Vastly under-estimating the magnitude of the task is how the crazy things get done.

Christopher Columbus wasn't unique in believing the world was round, he was rather unique in his vast under-estimation of the distance to Asia. The only reason he survived is dumb luck that the Americas were about where he thought Asia was. All of his doubters were correct that he would die before reaching Asia.

Of course, this way, way far down the list of reasons not to take Christopher Columbus as a role model.