I don't really think so. I see people that joined around the same time I joined which have a large following. Have you tried not just posting your own content but participating in larger accounts? Such as commenting and participating in their contest. Commenting is a good way to get people to notice your content and creativity. Curating adds a lot to your knowledge and resources. Try allocating your time differently.
Will try following some more SteemWhales & pitching comments - but I am assuming this only serves to increase the power of the few if we are just begging for scraps which drop into their replies/comments - will try & see.