When you do well, everybody's after you, and sometimes the

“When you do well, everybody’s after you, and sometimes the motives are legitimate, and sometimes it’s envy and jealousy.” So spoke Robert Kraft, a man who has walked among the heights of success and felt the shadow that follows the summit. His words are not those of complaint, but of wisdom — for they reveal a truth as ancient as ambition itself: when a man rises, the eyes of the world turn toward him. Some gaze in admiration, seeking to learn. Others watch with envy, waiting for his fall. The higher one climbs, the more clearly they see not only the stars, but also the arrows drawn below.

From the dawn of time, this has been the fate of those who excel. The world celebrates success, yet secretly resents it. To do well is to stand apart — and to stand apart is to invite both reverence and resentment. In the old tales, even the gods themselves were not spared. Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind, did so out of compassion — yet Zeus punished him with chains and torment, for greatness always challenges the comfort of those who remain below. The same fire that enlightens one soul blinds another with jealousy. Thus, to ascend is to awaken not only admiration, but also envy, which is the sickness of small hearts.

The origin of Kraft’s wisdom lies in his own experience — as a builder of empires, a leader of men, and one who has walked the perilous path of public triumph. In his long career as a businessman and sports owner, he learned that success draws both allies and adversaries. Some approach with honest purpose, seeking opportunity, collaboration, or truth. Others come cloaked in smiles but moved by jealousy, wishing to take what they cannot create. His words are not bitterness, but understanding — a recognition that to be pursued is the price of achievement, and that the wise must learn to discern motive from malice.

So it was also with Julius Caesar, whose victories lifted Rome to glory and himself to fame. Yet even as he stood at the height of power, his friends turned to enemies, and envy sharpened the blades that would end his reign. The very men who once praised him came to fear his greatness. In his death we see the timeless warning: success does not merely crown; it exposes. It reveals the hearts of others — the faithful and the false, the loyal and the envious. As light summons both moths and eagles, so greatness attracts both the noble and the treacherous.

To do well, therefore, one must possess more than skill — one must possess strength of spirit. It is not enough to win; one must endure what victory brings. The applause of the crowd can turn to murmurs, and admiration can sour into jealousy. But the wise know this: envy is the tax that excellence must pay. Let it not wound your heart, but instruct it. For every critic who seeks to drag you down, there is a soul who watches you rise and dares to dream higher. Let your light shine not in defiance of envy, but in defiance of despair.

Remember also that not all pursuit is evil. Some who come after you do so with pure intention — to learn, to grow, to share in the fire you have kindled. These are your companions on the road of greatness. But others come with empty hands and heavy hearts, poisoned by jealousy, their eyes fixed not on the summit, but on your footing. To the wise, both are teachers. From the first, you learn generosity; from the second, vigilance. Thus, success becomes not a prize, but a discipline — a lesson in balance between confidence and humility, between openness and caution.

So, my children of ambition, take heed of Robert Kraft’s counsel: when you do well, the world will notice. Some will reach for your hand; others for your heel. Do not let either gesture define you. Continue your climb, but keep your gaze clear and your heart steady. Accept praise with gratitude, criticism with grace, and envy with indifference. For the truly great do not rise to escape the world, but to illuminate it — and even if some curse the light, others will find their way because of it.

Thus, let your success be a bridge, not a throne. Stand tall, but never proud; firm, but never cruel. For those who chase you with malice will fade, but those who follow with hope will carry your spirit onward. That is the true legacy of greatness: to build a fire that warms even those who once wished to see you extinguished.