Believe it or not the best answer is 'Patience':

Do you think there were masses of individuals (non-companies) benefiting from google search when it was only 2 years old?

How about Youtube, do you think there where thousands, even hundreds living off just youtube post when it was 2 years old?

The answer is obviously no, but learning and having a head start now will help set you up to do really-really well on the Steem DAPPS not just Steemit, but almost every DAPP that gain mass traction.

Even becoming a great counsel, like a Musing.io master answerer, has the potential to help someone create a lucrative income stream and fulfill a service to the community

Imagine in 5 years, or 10 years time when Steem has 20 to 50 Million users, and Steem has passed $100, do you not think the userbase and the rewardpool and the thousands of SMT tokens will not reward someone who has sharpen their Steem posting, sharing, and other proof of brains skills to earn a generous if not then amazing income here?

This is possible, it's just a matter of time, be patient, start 'learning' now, build your surf board of knowledge, friends, and followers, get ready to ride the big coming Steem wave!