我是在用幻想工作，人们从中以某种方式受益(这比作品的销售量能给我更大的动力)。

I am operating under the delusion that people somehow benefit from my efforts (this gives me more steam than sales do).

youdao

对于这项工作的辛苦，我从不存错误的幻想。

I'm under no illusions about what hard work this will be.

《牛津词典》

当我为工作沮丧时，就爱幻想成为一个农夫。

At times when my work gets me down, I like to fantasize about being a farmer.

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》