The ten-week online class was the fullest version of the Mindfulness Based Achievement curriculum offered to individuals. It combined recorded teaching with live conversation, and it was written for women who hold demanding jobs or run their own ventures and want to reach their goals without constant exhaustion. This page explains what the course contained and how a typical cycle was run, based on the January to March 2014 edition described in the archive.

The question behind the course

The material opens with a pair of questions. Are you a high-achieving woman who wants to make a big impact? Do you find yourself worn out and anxious while striving to succeed? The class was presented as a set of tools for people who answered yes, with the promise, stated in the archive’s own marketing language, of pursuing goals with ease and joy. That promise reflects the organisers’ aims and is not a measured result.

What the programme included

• Five live group calls led by the two instructors, Vanessa Loder and Lisa Abramson, held in the early evening Pacific time.
• The complete curriculum, delivered as five recorded classes.
• A workbook with notes and action steps for each class.
• A private online forum where members could stay in contact between sessions.
• Bonus audios designed to help with changing habits.
• Simple techniques for bringing mindfulness into the working day.

How the ten weeks were paced

Rather than release everything at once, the course spread its content over ten weeks. A new recorded class became available every other week, and the live calls fell in the alternate weeks. This rhythm gave students a fortnight to absorb each lesson and apply the action steps before the next one arrived. The live sessions were then used for questions, sharing and coaching in a small group of what the organisers called high achievers.

Anyone who could not attend a live call could listen to a recording afterwards. After a class recording first appeared, students kept unlimited access and could download it to listen at their own speed.

What the lessons covered

The lessons were designed to guide participants through being intentional about the success they want while keeping their lives balanced. The recurring ingredients were guided visualisation, conscious goal setting, meditation, affirmations, and exercises in appreciation and gratitude. Each week asked for a small number of practical actions so that the ideas could be tested in real situations rather than only discussed.

The stated intention was to help students reach their potential in a way that is effective and also enjoyable, with considerably less stress and anxiety than they were used to. Anyone reading that claim should treat it as the course creators’ goal, not a guarantee, since results vary from person to person.

Why a group format

The organisers argued that there is real strength in women coming together to support one another with personal and professional goals. The live calls, the forum and the shared workbook were all aimed at that. Because places were limited, the group stayed small enough for everyone to be heard.

Who it suited

The class appealed to people who:
– wanted structure and external pacing rather than a self-directed programme
– liked the idea of live conversation as well as recorded lessons
– were curious about meditation or affirmations but wanted a practical, business-friendly framing
– preferred to learn from home, since all sessions were online

Those who wanted something lighter or more flexible were pointed to the five-week online class, which dropped the live calls.

About the instructors

Lisa Abramson and Vanessa Loder both came from corporate backgrounds, in technology and media on one side and finance and private equity on the other. They describe themselves as bridging business with mindfulness and personal growth. More background is on the page explaining Mindfulness Based Achievement.

Questions people typically ask

Do I need meditation experience? No. The archive describes the programme as suitable both for beginners and for people who already practise, because the exercises start small.

What happens if I miss a live call? Recordings were provided so the discussion could be caught up on later.

How much time does it take? The archive does not give a weekly hour count. As a rule of thumb, plan for one lesson every two weeks, a live call in the alternate weeks and a short daily practice, and adjust to your own schedule.

Is it therapy? No. It is a coaching and self-development curriculum. People with health concerns should speak to a qualified professional.

Why only five recorded classes over ten weeks? The slower pace is deliberate, leaving room to practise each idea before moving on.

Related pages

See all of the inspirational classes, or return to the home page for the wider set of programmes. Dates, fees and registration details from the archive are out of date and are intentionally left out here.