I thought about going on a whale hunt when I first joined Steemit. But I got bored with that pretty quickly.
So I do what I do. If I get paid, that's great. If I don't, I still do what I do because I like doing it.
Steemit is not my job, it's a hobby. And while I might like it to be my job, I'm a long way from being able to make that happen. And in the meantime I have other hobbies that will keep me entertained (and give me stuff to blog about)
How would I feel if i was a whale and everyone was hunting and hounding me for votes, and then giving me grief when I don't deliver what they want?
Steemit would not be a lot of fun for me then, would it? So give a whale a break, and focus on putting stuff up that is worthy of being voted by a whale. That way you can't lose.
If a whale spots it and votes, you win.
If they don't, you still win because you created good content that you are proud of.