Never Outshine your Master
One time I skimmed through the 48 Laws of Power and I saw this particular “law”: “Never Outshine Your Master.” The story of Saul and David is a popular one that explains it well. David outshone Saul in huge ways, and Saul was enraged. The women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands,” and from there Saul’s heart shifted. David’s only “offence” to Saul (at the time) was that he was too good for Saul’s insecurity.
This law, gives some kind of backing to envy. It tells the “master” that if the person under you outshines you, it is normal to feel threatened. Because truly, what that law is saying is: “Don’t outshine your master or he could hunt you down.”
Most times, we think about this from the angle of us having a master (someone above us). In the workplace especially, it can even look like wisdom to hide yourself a bit so your master trusts you. As long as you don’t pose a threat to your superiors in terms of outshining them, you are good to go. You stay useful, but never “too much.”
But we rarely flip it. We don’t really see how we are also “masters” in our own small ways and how we can easily become like Saul. We start to feel envious of our friends, younger colleagues, people who once learnt under us. The person who used to ask you for help is now doing better than you. The junior at work is now being praised. The person who looked up to you is now the one everyone is looking at. And that small pang hits you.
Years ago, I was discussing the story of Joseph and his brothers with a friend, and she said something that has stuck with me ever since: “Joseph’s brothers focused so much on Joseph’s star shining the brightest that they forgot they had stars too.” That’s what envy does; you lose sight of what you have. Saul forgot he had slain thousands and focused more on David’s tens of thousands.
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And yes, sometimes in life it really feels like that, and the truth is that other times your star in a particular aspect of your life will dim out, and someone who once looked up to you has their star shining so brightly, it’s almost blinding, and you feel replaced and left behind.
Think of musicians that were the biggest thing in the early 2010s and, in 2026, nobody really cares for them anymore. In this group, we have the “OGs”, the “old takers,” and “the ones who just focused on other things in their lives”. The OGs act as guardians to the new hottest acts. They show up in features, cosign the new kids, give advice, appear on stage with them. They don’t fight the new light; they are mature enough to stand beside it.
But the “old takers” are the ones who remain bitter in their envy and still remain without relevance. They complain about and mock the new sound, insisting “our time was better.” They subtly or loudly drag the younger artists. Their bitterness doesn’t bring their time back; it only makes them harder to honour.
We can apply this to almost every aspect of our lives- life in its seasons and all that. There are cycles. Offices change. Ministries change. Markets change. Today you’re the “next big thing,” tomorrow you’re the one handing over. Your star in one area might dim while someone else’s rises. That, (un)fortunately is life.
As a people, we must learn to be especially grounded in our thoughts. That someone learnt under you does not mean they have to remain under you forever. So when that pang of jealousy hits you check yourself immediately. Don’t baptise the feeling and call it “valid” so that others must now shrink for you. If it is any consolation, tell yourself that your story isn’t over yet.
The truth remains that there will always be new stars that would rise up, new names, new faces. You can’t control that. The only thing you can choose is your response. And if you must choose what should become of you, make sure you choose being an OG instead of an old taker.
