Put Me In Coach: Where Everyday Americans Think They Could Compete with the Pros

Ever watch LeBron James weave through defenders and sink a clutch three-pointer, then turn to your buddy and say, "I could totally do that!" Yeah, we've all been there. And with the Olympics and its awe-inspiring feats of human potential on the horizon, it's easy to get caught up in the moment and overestimate your abilities.

But between us, there's a difference between cheering on the sidelines and actually being on the field, even if the pros make it look effortless.

So, how realistic are we about our capabilities? A recent survey by Solitaire Bliss dives into the confidence levels of Americans when it comes to achieving greatness, both physically and mentally.

Key Takeaways

• State residents of Ohio, Indiana, and New Jersey are the most likely to think they can go pro.
• City residents of Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD, and Nashville, TN, are the most likely to think they can go pro.
• When it comes to using their talents, over 1 in 3 Americans think they could be famous authors, while over 1 in 6 think they have what it takes to be famous actors or businesspersons.
• When it comes to physical feats, 33% of Americans think they can drive a racing lap without crashing, and 24% are confident they can land a punch in a boxing match.
• More Americans think they could climb Mount Everest than hit a mid-court shot in the NBA.

Top States and Cities Where Residents Believe They Can Go Pro

Ohio, Indiana, and New Jersey take the cake when it comes to residents who believe they have what it takes to go pro. In fact, more than 1 in 5 Ohioans have not only dreamt it — they’ve also confided in others about their elite-level potential.

Maybe they haven't considered the years of grueling training or the immense mental and physical capability required, but hey, confidence is key, right? On the other end of the spectrum, Washington, New Mexico, and West Virginia residents seem a bit more grounded in reality.

Cities follow a similar trend. Boston, Baltimore, and Nashville residents are brimming with self-assuredness, while Seattle, Albuquerque, and Omaha residents appear to have a more modest view of their potential pro careers.

Physical Feats Americans Are Most Confident They Could Reach

So hurtling down a racetrack at breakneck speeds or stepping into the ring with a professional boxer sounds pretty darn intimidating. But a good chunk of Americans are, apparently, fearless, if Solitaire Bliss’s findings are any indication.

About a third of Americans believe they could navigate a racing lap without ending up in a crumpled mess. Perhaps they've seen one too many Fast and Furious movies. Another quarter of Americans are confident they could land a punch in a boxing match — so maybe they need to lay off the Rocky movies, too.

Interestingly, while scaling Mount Everest is widely considered the most epic human accomplishment, more Americans think they could conquer the world's tallest peak than sink a mid-court buzzer-beater in basketball. Maybe they haven't considered the whole thin air, sub-zero temperatures, and potential avalanches thing.

Basketball seems to be the sport where Americans are most realistic about their abilities. While a significant portion wouldn't dare attempt a LeBron-esque three-pointer, 1 in 6 still believe they could at least manage a basket, and 1 in 9 think they could snag a rebound. Catching a pass in the NFL (nearly 1 in 6 believe they can) or tackling a player (1 in 11) garners similar results, while hitting a home run in Major League Baseball seems a bit more daunting to most (1 in 28).

Mental Triumphs Americans Are Most Confident They Could Attain

Solitaire Bliss also delved into creative and intellectual pursuits. Turns out, Americans consider themselves a funny bunch, with nearly 1 in 7 believing they have the comedic chops to become a famous comedian. That same level of confidence applies to aspiring film and television creators.

Nearly 1 in 10 Americans think they have the charisma and political savvy to become a successful politician. Who knows — maybe the halls of Congress will be filled with more of your coworkers or bar buddies in the future.

When it comes to other talents, a over one third of Americans believe they have the writing skills to become a famous author. That's a lot of great American novels waiting to be written!

Similarly, 1 in 6 think they could hold their own amongst Hollywood actors or navigate the cutthroat world of business. And let's not forget about the culinary arts — aspiring celebrity chefs seem to be just as prevalent as aspiring rock stars, with Americans equally confident (just under 1 in 6) in their abilities in the kitchen and on the stage.

But where are Americans most confident? Gaming. We’re much more confident in our gaming skills than, say, our financial know-how. In fact, 1 in 2 Americans report regularly besting friends and family when playing games together.

So, while you might not be the next Michael Jordan or Stephen King, there’s a good chance you can hold your own at the game table with friends or online, beating your own best score in a game of Solitaire.

Top Accomplishments Americans Most Admire

So, what achievements do Americans find most impressive? Power certainly holds some allure, but it seems a specific kind of power is most coveted. While nearly a third of respondents would be the most impressed if someone they know became president of the United States, fame for fame's sake holds little weight. Only a tiny sliver (1 to 3%) find being a famous politician or businessperson all that noteworthy.

Money has a similar appeal to presidential power. Almost a quarter of Americans would be impressed if someone they know became the richest person alive. However, when it comes to creative pursuits, music trumps acting — twice as many Americans would be impressed by a famous musician in their social circle over a famous actor.

Intellectual successes make waves, too. A majority of respondents (60%) would be seriously impressed if someone they know snagged a Nobel Prize. And, when it comes to impressing your friends, at least, the pen truly is mightier than the sword. Not only do Americans think knowing a famous author is more impressive than knowing a famous actor, but they also consider a Pulitzer Prize a bigger deal than an Oscar, Tony, or even a Super Bowl ring.

The love of sports isn't completely dead, though — at least if you’ve won the Super Bowl. Winning the Masters, NBA Championships, the World Series, or the Stanley Cup is all well and good, but none of these achievements quite hold a candle to a Super Bowl win in the eyes of Americans we surveyed.

Get Your Game On with Solitaire Bliss

Even if you're not scaling Mount Everest or composing a Grammy-winning song, there are still ways to challenge yourself and have some fun. That's where Solitaire Bliss comes in! Challenging yourself to a game of FreeCell or Spider Solitaire is not only a great way to unwind and relax but also to flex your gaming skills and give yourself a great mental workout.

From Classic Solitaire to variations like Golf, Solitaire Bliss offers a wide variety of games to choose from, so you can find the perfect challenge for your skill level. The best part? You can play anytime, anywhere for free, with no downloads or subscriptions required.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Solitaire Bliss and put your mental agility to the test today! Even if you’re not the next LeBron, you can definitely be a Solitaire champion.

Methodology

From June 7 to 11, 2024, we surveyed 2,019 Americans, asking a variety of questions about which elite feats of performance they think they could achieve if given the chance.

We asked a variety of questions, from which specific talent-related and physical feats they think they could achieve, which accomplishments they would be most impressed with if someone they knew did it, and more.

We then awarded points to each achievement respondents think they could accomplish, along with the overall skills they feel most confident in. We then calculated the average score by state and adjusted the scores on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most confident.

State-level scores are constructed based on averages of responses from residents in each state.