i dont mean to be argogant but most of my friends who live near me are not as good as me at guitar. not due to lack of skill but just cos they are at a certain level and dont really want to get better cos the music they play doesnt require it. but i do have friends who live in other parts in the country that are better than me. and every time i visit them i get a huge urge to practice when i get home. i fact if i didnt regularly visit this friend my progress would be way slower.

is not so much that i want recognition from the masses, or especially high social status, just that i want to be able to say to myself that i am better than him.