Be consistent and don't give up is my best advice. Give it 2-3 years of hard work and see where you stand.
I hear the 'survive' argument a lot. Like Steem is Mortal Kombat. In my 3,5 years that I have been here, I have seen newbies make it and they are dolphins and even orca's now. Some give up. I don't know why it works for some and not for others. Just that it is like that.