We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Sabreen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The Big Dream is the second business I’ve started. I help people live more creative, adventurous and playful lives with consulting, events, retreats and playshops. For the last 15 years I’ve been a professional photographer. I’ve enjoyed working for myself, making my own schedule, following my creative pursuits and adventuring around the world on my own terms. People kept telling me “you’re so lucky” and “I wish I could do that” without realizing that they actually COULD! So I started The Big Dream to empower people to follow the path that lights them up and that is calling to their heart, even if, especially if, it is outside of social norms.

With my own business, I also get to change the way that business is run and create a new normal. The Big Dream is a socially regenerative business, meaning that it makes the world and the people it reaches more awesome and empowered. Those people then spread the awesome and empowerment. The community inspires and supports each other and pays it forward. This is a step up from a simply “sustainable” business model, or the more common degenerative business model that takes without giving back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been a visual artist and performer. I’ve have a career in photography. I build large scale climbable art for festivals and events. I act, sing, play original music, dance, direct and produce immersive theater. I used to keep these things pretty separate even though they were all creative pursuits. I thought it was important to keep a professional image and not mix my interests. My new business The Big Dream integrates all of these different parts of me. Rather than feeling scattered in different pursuits, or dampening down pieces of myself, I’ve created a business that includes all parts of me. This attracts clients and collaborators I love, and genuine connection. This integration has become a huge part of how I work with my clients. I want them to also choose a life path where they feel they can integrate all parts of themselves. I want to empower them to be fully expressed, and honest about who they are, and be not only accepted but admired and respected for it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It depends how adventurous they are! I’d love to scoop them for 2 or 3 days to Moab, which is one of my favorite places on the planet. On the way back to the Front Range I’d show them the big peaks of the Rocky Mountains and a hike or two above treeline. Heading back to Boulder, I’d take them to Junkyard Social Club, which is an immersive adventure playground, beer garden and community gathering spot that we’re building in Boulder and will no doubt be the coolest thing in town once it’s open. I’d definitely find some live music in Boulder or Denver and another day checking out the street murals around Denver and RiNo.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Elizabeth Gilbert’s books have been really validating for me. I tend to accidentally read the appropriate book AFTER I do the thing. For example, I read Eat, Pray, Love, a memoir about traveling the world, AFTER I traveled the world solo. And I read Big Magic, which should be the user manual to The Big Dream AFTER I started The Big Dream. So I can’t say they’ve pushed me to where I am, but they have let me know that I’m not the only person who wants to live in this creative and adventurous way. Her work has helped me to feel more validated, less lonely, and has inspired me to integrate a huge community support aspect into by business in order to pass on these benefits to others. When deciding to do something big, exciting, scary and different with your life, it’s nice to know that other people have done the same and not only survived, but thrived.

Website: www.TheBigDream.life

Instagram: @thebigdream.life

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/bigdreamcollective

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdcmXI1rbJh-pdvd-YbUFA

Image Credits
Kay Beaton James Edwards Amy Sabreen

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