Is motivation a figure of imagination or is it a reality?

“Fake it ’til you make it” is a popular phrase used when one tries to convince themself and others around them to keep pushing the limit until they achieve their number one goal. Does everyone follow this line out of pure fabrication in hopes it turns into reality or are we pushed by observing someone familiar that makes us think “I want to be like that person someday”? Role models can appear in different forms, such as a parent, a family member, or even a famous personality.

So, the question is: Do different people of various statuses help the dreamer envision their own success story, or do most people create their motivation by imagining what their life can become without ever witnessing a true success story of someone who chose the same path of the dreamer?