When are you ready for that first deal?

[Katie Printz]

I hear and read a lot of advice given to beginners on starting. A lot of the advice seems to fall into two categories. The first is to educate yourself. Network. Learn. Listen. If you have five hours to chop down a tree spend the first four hours sharpening your ax. Etc.

The second piece of advice I hear repeated is to not wait too long. Your first deal will teach you so much. Don't be afraid to get started.

Both are great pieces of advice, but it is difficult to figure out the balance between the two. When is a wanna-be investor ready to take the leap?