The main thing I did, I think, is focus on other people's needs and I tried very hard to help as many people as possible by providing high-quality comments. Most people get on Steemit and somehow try to "game the system" but the best thing you can do is provide as much value to as many people as possible in your own unique way. This means that you get to know your own strengths intimately. You have unique strengths that no one else has. Use them, in a beneficial way, but without thinking of how that will ultimately be benefitting you. That, to me is the key. I don't always succeed in this endeavor because of the human tendency towards self-interest. But doing it as a practice, it does become easier.