Although it can be frustrating at first, the key to success on this platform is to post worthwhile content that others will want to read, upvote, and resteem.
I can see that you joined this month and have only made 35 posts so far. If you're already giving up on your goals then this probably isn't the place for you.
If you decide to stick around, I'd recommend taking the time to interact with others on their posts, continue to grow your following, and spend some time writing well thought out posts that others will see and want to interact with.
Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
Just as @philnewton stated, getting an upvote can be quite challenging, but with time, patience and dedication on quality stuffs, you will surly get there. So don't give up yet.
Thanks for sharing this with him, it serves as a source of motivation to me also