"まだ持っていないものを約束から始めると、それを手に入れるために働く意欲を失います。"

The gist of the quote is pretty straightforward. It's all about not overpromising before you actually have the means to deliver. Imagine telling your friend you'll cook an elaborate five-course meal without knowing the first thing about cooking. You'll likely feel overwhelmed and lose the motivation to actually learn how to cook because the pressure is too high.

Historically, this kind of wisdom has been relevant in many areas—business, personal relationships, even in creative pursuits. Take the story of a young tech entrepreneur in the early 2000s. They promise their investors the next big thing, a revolutionary product that’s going to change the world. They don't have the prototype; they haven't figured out the logistics. But they’re excited and think the details will fall into place. Spoiler alert: they don't. The entrepreneur gets bogged down in the details, the pressure builds, and eventually, the project fizzles out. The moral? Overpromising can be a motivation killer.

Let’s talk about a concrete example. Picture a freelance graphic designer named Sarah. She’s just starting out and a client approaches her for a massive project—branding for a new chain of cafes. Sarah's portfolio isn't huge yet, but she’s eager and says yes to everything the client asks, even things she’s never done before. The problem is, she doesn't have the skills or resources yet to pull off such a big project. She soon feels overwhelmed, dreading the work she once loved. The client’s expectations are sky-high, and Sarah’s motivation plummets. She ends up missing deadlines, producing subpar work, and eventually, losing the client.

So what’s the advice here? Simple—don't bite off more than you can chew. Start small. Manage expectations. If you’re working on something new, be honest about where you are in the process. If you’re upfront about your current abilities and resources, you’ll feel more motivated to improve and grow. It’s a lot easier to exceed modest expectations than to fall short of unrealistic ones.

Here’s a little story to illustrate this. Think about a high school student named Jake. Jake loves playing the guitar and dreams of being in a band. One day, he boasts to his friends that he’s going to perform at the school talent show with an original song. The problem? He’s never written a song in his life. Suddenly, the pressure is on. He starts to feel anxious and overwhelmed. He avoids practicing because every time he picks up the guitar, he can’t shake the fear of not being good enough. The talent show comes and goes, and Jake doesn’t perform. He’s disappointed in himself and starts to doubt his abilities.

Now, imagine if Jake had taken a different approach. What if he had promised to learn a new song by his favorite band and perform that instead? It’s more manageable and within his current skill set. He practices regularly, builds confidence, and when he performs, he nails it. His friends are impressed, he feels proud, and his motivation to improve and perhaps write his own song in the future increases.

So next time you’re tempted to promise the moon, take a step back. Think about what you actually have—skills, time, resources—and start there. Build up gradually and let your achievements fuel your desire to reach higher. It’s like laying down bricks; one by one, you build a solid foundation. Before you know it, you'll have the skills and confidence to promise—and deliver—something truly amazing.