Growing up, my mother always told me I could do whatever I dreamed of in this lifetime. It’s a beautiful sentiment that many parents share with their children, but as I’ve navigated my own path to success, I’ve come to realize this isn’t entirely accurate.
I don’t believe we can do whatever we dream in a single lifetime. Instead, I think some dreams might take multiple lifetimes to achieve—and that’s okay. What’s more important is understanding where you’re starting from and how that impacts what’s realistically achievable.
Let me explain this concept through a personal example. If I had told my mom I wanted to be an NBA player, the harsh reality is that my baseline—my starting point—is simply too low. My natural skills and knowledge in basketball are so minimal that even if I worked as hard as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson combined, I still wouldn’t reach their baseline level of talent.
This isn’t about limiting dreams but about being strategic with them. Many people fail to align three critical factors:
- Their existing skills and knowledge
- What’s currently in demand or stable in the marketplace
- What they believe will continue to do well in the future
When you align these elements, you elevate your baseline, creating a foundation that gives you a greater opportunity for success. From there, your “delta”—the difference between where you start and where you can go—becomes the determining factor in how high you can climb.
Understanding Your Delta
Your delta is primarily determined 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 play out countless times in my career. When I was at Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, the agency that inspired “Jerry Maguire,” I watched athletes with moderate natural talent outperform those with extraordinary gifts simply because their desire—their delta—was greater.
The same principle 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. It means you should be strategic about which dreams you pursue based on your starting point. If your baseline in a particular area is low, you might want to:
- 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 always emphasize the importance of this 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 actually 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.
Dreams matter. But dreams aligned with reality—and fueled by desire—are the ones that actually come true.
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.
