The Logistics
What are the dates and call times for this program?
The next session of the Playing Big Course will run
from the week of October 28, 2024 through April 18, 2025.
Upon registering, you’ll get immediate access to the course site, Orientation materials, a detailed course schedule and link to automatically add all course call times to your preferred calendar app.
Our workshop sessions are
held every other Wednesday from 10-11:30 am Pacific. Our first call will be on October 30th, 2024, and our last call will be on April 16th, 2025, (with a holiday break from December 18, 2024 through January 5, 2025).
To see how this converts to your time zone,
check here.
Some participants attend the workshops live, some listen to or watch the recordings and many do a combination. All workshops will be recorded and transcribed, and posted within 24 hours. You also have the option to listen to call recordings via our private podcast feed on your favorite podcast app.
There are also some varying times for the (optional) virtual meet-ups to accommodate time zones from around the world.
How much time is required each week?
The time you invest in the Playing Big Program can flex with your schedule from week to week, but on average, you can expect to spend about 2 hours per week on the course (including time for the module call every other week). It’s also important to note that there is no such thing as “falling behind” in this course. The program is designed so that you can jump into any module whether you’ve done the previous ones or not, and the material is designed so you may start when/where you can and enjoy each module fully. You have lifetime access to the materials and as a graduate, you’ll be invited to participate in future sessions at no additional cost.
Can I get recordings if I can’t attend the course calls live?
Yes! 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 outside of North America. How does the course work for those of us living in other parts of the world, and in very different time zones?
So glad you asked! The first thing for you to know is, yes, we have people from all over the world participating in this online program. On average, 40% of our participants live outside the U.S., and span over fifty countries.
Many have questions about making the timing of the program work. First, if the live call times don’t work for you, that’s no problem! You can access a video, audio, or written recording shortly afterward. There are lots of ways to connect with other participants in the course and to get your questions answered.
Over the years, our graduates have shared again and again in their feedback that whether they participate live or via recordings (or some combination of both), the course is absolutely transformative in moving them into their playing big.
Still have questions? Send us a message (via the chat button on the bottom right corner of your screen) and we would love to chat with you.
What’s the investment?
You can pay monthly over six months with an investment of $164 USD per month, or you can pay for the full program ($874 USD) up front and save $110 USD. As a graduate of the program, you’ll be invited to attend future sessions at no additional cost.
We also have a 12-month payment option (for $80 USD/month) if that’s a better fit for your budget. If you are interested in this payment option when registration opens, please contact our team for details (playingbig@taramohr.com).
How long do I have access to the course materials?
During the Playing Big course, we’ll provide you with multiple ways to download and save all materials. At the conclusion of the program, we’ll provide you with a link that has all the course materials in one easy-to-access location that is yours forever, and you’ll also have access to the course site for an additional six months. As a graduate of the program, you’ll also be able to participate in future sessions at no additional cost.
I’m having technical trouble signing up.
No problem. We can help. Message us through the chat button in the lower righthand corner of your screen, or email
playingbig (at) taramohr (dot) com and we’ll get you all set up.
What will the community aspect of this program be like?
One of our greatest joys as a team is being able to provide a space for connection, support and meaningful dialogue – to help people shore up through each other. We look forward to doing that through this course experience, too.
Over the years we’ve found that some course participants are very eager to connect with others as a core part of their course experience, and other participants are more focused on simply absorbing the content. We’ve structured our courses so both paths are available. There are many optional ways to engage with the community, and our online discussion group (hosted outside of mainstream social media) is a place where you can dialogue with other participants and find people in your local area, or with shared interests.
If you choose to join us for our optional virtual meet-ups, you will also be meeting and connecting with other participants in small groups.
What is the typical age of course participants?
First of all, if you are asking yourself this question and wondering if you’ll be in a different stage of life than the group, we want you to know you aren’t alone! This question comes up a lot for people considering the program. The usual age range of the course participants is 30s through 70s, with a strong cohort in each decade. We have many participants who are mid-career and are moving into new kinds of playing big at this stage.
We also have many participants who connect with this community when they are on the verge of retirement or are thinking of pursuing a new calling in their 50s, 60s or beyond. Sometimes, these individuals know what that calling is, and sometimes they aren’t sure yet or are weighing many possible directions. You will be in good company and our private discussion group will allow you to connect with others who are at a similar stage in life to you.
