We can't all be in the top 1% of achievers, but that doesn't mean we all shouldn't try. Far more than 1% of people are capable of being above the threshold for

We can't all be in the top 1% of achievers, but that doesn't mean we all shouldn't try. Far more than 1% of people are capable of being above the threshold for "top 1% of achievers" as judged by today. Similarly, striving to be the best doesn't mean you're trying to put others down, it means you're trying to improve yourself. That unless others do likewise you'll improve on a relative basis is not the important thing, rather that you'll improve compared to your old self. tl;dr Compete with yourself.