Humans are competitive creatures. We always like to move forward. Comparing self-progress with others keeps the competitive spirit alive. Over the years, each year I think I slightly improved compared to last year. But even though I am better than last year, I am still preparing for the next one.

Everyone has role models, and these role models also have their role models. This chain keeps going. At each point in time, almost every determined person has a place where they want to be and where they currently are.

Considering the betterment of a being as upward progress, we can imagine the entire human community split in herds standing on a mountain slope. The herds above your position are where you want to move eventually, and herds below you is where you have been.