What's with all the looking back? If you want to compare your accomplishments with those who've been here a year or two of course that's going to sting.
Imagine instead a year from now; when people write about how back in early 2018 a single post could earn you one or even two whole steem.
When 2019 signups dream of having an account with 100 SP; and can't believe that you were here earning back in those glory days.

I remember what it was like when steem was 7c; people were throwing their hands in the air and leaving in frustration, that the place had no future; that they were only getting a few dollars worth of steem for their efforts.
It didn't feel like the glory days then; in fact I remember a whole lot of people in late 2016 complaining that they'd missed the glory days, back when steem was worth 50c.

Seriously, do the work, build your audience. Train people to click when they see your name.
A year from now, people will be desperately envious that you were right here, right now, and they weren't.