I never get frustrated about my earnings on Steemit because I have been in other 'business' and I realized contrary to many people's expectations, you just don't pick money on the internet. Though I, like other people wish I could earn more.

You have to keep providing value and be consistent with it. Steemit is just like any start up, it's always hard at the beginning before it gets better.

Seeing the rewards on the trending page and other steemians killing it make you feel you deserved more than you are getting...but you have to put into considering their investment in time, effort and fiat.

Like you said, I look at it from a long term perspective. In Steemit, the only direction I am seeing is forward. How fast and how well will surely depend on your investment, persistency, consistency and how strategic you are (you already some good strategy in this post)

I have been posting for I can't remember how long on Facebook, twitter and others. Though posting on Steemit is more demanding, but there is good chance of making a bank with Steemit. Besides I am glad to be part of the future now.