Following Your Dreams?

[Marvinq]

There's a whole lot of literature out there regarding following your dreams. Which seems like a really nice concept. I like the idea. But, how does someone know it's realistic or even attainable?

Seeing shows like "American Idol" you see that for the vast majority of the singers they have no chance of attaining their dream. Yet, they declare they'll make it big some day.

On the other hand, you get a William Hung, who has got to be in the bottom percentile he makes it somewhat big at least for a small while. What if you're a father supporting a wife and three kids, is it ok to leave your job and suddenly declare, "Ok going to be a world class painter"?

Several years ago, before I married my beautiful wife, I went out on a date with an aspiring actress. She told me about her dream to be an A-List actress. I asked her if she had an agent, she said "No", I asked her if she'd been in anything, she replied "No", I asked if she had any training or schooling in acting, she replied "No", Then somehow the conversation turned to where she'd start, I said something like, "Harrison Ford's first gig was an extra in some movie as a waiter". to which she proclaimed, "Oh No! I'm not going to start as an extra, I'm going to start as the lead role". I sat there thinking "This girl is delusional. But, good luck with that."

It almost seems that 'follow your dreams' is really setting a goal for yourself. But, when is attaining that goal realistic?
Or when is it delusional or a lost cause?