The Effect of Envy on Economic Success

In this paper, it says that envy is not a predictor of later economic success. And to me, the operative thing is this, it's an inspiration. If we see somebody who looks like us do something that we also think we might be able to do, it is a complete opposite effect. When I see somebody who look like me, who does something that I can't yet do, but I no longer or I don't feel like I can do that. Do you think it's true that the envy index is particularly high at a high school reunion?