This is true, but it's never the straight line. Gaining this momentum is a tricky job, and many people are too fixated on the perceived "success", without really knowing their true progress. Like Dan Pena said: "Going from 100 million to billion is not much of an achievement. Going from total zero to 100 million is a huge deal" In other words, knowing your real position in the world helps to adjust your strategy and be more positive about what you achieved and make real, accomplishable goals instead of trying to be the next Steve Jobs or whatever.