January 26th, 2012 
Maria Helm 
We have learned to dream big and to go for our dreams. These are important messages for a successful venture, but sometimes we get carried away and don’t give our dreams time to firmly take root.
I remember a colleague of mine dreamed of launching an annual online marketing conference. He had a great concept and access to both the funds and the people to carry it out. He planned a three-day event with speakers, workshops, and an exhibit hall. Vendors signed up, facilities for a large crowd were committed. Ads and articles appeared in the local paper and online. Success seemed imminent.
But throughout the process several of his friends and colleagues (me included) had been skeptical. We urged him to start smaller – maybe an afternoon event, to test the drawing power of his idea.
Our colleague remained undeterred. He saw these naysayers as negative thinkers, small-minded folks who couldn’t grasp the potential of what was possible.
The day of the event arrived and everything was fabulous – except the attendance. Those who came found it valuable, but the turnout was disappointing. Vendors were upset, and the affiliating organizations were embarrassed.
Had he started small, none of this would have happened. If he had compacted this event into one afternoon, the small crowd would have seemed large and the event could easily have led to a daylong event the following year with plenty of time for word of mouth and the promise of more to come to buikld on. Failing so big damaged his efforts to do this again.
Lesson learned: dream big, but start small. Let’s go for our dreams, but let’s allow them time to grow into full blown success we envision.
Photo Credit: sirwiseowl
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