Making big promises.... how important is it?

I've read that it's important to make big promises if you want to be a success, then work like mad to fulfil them.

I read that this is how Nike started. Phil Knight, who founded and heads Nike, wanted to build a big business selling running shoes. But when he first went to Japan to talk to potential manufacturers, he was still a junior employee of an accounting firm.

He realized that he wouldn't impress anyone if they knew that, so Phil Knight told them something else.... He made sure he gave the impression of already being a big successful American businessman which could give these manufacturers wide distribution.

So -- even though he hadn't made it there yet -- he made a big promise.

Is this important, do you think, if you want to become successful and independent?

I think there are some important issues involved with this topic, like how important is it to make big promises (then work like mad to deliver on them)? And what about honesty?

Or is it better to make smaller promises, to be sure you can over-deliver?

- Dien