Steemit is a perfect example of- for better or worse- it's not what you know but instead WHO you know. I'm often shocked at the complete lack of traction and reward I receive on well thought posts but then a post that I thought was maybe so so gets lots of traction and high rewards- the difference? A whale or at least a dolphin upvoting or even resteeming. O'm grateful for the handful of whales/dolphins I have that view my stuff- if it not for them I would have put a lot less into this platform than I have.