How bad is this agent, or is it me being naive?

[Kris Lippi]

Recently I decided to pursue my Connecticut real estate license and I'm 2 weeks away from the end of the class and will then sit for the test and will work as a part-time agent. I figure this would be a good way for me to learn more about the business and to generate some additional cash to start investing in real estate. I'm going into this with no delusions that it's going to be easy money and I'm willing to put forth the effort to make things start happening for me over time but I do believe that I can be successful.

So I'm evaluating the different brokers around where I live and one agent has been hosting open houses on the corner of my block for the past few weekends and I decided to pop in and ask him how he liked that particular brokerage and basically network. This is how the conversation basically went.

Me: Hi, I'm Kris, I live down the street and noticed you have been doing these open houses the past few weekends. I currently going for my real estate license and wanted to see how you liked working for ABC brokerage?

Agent: You will not be successful <<insert a lot of completely negative one way dialog here>> It's a tough business.

Me: Wow, yea, I get it and I understand, nothing is easy but how do you like working for ABC brokerage?

Agent: Oh yea, they are good but <<insert a lot more completely negative one way dialog here>> It's a tough business. I hope I didn't ruin your plans.

Me: Not at all. Thanks, hope you sell this house, bye.

Personally I got in my car and was even more motivated then ever. I mean IMO this guys missed every opportunity to 1) network with a neighbor of the house he was selling and 2) network with a potential peer or coworker in the market. I just wanted to ask this community if this agent is just terrible or is it me being naive that I can come into this business part time and sell some houses.