We should always strive to be better.
Perdonal development and responsibility allows us to become better.
Unfortunately we do have egoists out there who are mostly just insecure and just kick down on people who climb the ladder, or just systematic problems related to inequality. I've seen people just be nasty and it's hard to shake off.
Jokes on them, the ladder sucks, the rat race sucks, false images of progress sucks. Define ourselves unconventionally and it will save us a life of misery.