You can't skip the process.. if you want to get to higher ranks, then you have to spend time on the forum. Discuss, share ideas and opinions. Everyone has a unique contribution to the forum and that's why they were able to rank up.
Ranking up and building a reputation aren't the same. There are a lot of legendary forum members with negative feedback and a lot of others who do not have any reputation. Check my profile. I am just an ordinary Hero member, mostly unrecognized because I haven't contributed anything significant that can help me build a reputation.
On the other hand, a forum member with a junior member rank could be reputed. I remember seeing a guy with dozens of positive feedback while he was just a newbie. Because he returned the fund to the admin, which was accidentally sent by Themos, I believe that the user is more reputed than me. I am just an ordinary forum member who shares his opinion and makes some extra bucks during office hours and free time.
To become someone reputed, you have to prove your worthiness. It could be by contributing to the community for years or just showing your honesty as a newbie did.