Have you ever had a vision for something but been daunted into inaction by its grand scale? If you’ve just wryly nodded your head, you’re not alone. Sometimes our magnificent dreams can be a bit overwhelming…it’s hard to see a clear path that will take you from where you are right now to the possibilities of your dreams.

I’ve just had a timely reminder of the power of just taking the first step.
Earlier this year I was involved in the planning for the Sydney leg of the International Bicycle Film Festival. We had a vision for the festival which hinged on receiving government funding. Our funding application was rejected – completely.

In our initial shock and disappointment it was hard to see how we could hold the festival without the funding. But after some moping we decided the festival had the potential to appeal to sponsors. We weren’t sure how we were going to approach possible sponsors but we knew we had to do something and do it pretty fast.

We started out by talking to everyone that we knew who might know something about sponsorship. People came out of the woodwork to help us – including a sponsorship expert who coached us with the development of a sponsors pack. Then we started targeting potential sponsors that we knew, then those that we didn’t.

The result has been a revelation. The festival is far bigger than we originally envisaged. We’ve made contact with individuals and organisations that have been inspiring and supportive. We’ve all used our skills in new ways.

Our small steps took us from something that seemed like a disaster to a festival that’s promising to be a great success. Check out the run-down below.

What small steps could you take towards making your dreams a reality?