If you start by promising what you do not have yet… you’re essentially cashing a check your future self hasn’t earned. It’s a fast track to killing your own motivation.
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Meaning
The core message is about the psychological danger of premature celebration. By announcing a victory you haven’t achieved, you trick your brain into feeling the reward, which drains the very energy needed to actually go and get it.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this happen so many times, especially with founders and creators. It’s a subtle trap. When you publicly commit to a big goal—the book you’ll write, the business you’ll launch, the promotion you’ll get—you get this immediate hit of social validation. People are impressed! They congratulate you on the *idea*. And that feeling? It’s addictive. It feels so much like actual accomplishment that it can satisfy the hunger that was supposed to drive you through the hard, lonely, unglamorous work. The desire to *attain* gets replaced by the satisfaction of having *promised*. And then the work… it just feels heavier. The magic is gone.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Category | Business (233) |
| Topics | discipline (252), integrity (42), work (16) |
| Literary Style | didactic (370) |
| Emotion / Mood | lively (108), pragmatic (36) |
| Overall Quote Score | 66 (27) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes directly from Paulo Coelho’s massively popular 1988 novel, The Alchemist. It’s spoken by the titular Alchemist to the main character, Santiago, as a piece of hard-won wisdom on his journey. While the book is fiction, this particular line is often shared as standalone, genuine life advice and is correctly attributed to Coelho.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Paulo Coelho (368) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Alchemist (72) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Paulo Coelho(1947) is a world acclaimed novelist known for his writings which covers spirituality with underlying human emotion with a profound storytelling. His transformative pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago inspired his breakthrough book, The Pilgrimage which is soon followed by The Alchemist< which went on to become the best seller. Through mystical narratives and introspective style, Paulo Coelho even today inspires millions of people who are seeking meaning and purpose in their life
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | If you start by promising what you do not have yet, you will lose the desire to work toward getting it |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1988; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-0061122415; Last edition: HarperOne (illustrated edition, 2014); Number of pages: 208. |
| Where is it? | Part Two, crystal shop work ethic, NeedVerification – Edition 2014, page range ~[62–72] |