Well here is my distilled wisdom from day one of the Script Factory's 'Serious Screenwriting':
Point one: First write an OUTSTANDING spec screenplay
Point two: Just keep writing
Point three: Yes it is difficult to get your scripts to the people that matter, mainly because the system is SETUP THAT WAY. Get used to it.
Point four - go to point one...
The first point is for everyone. This is the minimum you must do. Yes it's incredibly hard but yes you must do it.
Point two is for me. Sometimes I think about doing something else for a while, like maybe think about making something, but then I realise that this is just a distraction - if you beleive that you can write an outstanding screenplay (and I do) then keep going until you get there, without distraction.
Point three is reality check: If I hear another writer whingeing about this I am going to slap them with a wet fish. Yes it is hard to get in - that's the whole point. Think it's easy to become a top lawyer? A top bussiness person? Scientist? Why do you think it's any easier for writers? Actually it IS easier to become a top writer than a top scientist, but that's another story. I recommend reading Seth Godins 'The Dip' to get your head around this one (or my posts on it here and here).
Point four... well, just get back to work will you!
