I agree. The only way is to zoom through the lower levels, them grind it out between 55 and 60 (thats where I am now and it seems to take forever to inch up to the next level).

Just keep posting daily, post good content and eventually, it gets seen. Ive been lucky that Ive had several posts picked up by whales. In each case, though happy to get the rewards, i noticed an almost obscene difference between my normal post returns and these isolated cases.

Curating good content at every opportunity has earns a consistent amount. This is what we can do best at the lower levels of the Steemit ecosystem to help both ourselves and other minnows inch our way upwards.

Better to view whale curated posts as anomolies and stick to earning the rewards.