Dreams vs. Reality: The Power of Your Starting Point

Understanding the Concept of Baseline and Delta

Growing up, many of us are told that we can achieve anything we set our minds to. This idea is deeply rooted in the encouragement parents give their children, aiming to inspire confidence and ambition. However, as I’ve navigated my own journey, I’ve come to understand that this isn’t entirely true. While dreams are essential, the reality is that some aspirations may take more than one lifetime to achieve.

What matters most is recognizing where you start and how that affects your potential for success. It’s not about limiting dreams, but rather being strategic about them. Many people fail to align three key factors: their existing skills and knowledge, what’s currently in demand or stable in the marketplace, and what they believe will continue to do well in the future. When these elements are aligned, it elevates your baseline, creating a stronger foundation for achieving success.

The Role of Desire in Success

Your delta—the difference between where you start and where you can go—is crucial in determining how high you can climb. This delta is primarily driven by desire. How badly do you want to improve? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How consistently will you show up to do the work?

I’ve seen this principle play out in various areas of life. In my career at Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, I observed athletes with moderate natural talent outperform those with extraordinary gifts simply because their desire was greater. The same applies in business. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve coached weren’t necessarily the smartest or most naturally gifted. They were the ones who started from a reasonable baseline and then applied an extraordinary delta through their unwavering desire to succeed.

Aligning Your Path with Reality

This doesn’t mean you should abandon big dreams. Instead, it means being strategic about which dreams you pursue based on your starting point. If your baseline in a particular area is low, consider the following:

• Choose a different path where your baseline is higher
• Invest time in raising your baseline before expecting significant results
• Partner with others whose baselines complement your weaknesses

I’ve applied this thinking throughout my career. While I may not have had the baseline to become a professional athlete, I recognized my baseline in business, communication, and relationship-building was solid. From there, my desire to excel—my delta—has taken me to heights I never imagined.

When coaching others, I emphasize the importance of the baseline-delta framework. It’s not about limiting yourself—it’s about being strategic so you can actually achieve extraordinary things rather than chasing impossible dreams.

The Power of Realistic Ambition

There’s something powerful about ambitious goals that are within reach. When you align your dreams with your baseline capabilities and then apply massive desire, you create momentum that can carry you further than you might have thought possible.

I’ve seen this in my own journey from sports agent to business coach and chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute. My baseline knowledge of success principles gave me a starting point, but it was my delta—my burning desire to help others succeed—that has defined my career.

So while my mom’s encouragement to dream big was well-intentioned, I now know that success comes from understanding your starting point, choosing the right path based on that reality, and then applying extraordinary desire to maximize your delta.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are you saying we should give up on big dreams?
Not at all. I’m suggesting we should be strategic about which dreams we pursue based on our starting points. Some dreams might be better aligned with our natural abilities and existing knowledge than others. Choose dreams where you have at least a reasonable baseline, then apply extraordinary effort to achieve them.

Q: What exactly do you mean by “baseline” and “delta”?
Your baseline is your starting point—your natural abilities, existing knowledge, and current skill level in a particular area. Your delta is how much you can improve from that baseline through desire, hard work, and persistence. Both matter in determining what you can ultimately achieve.

Q: How can someone determine if their baseline is high enough in a particular field?
Look at your early results compared to others, seek honest feedback from experts in the field, and assess how quickly you pick up new skills in that area. If after dedicated practice you’re still significantly behind peers who put in similar effort, you might be working with a lower baseline. That doesn’t mean give up—it means you’ll need an extraordinary delta or might want to consider fields where your baseline is higher.

Q: Can a person improve their baseline, or is it fixed?
Baselines can absolutely be improved through education, training, and experience—but there are practical limits based on natural aptitude. The key is recognizing that improving your baseline takes time and should be part of your strategic approach to achieving your goals.

Q: How does this baseline-delta concept apply to children and their future careers?
For children, it’s important to expose them to many different activities to help them discover where their baselines might be naturally higher. Rather than telling them they can do “anything,” help them find the intersection of what they enjoy and what they show natural aptitude for. Then encourage the development of desire and work ethic that will maximize their delta in those areas.