Barbara, one of our alum who works with (mostly) retired women, incorporates Playing Big into her coaching and has this to say about the Playing Big model:
“The women in my Beyond The Empty Nest groups love the principles of Playing Big that I have incorporated into the programming. The new perspectives that they gain about their inner critics, their relationships with praise and criticism and finding their true callings has helped empower them to leap into this next phase of their lives with confidence and excitement. The women who I coach are now Playing Bigger and so am I…”
~ Barbara Wasserman, LICSW, ACC, Midlife Transition Coach
How is the Playing Big course different from the Playing Big book?
The book is in no way a replacement for the course – in fact, nearly all of our students come to the course after reading the book. They want more support and accountability applying the Playing Big work in their life, plus getting new and additional content that’s not in the book.
In the course, we cover the concepts and material in an interactive context, with these added benefits:
- • A well-paced curriculum that keeps you from rushing through the material or only digesting it mentally. Instead, you have the support and time to put new ways of working and living into action in your life.
- • Dynamic class sessions where Tara teaches about the concepts in her own words, answers questions, and coaches participants.
- • A structured time to do the writing and other exercises in the Playing Big process so you know you’ll get them done, with the additional support and time to debrief and unpack what comes up for you.
- • Reminders and inspiration from Tara along the way (delivered by text message and/or email, your choice) to ensure that you put the new habits into place, even when life gets hectic.
- • Community – the opportunity to connect with and be supported by a global community of women playing bigger.
- • Lots of supplementary resources, plus new material and Tara’s latest thinking since the book’s publication.
I’ve seen Tara also has a Playing Big Facilitators Training. How is this course different from that?
The Playing Big Facilitators Training is for coaches, managers, mentors, and educators who want in-depth training in how to use the Playing Big tools to support others – our focus is on doing this work with other individuals.
We are also offering the Facilitators Training this fall. To learn more about that program and assess if it is a fit for you,
visit here.
Some students begin with Playing Big, and then move on to our Facilitators Training in a future year. Your Playing Big tuition can always be applied toward the cost of a future session of the Facilitators Training.
Organizations & Employer Sponsorship
My employer sometimes sponsors professional development. Do you have something I can give them?
Yes, we have a document you can provide your employer.
Click here to download the
Playing Big for Professional Development Program Guide.
What are the payment options if my employer will be paying for my spot in the program?
That’s wonderful news! We have several options for companies registering an employee, or group of employees, in one of our programs:
• You (or someone from your company) can use a corporate credit card to register. If you need us to update the email address and/or name of the participant after the registration is processed, our team can help you do so. We can also send a PDF receipt.
• You can register for the program using your own credit card, and then we can issue a PDF receipt in your name, and your company can reimburse you.
• If there is a delay in obtaining approval from your company, we recommend that you register with your own credit card. We will refund your credit card after we receive payment for your registration via a corporate credit card.
Feel free to email us at
playingbig (at) taramohr (dot) com if you have any questions. We are here to help!
I work inside an organization or company. Is playing big mostly for entrepreneurs?
Not at all! One of the amazing things about this program is the mix of entrepreneurs and individuals working inside organizations. In fact, in our recent session, we were an almost even mix – 49% entrepreneurs, 51% people working inside organizations!
The topics we cover in playing big – from quieting your inner critic, to learning how to communicate and negotiate more powerfully, to “unhooking” from criticism and praise – are transformational for participants across all kinds of careers. Here’s what some graduates who took the program when working for organizations had to say:
I started Playing Big at the same time I moved into a corporate senior management role – a huge leap from the isolated desk research role that I had been in. I have been running into my own old habits turning into obstacles. I turn to the Playing Big lessons when I find a new struggle that I can’t resolve and the content leads me to look at situations in new ways, opening new solutions and opportunities. Playing Big has increased my confidence and effectiveness, while lowering my stress and worry. Perfectly delivered to help me grow into the leader that I have been asked to be. – Yvonne Juarez
I’ve experienced significant changes because of this program. I am able to put my learning, qualifications, and skills to best use because I communicate more clearly. I find that others are more clear about my role and contributions, which means they know when to come to me for input and when the request should go elsewhere. My profile is also growing in the industry, which is positive for the organization I work for. I manage my time better because I understand my role and worth, so delegate tasks more easily when appropriate. I also communicate more confidently with senior managers and with the people who report to me. I am generally more professional, happier, and putting energy into areas that align with the organization’s mission, as well as my own values. – Joelle Adams
I’m wondering…
How do you approach diversity and inclusion in the course? And how do you do anti-racist work through this program?
