Thanks for the comments @bashadow, good to see further comparisions and hear about people gradually getting there.
In some respects it is harder. Steemit is a lot like life, it is changing and will be constantly in motion. That is part of what makes steemit so fun.
Agree with this :) Always changing, pretty much from day to day!
Hopefully at the year marker, you'll be happy with the progress - see you there :D