Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Sabreen.
Diana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The Big Dream is a creation that brings together 20 years of my professional experience. I previously worked as a photographer for my primary career, and have always intertwined that with social and socially conscious endeavors. I have a project, Shoot Cameras Not Guns, that teaches photography as a tool for social change and empowerment in conflict areas. I’ve also been teaching rock climbing and guiding people through the mountains for a long time, as well as integrating outdoor education with Corporate Team Building and Leadership Development. Add in that I’m a lifelong performer of dance, theater, and original music, a Burning Man regular, and a constant world traveler, and it all adds up perfectly to create The Big Dream!
I think that when I list my skills and experience, it can appear to be non-linear or random. To me, it all makes perfect sense. I’ve pursued the things that make me happy, and that keeps me creative and connected to community. All my work has centered around helping people communicate better, become more empowered and more expressive, to move their bodies, to be creative, and to stand up for a greater world. These are all my core values, so while from the outside, my career paths might seem separate, it all makes perfect sense to me. In creating The Big Dream, I get to bring together all of these aspects of community engagement and empowerment into one… well… into one Big Dream!
I specialize in helping people think, see, and act outside the box, to create the lives they want, to live differently, to pursue the things that they’ve put off or been told they can’t do. Over the years, people have told me so many times “You’re so lucky” or “I wish I could do that” when I tell them about my career path or my world travels. They don’t realize they can do that! So I decided to start a business that helps people do what they actually want to do with their lives, not with what they think or have been told that they “should” be doing. I think most people stick with the easiest or most expected path in front of them. They don’t realize they can get unstuck and create a life of their choosing. I work with people who are feeling stagnant and like they need a change or have something greater to offer the world than what they’ve been doing. I created this business because it’s 2020 and we get to define a new normal. Especially now with the pandemic, we really get to pick and choose what we bring forward with us and what we leave behind. Remote work is normalized, and we all get to re-evaluate what we want our lives to look like from here on out.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I thought about creating this company for many years before I got out of my own way and just did it! It’s still growing and shifting. My long term goal is to create a community of shared resources. There are so many people out in the world doing really amazing things, and many of them are going at it alone. I’d love for creative adventurers and entrepreneurs to join forces and to help each other make alternative life paths easier and smoother. We don’t all need to reinvent the wheel. We can help each other and gain from each other’s expertise and experiences.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Big Dream is a Socially Regenerative business, which means that we leave the world, and the people in it better than when we started. I help professionals live more creative, playful and adventurous lives through Creative Life Consulting, playshops and retreats. There’s great value and richness in prioritizing fun, adventure, creativity, and living life outside of expected norms. I help people realize their Big Dreams, whether that’s making more art in their free time, quitting their jobs to travel the world, or becoming leaders in their communities. There’s no dream too big or too small! Some people might not even have a big vision yet, but they know that what they’re doing isn’t working. I help them clarify and move forward.
A really important part of The Big Dream is building community. When you take a step towards something out of the ordinary or something that isn’t solely career or money-focused, it can feel really scary. Especially if the people around you tell you you’re crazy or that you shouldn’t be doing it. I want people to know and to see that there is a community here waiting for them. That they aren’t going through it alone, and that life is hard and scary and beautiful and there are people here to support you even before you take that first step. The Big Dream Collective is our Facebook group and is a really easy way to integrate into the community and get support! There’s also playshops and ways to get involved on the website, www.TheBigDream.life.
What were you like growing up?
I started out as a pretty quiet and well-behaved kid and then at some point, I shifted into a rebellious and smart-ass firecracker! As soon as I started seeing the inequities around me, I started developing myself as a community leader. I’ve always had a passion for equality, human rights, and using art as a form of communication and education. I started photographing people and cultures when I was about 13 and haven’t stopped since!
I was always into theater and acting and thought I was a terrible athlete. This was all before I moved from the east coast to Colorado and realized that sports weren’t necessarily about fast-moving balls and team sports. I started climbing, snowboarding, dancing, and getting really in touch with my body and my own bad-assery.
Pricing:
- Free Initial Consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheBigDream.life
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebigdream.life/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebigdream.life
- Other: The Big Dream Collective Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/597882567508661
Image Credit:
Diana Sabreen, Amy Sabreen, Kay Beaton, Don Hamerman
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