To start off, you don't need to set up too high goals. Begin with acceptable high goals, not extremely high because you might be disappointed and give up. It is more important to keep up your good workds, your improvements and lift your goals upwards gradually.
Eventually, you will reach to a level at which you will neither mind on ranking up nor stop making your good and continuous contributions on the forum. There are some users who have earned thousands of merit and they have not yet stopped their contributions.
- Inspirational stories from self-made promoted users (there are many stories for ranked-up users and you can read, then learn from them)
- Say thanks to merit system. Finally, I am a Full Member, next a self-made Senior
- Promotion with merit system and new rank requirements. It's possible.
- I am on the way to Legendary rank, after 2 years (only lack of activities)
Last but not least, read and try to use Search then you won't have to make such similar threads.