Bill Gates, the late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg all hit the big time by persevering for years in the pursuit of their dreams. They continue to be an inspiration to entrepreneurs the world over who dream of one day growing their own companies into the next Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc. or Facebook Inc., which the three, respectively, founded.

But not all dreams are about creating a globally successful company; dreams can be more short-term and immediate.

For example, a rock band may want to collect funds for a new record, while a zoo may need extra funds to obtain special feed for fickle animals. A nongovernmental organization may wish to help children in a developing country with an immediate need for school supplies.