This is only true for a very slim subset of people chasing exceptional, compressed, power-law outcomes (build a unicorn in 5yr, become globally famous, change an industry, etc.) For most people, realistic goals + boring linear inputs compounded for 10-20yr is the better strategy to "succeed" (and healthier one). Become great at a job, get wealthy, stay fit, build a good family/life, become genuinely knowledgeable at sth. Delusion is also one of the straightest paths to permanent dissatisfaction and misery, and why we shouldn't oversell it to the new generation. Sure Steve Jobs / Elon Musk believed impossible things and set crazy targets, but they were (1) extreme exceptions, and (2) had a ridiculous combination of taste, talent density, capital, market timing, organizational ability, distribution, technical teams, etc. Delusion without all of that is usually just delusion.