Creative Business Book Club discussion

Tara MohrPlaying Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message

Since we had to cancel our in person meeting, what did you think of the book? Please feel free to answer any of these or add your own observations.

Study Questions:
1) What do you think about the statement that women often don't move forward until they feel everything is perfect?

2)The voice of "not me" have you found that your inner critic holds you back?

3)What about the idea of the future self?

4) Did you find the labeling of two types of fears to be helpful? Has it altered the way you make decisions?

5)Unhooking from criticism and praise, what do you think about unhooking from both? Would you find this difficult?

6) Have you ever hid by going back to school/extended education? Have you ever used education as a delaying tactic?

7) If the choice was self promotion or staying invisible, what would you choose?

8) Hiding stratagies, now that they have been named, do you recognize yourself as having used any of them?

-Limiting Stories about sequencing.
-Designing at the whiteboard
-Over Complicating
-Endless Polishing
-Collecting and curating
-Skipping over your own story
-Endless research

What are the top 3 that you recognize, and knowing this can you stop these habits?

As I have talked with several of you already, I had a hard time getting through this book (especially more then twice). That does not mean that it did not leave an impression, and in fact I found myself taking action on one of the lessons just last week. When I was about to dive into endless curation and research, I said to myself, "that's not playing big," and instead wrote a query to a specific agent. Now I know I still have follow up to do and more action, but it was a start.

I have always been a pretty bold person, so some of the important points didn't touch me, but I will speak to the ones that did.

5)Unhooking from Praise and Criticism is a hard one! While I think I can bolster myself in the face of criticism or at least have conversations, I love some good praise! The idea that in order to be really free we need to not internalize criticism or praise will be a difficult one for me to conquer, but important to keep in mind.

7) Recently I attended a panel where final advice from the panelist was given. Leigh Ann Woisard, Senior Vice President Corporate Public Affairs at Cox Communications, said she regretted not having learned the art of self promotion earlier. That it is not enough to just do the work and think people will notice, they won't. This statement combined with having just read "Playing Big." really hit home. I realized that I had designed and donated 20 flower arrangements, but had put no signage or labels on them saying that the flowers were from me. Like so many people, I was hoping that people would just magically know I had done the work. While still a little reserved in this area, and never wanting to cross the tacky line, it was if Leigh Ann and "Playing Big" gave me some kind of permission that I didn't know I was looking for.

8) I think I have come a long way in this department, but realize I am still very guilty of Skipping over my own story, collecting and curating everyone elses ideas and opinions, and over complicating.

I think just being able to identify and recognize that theses are indeed ways of not advancing is the first step to eliminating them.

So, now that I have shared, I would love to know your reactions to these questions and any other constructive comments you would like to share.

Thank you!