Best way to become a real estate investor?!?

[Benjamin Riehle]

Hello all, Wanted to ask everyone's opinion on the best way for someone new to real estate and real estate investing to get started. I started 9 years ago with the goal of building passive income. Purchased my first property as a freshman in college. From there I learned more about the numerous opportunities in real estate and since have started multiple companies. Looking back on my experience I think the one thing I would do different would be to get my real estate license much sooner than I did. Although I was doing flips and long term hold deals early on, I did not get my licenses until year 7. I now have a 30 mil per year team and left hundreds of thousands of dollars not getting my license sooner. Does anyone else have a different opinion on this? Has anyone found downsides to getting a license that I am overlooking? I have been asked to write an article on this topic and am looking for outside opinions. Thanks!