Ensuring diversity and inclusion has been a key part of our work in designing the Playing Big programs from early on. Here are some of the ways we’ve done that throughout the past several years:
- • Since the program’s inception, we regularly gather feedback on the course experience from BIPOC women and ensure that the program is impactful, relevant and inclusive. We do this both through periodic deep dive conversations and quantitative course evaluation data.
- • Integrating discussions of culture, identity and bias throughout our modules.
- • A robust course scholarship program that serves individuals working in social justice, public service and activism, so that our trainings can help amplify work being done in those areas.
We also know there is a lot more that we can do – and we are committed to continuing to grow in this area. Our continued work includes advising from and consultation with our DEI consultant, continued feedback gathering from participants, and ongoing expansion of our curriculum.
Is this just for people who identify as women?
No. The Playing Big tools and model were developed largely through work with individuals who identify as women. Some parts of our content relate to the specific ways women and girls are socialized, research on women in the workplace, and the kinds of biases women are often met with.
That being said, individuals who identify as a wide range of genders have found usefulness in the tools. Many of our tools have near universal applicability. Others are resonant for those who are underrepresented in current power structures – for a wide range of reasons, including and apart from gender.
Individuals of all genders are welcomed as full participants in the course, and graduates of the program can take what they’ve learned and integrate into work with any population they desire to support.
I feel ambivalent about the very idea of “playing big.”
You are not alone. Many of us share these mixed feelings about the notion of playing big. Many of us worry that playing big will mean leaving behind things we love — free time, or the quiet and simple parts of our lives. Many of us worry that playing bigger would mean we’d somehow stand out, or stand apart, from the people we love — and we don’t want that. Many of us feel fatigued by our culture’s need for everything to be big, bigger, biggest. We know that’s not sustainable for human beings or the planet. We don’t want to perpetuate that kind of thinking.
All of these ambivalences are very normal — and in my view, they are precisely the reason why we need a context and a journey to redefine and reclaim playing big for ourselves — to find a playing big that is aligned with our values, allows us to stay in community and relationship, and that’s good for the earth, too.
In the Playing Big program, each person defines playing big on their own terms. For most, playing big does not mean owning an empire or getting overtaken by a drive toward success. Playing big means courageously going for your personal dreams and longings and having the positive impact your heart wants to have in the world.
I want to play bigger, but I already feel exhausted and overwhelmed, and I’m trying to do less in my life. How does the course fit with that?
This program teaches an inside-out definition of playing big. Playing big isn’t about striving harder or doing more. It is about honestly accepting one’s true aspirations and callings and playing big in going for them. Because it leads to us being more aligned with our authentic selves, and more tapped into our passions, it generally creates more energy, less stress, and far less striving in our lives. It’s an alternative to perfectionistic go-go-going — a deeper path of self-actualization.
Honestly, I feel intimidated and nervous about signing up.
You aren’t alone. Our self-doubts tend to show up when we are embarking on something unfamiliar, especially something that matters to our hearts. Know that having that inner critic chatter away in moments like these is very common. And also know that you are coming into a very welcoming, gentle community! If our past course participants are any indicator, by the end of our first meeting, those doubts will be quieted and you will be feeling exhilarated and joyful about being in the course!
What if I don’t know what I want to Play Big with?
That’s okay. Some participants come into the course with a specific idea of what playing bigger looks like for them. Others aren’t sure, but find that the skills and tools we learn in the course allow them to play bigger in all areas of their lives and support them as their next passion or professional direction emerges.
I’m not sure if online learning would really work for me?
It’s a great question. Many past participants have been surprised at how easy and engaging the online format is. Here are a few things to keep in mind: The course materials are always simple to access. The course combines written materials, worksheets and exercises, live calls, and recorded audio and video learning. The variety of formats means you’ll be able to digest the material in ways that work for you. The pluses of a distance-learning approach are that you’ll connect with like-minded women from all over the world and that you can learn/participate in a way that works easily with your schedule.
What if my life gets super busy during the course, and I can’t complete it at this time?
All program materials are yours for life — so even if an unexpected change in your schedule happens, you can still get the full value of the program when you are ready. We’ve also structured the program so that you can easily skip a module (or more) but join us wherever we are in the program, then catch up on the other modules when you have time.
What is your refund policy?
If within the first 30 days of the program, you find the program isn’t working for you, and you have submitted your completed program materials and worksheets from the course to date, you may request a cancellation of your membership and receive a refund.
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/exhilarating? 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 that 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 coming year? Does this feel well aligned, or not?