What do you find essential to start investing?

[Cody Smith]

Hello BP community, I am curious. Looking back, if you could comprise a list of absolutely essential elements to have before beginning to invest, what would it include? We all know that any new investor can start diving head first into info to get started, and quickly become overwhelmed with everything they encounter. So, to most easily avoid analysis paralysis, what would you add to a “checklist” of things to have in place before you move to your first deal? Thanks!