history: My co coworker is always doing really good work and is close with the boss. I think he is just trying to get a promotion.  My co worker is always sucking up to the boss and doing good work. I think he is trying to get promoted.  Why don't you do the same thing?
current: Well, I do my work as well as I can. But he just seems like he's trying to be better than everyone else.
next: All you can do is keep working hard.