He signs, and manages to feel some enthusiasm about it.

This whole thing is probably some kind of weird brain state that's terrified of actually succeeding at the thing, or that is having social difficulties about massive bets being on his work, even when the prospective expectation is clear and not resting on his personal assurance at all; if something weird goes wrong, it will still be very clear what the reasonable prospects were.

He signs, and manages to feel some enthusiasm about it.

These dark thoughts are probably some kind of weird brain state that's terrified of actually succeeding at the thing.  Or a brain state that is having social difficulties about massive bets being made on his work, even when the prospective expectation of success is clear and materially evidenced, not resting on his personal assurance at all; if something weird goes wrong, it will still be very clear what the reasonable prospects were and that they didn't rest on his promise alone.