Refusing Permission and Embracing 'Unreasonable' Goals Gets You Farther Than Playing It Safe

Tim Ferriss stood in front of a class full of students at a top university, offering a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world to anyone who could complete an 'unrealistic' challenge—get a celebrity or CEO to answer three questions. Despite initial enthusiasm, no one attempted it, paralyzed by the belief that it was simply too hard. The following semester, when Ferriss challenged the same group but framed the possibility of failure as acceptable, several succeeded quickly. What shifted? It was realizing that the biggest goals have the least competition—most people are too afraid to start.

Ferriss himself won unexpected business deals, athletic competitions, and life experiences by setting bold, even 'unreasonable,' goals—then taking uncomfortable steps without waiting for permission. Over and over, he learned that striving for safe, incremental changes only led to mediocrity and boredom. Trying for the unlikely, while risking mistakes and looking odd, moved him forward faster than aiming for what others said was 'realistic.'

Studies in behavioral economics confirm that people systematically underestimate their capability and overestimate everyone else's. When you choose bigger, more exciting goals, your engagement and learning curve accelerate—mistakes become fuel for faster growth. Grant yourself permission for bold experiments, and success becomes more likely than you’d ever guess.

If you’ve been shrinking your dreams or waiting for a sign, now’s the time to test the unreasonable. Write down one goal that feels just a little out of your league—something you’d be secretly thrilled to achieve. Ignore the urge to get everyone’s approval and instead take a direct action: send a cold email, apply for the big opportunity, start the project publicly. Don’t beat yourself up if you stumble; instead, note what happens and use each bit of feedback to get smarter. The world rewards people willing to try the unlikely, so be bold and take your first wild shot this week.