn’t defined on the world’s terms. It isn’t necessarily owning an empire or making millions. You know what playing big means for you. It’s following that inspiration that is in your heart. Seeing it through. It is getting out there – visible – like the women you so admire. It is your voice, your vision, your unique contribution flowing forth, no longer shrunken down, stopped up inside you, or compromised.

Here’s the good news: if you have been playing small, it’s okay. Most of us don’t play big naturally, on our own, without any support. We need tools, support, training – a process – to help us play bigger.

The six-month Playing Big journey gives women the inner foundation and the practical skills that they need to play bigger. We could call it a “program” or a “course” but it’s a revolution. It’s a movement. Women playing big is going to change the world.

Playing Big is a world-class, in-depth women’s leadership and professional development journey. Here’s what I bring to this program:

• A life-long practice of helping women’s voices be heard. This is my calling, my passion, my work.
• Experience coaching hundreds of women in business, the social sector and the arts, with a specific focus on helping women become ready to start shining brightly and sharing boldly now
• The practical, real-world side: An MBA from Stanford University, one of the world’s top business schools. Extensive training in leadership, negotiation, communication, entrepreneurship, and business. My undergraduate degree from Yale University.
• The psychological and spiritual side: professional certification as a coach, and a life-long passion for personal growth, and an understanding of the inner transformation needed for playing big.
• My own personal journey from playing small to playing big, my journey of starting and growing a passion-based business, finding confidence as a writer, and sharing my ideas widely in media from The Huffington Post to The Today Show.

Playing Big is for you if:

• You have a project or business already in motion – but you aren’t moving forward with it as boldly as you’d like to.
• Or, you feel a calling or longing about something you’d like to do – a project or a new career direction, but you feel scared about getting started or unsure how to do so.
• You want to make a positive difference in the world – and find that you are held back by self-doubt or simply not being sure what steps to take next
• You have the sense that an inspiring community of like-minded women could really make a difference in the level of forward momentum in your work.
• You suspect it would be a whole lot more fun to play bigger. (YOU ARE RIGHT.)

The Playing Big program is:

• Part supportive and dynamic community of creative, visionary women
• Part boot-camp training in skills for world-changing: communication, negotiation, pitching/selling, getting media attention for your work, and publishing
• Part inner work to help you overcome fears, end procrastination, and clarify your vision
• Part action. You’ll choose a “Playing Big” project to do, and get support in actually doing it.

After Playing Big, you can expect to:

• Take bolder action in your work
• Be able to reach far more people with your work
• Experience greater confidence expressing your own voice
• Feel less dependent on approval of others, and less afraid of criticism
• Have the tools to get media attention for your work
• Have a remarkable circle of women colleagues and collaborators whose support you can draw on when you need it

What 2011 Playing Big Participants are saying

Playing Big was a priceless experience. This is by far the BEST online/ecourse I have ever taken– and I’ve taken a bunch! - 2011 Playing Big Participant

I can’t WAIT for you to do another Playing Big course so I can send it to all my friends. This has been one of the most AMAZING courses I have ever done in my life. I loved it. Thank you so much. – 2011 Playing Big Participant

A huge thank you. Financially a stretch for me but SO worth every penny. Seriously – this completely changed my life! oxoxox - 2011 Playing Big Participant

Playing Big is a godsend. pure and simple. - 2011 Playing Big Participant

How It Works

• a six month journey (January – June) with thirteen power-packed modules
• two workshop-format calls with Tara each month; you can listen and participate live or listen to the recordings at your convenience
• a written guide and set of worksheets for each module
• inspirational poetry and personal stories from Tara to support you along the way
• guest interviews from incredible experts who know a thing or two about “playing big” – like bestselling author Jen Louden, Happiness Project author Gretchen Rubin, and Kiva.org founder Jessica Jackley.
• an online forum where you can connect with other participants, share learnings, get support, and ask questions and get feedback from Tara in between sessions.
• optional small groups: you’ll also have the opportunity to participate in small groups of three that meet regularly for accountability, support, and connection.
• a “Playing Big Project.” You’ll choose something on your personal edge of playing big, and get support in doing it.

About Tara

Tara Sophia Mohr is an expert in supporting women to share their authentic gifts with the world – for big impact and knock-the-ball-out-of-the-park careers.

Tara received her MBA from Stanford University, where she led Stanford University’s Women in Management organization and designed a wide range of programs for top women leaders.

In 2011, Tara was featured on the Today Show, which covered her wildly popular 10 Rules for Brilliant Women. Her writing on women’s professional success and personal fulfillment is featured regularly at The Huffington Post, and has also been published in Forbes, USA Today, More Magazine.com, the International Business Times, Ode Magazine and numerous other publications. She is the co-creator of two anthologies of contemporary women’s writings, The Women’s Passover Companion and The Women’s Seder Sourcebook published in 2003.

Tara was selected by BBC World Service radio as the United States representative for the program “Born A Girl” chronicling the lives of six young women around the world. She was named a “Girl Champion of 2010″ by the Girl Effect organization.

The next session of Playing Big begins in October, 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get recordings if I can’t attend the course calls live?

The program is designed to work whether you can attend live or not, and call recordings will always be posted right away. You’ll still get to participate fully in the program and can always ask your questions or participate in discussion via the online forum.

I’m not sure if online learning would really work for me?

You know yourself best, and here are a few things to keep in mind:

• My courses and groups have a very high continued participation/completion rate.
• If you fall behind in the course, it isn’t a problem. The modules are structured so that you can skip one or two, pick up with the course, and then return to those you’ve missed later. All course materials are also available to you to download so that you can utilize them when you are ready – even if after the course has ended.
• You’ll be able to opt-in to meet with a buddy (by phone or Skype) regularly, to discuss your homework, check in, and help each other stay on track. (And of course have a wonderful time getting to know and supporting one another!)

I’m not sure if I’m in the right place in my life for this program. How do I know I’m ready?

It’s a great question. This is not a program for everyone. This is a program for:

• women who have a desire to make a significant impact through their work
• women who have some ideas about the kind of impact they’d like to make, or who are already at work on a project/cause/business they want to play bigger with
• women who feel ready to stretch to play bigger – but want supportive community, tools, and training to help them do so

I’m just not sure.

Well, if you were my coaching client I’d ask you to:

• Check in with your body: How does the idea of registering feel in your body – good and exciting? Good but scary/exhilerating? Those are good signs.
• Notice what part of you is hesitant: Your inner wisdom? Listen up. Inner critic? Voice of fear? Not good voices to listen to. Question what they are saying. Especially question any voices telling you you somehow don’t measure up to being in this group, or won’t be able to “do it right,” or that the time to do this has to be just right.
• Explore: Is there a particular fear or worry you have? If so, write it down and examine it in the light.
• Ask yourself: If you knew you couldn’t fail at this, and that you’d fit in beautifully with the group – what would you do?
• Reflect: What are your intentions for the 2012 year? Does this feel well aligned, or not?

Want to learn more about Tara’s Playing Big program? Listen to an Info and Q&A Call about Playing Big HERE

What 2011 Playing Big Participants are saying

Thank you so very much for this incredible experience. I really valued how involved you were every step of the way. In many of the e-courses I have taken in the past, it seems the community of participants are often left to themselves without clear leadership from the organizer. With Playing Big, I felt your presence, involvement and dedication every step of the way and that made the experience stronger and more meaningful. - 2011 Playing Big Participant

The next session of Playing Big begins in October, 2012