Super basic "getting started" question

[Will Dennis]

Hi everyone! My name is Will. I've been interested in real estate investing for several years now but haven't pulled the trigger on yet due to paralysis analysis. 

Just to keep things as basic as possible on my first deal, is there anything to stop me from simply going to a local REIA meeting, networking with a wholesaler to scoop up a deal they want to market, and then networking with a private lender to fund the deal as my initial steps? Does it need to be any more complicated than that? Does anyone have any tips, cautionary measures, and/or words of wisdom on this approach?