I am actually okay with not winning anything. I am just glad that you and others are joining steemit. I do believe steemit and other things that end up being built upon the steem blockchain have the potential to change the world. It is still in beta, so you are considered an early adopter. I began in July on pure accident and it has been an interesting experience. It has me writing and engaged in writing on a wide variety of topics in a way that nothing else ever has. Hopefully it is inspiring and freeing for you as well. As to the payouts they depend upon your steem power, the power of the people that vote on you, the current value of steem on the market, and ultimately how many people are being paid from the daily pool. It does work though I've purchased equipment, food, games, VPN service, books, clothing, and all manner of things purely using cryptocurrency I have earned by participating in steemit. So it really does work. It may not make you rich fast, but at least you get paid something. I at times have also just reinvested the liquid part of the currency (Steem and Steem dollars / SBD) back into my steem power.

Welcome aboard. I hope you find the experience to be one you enjoy. I am an addict and have been almost immediately since discovering it in July.