Someone once asked...
Someone answered with kindness...
Rid yourself of the idea that you should know more than you do. Be genuine and people will respond in kind. Others are only ahead because they already tried, if you never try, you'll always be behind.
Another soul answered...
I think your instinct may be right, actually. People who run the given race never feel achieved, just pretend to, no matter how high they get. People who run their particular race overlapped with the main one may get higher or lower in the latter but manage their own achievement in the former. And they usually become referents in whatever they do. So, again, your instinct may be right.