The real danger here isn't mere dishonesty—it's that premature claiming short-circuits the very hunger that drives achievement. When you announce the victory before earning it, you've already collected the social reward (admiration, credibility, relief) that should have remained waiting at the finish line. A person who tells friends she's "basically got the job" after one promising interview often finds her motivation evaporating once those congratulations arrive; the brain has already received its dopamine hit. Coelho reminds us that desire itself is a resource we must protect, not squander on false currencies.