My idea for getting started

[Eric Melin]

Hello all, I'm a newbie from the Denver area. I'm just getting started in the research/education phase of my career and thinking about what niches I'd like to focus on. 

I eventually would like passive income and am leaning toward retal properties and buy/hold. However, just starting out I'm thinking about getting started with flipping. Reason being, it would give me a lot of experience finding and analyzing deals, buying, selling, rehabbing and building solid relationships with lenders, agents, contractors etc. Then after gaining some experience with buying/selling/rehabbing I figure I'll add landlording to the toolbox and build relationships with property managers with the goal of working toward something more hands off.

Does that all sound like a good way to get into this game? I'm open minded. Any suggestions are welcome.