There is a slang term for people who are envious of your success yet make no attempt to duplicate that success through the same methods you have used, like hard work and sacrifice, they are called "haters". When I first heard the term "hater" I have to admit I thought it was stupid and more than a bit "street", but after getting a little more ahead in life and seeing the reactions of some of those around me, I have to admit, there is credence to the term. If you haven't run in to these haters, you will. They are the ones who will call you "college boy/girl" behind your back. They are the ones who tell you how much school is a waste of time or they give you a hundred reasons why they themselves wouldn't waste the time doing this or that. They say things like "college is overrated" or "having a degree doesn't mean that they are smarter than anyone else" and other seemingly wise but obviously lacking in perception little quotes on life and getting ahead.
Do I have these people in my life? Absolutely, probably about a dozen or more. They are the kind of people who aren't willing to work for anything, assuming everyone else is just like them and that the only way anyone gets ahead is by kissing backside or stepping on the heads of other people. They resent success of any kind and don't want anyone to get ahead of where they are in life. They refuse to move up and try to pull down those around them who attempt to move up themselves. Are these people always nasty and demeaning? Not in my experience, frequently these people are those whom you may call "friend", but in reality there is an almost sarcastic smirk on their face when you talk about school or education and a type of begrudging congratulations or resentment when you complete something you set out to do.
So why do I bring this up? Because these people are poisonous to your success. Tonight I find the wind knocked out of my sails by someone just like I have described above. It's funny, but at times work that seems exhausting can seem doubly so after about 5 minutes with a person like this. Reason doesn't seem to be a successful tactic to use with these type of people because they are not coming from a place of reason, but reacting off of some kind of emotion, like jealousy. Having someone like this around you very often can be draining upon your will power and I recommend you avoid these persons at all costs.
If you want to get ahead in life, asking the forty year old guy who is scrubbing the urinal at 9:00PM every night is probably not the best tactic to take. Instead surround yourself with people who have similar goals or have achieved things that you want to achieve. Look to sources of encouragement, people who support you and not those who want to justify their lack of action by causing your failure. Look for the positive people and hold them close, listen to them and keep motivated.
The single toughest challenge any online or distance learning student will ever face is that of self motivation. Don't make your journey any harder, avoid the baggage that the haters want to lay on you.