@Miyako Boyer To answer your question, I took time off after leaving my job. I sold my house using an agent (before I was an agent), I did some traveling, I read 16 books, I figured out what I wanted my next career to be (real estate!), I moved back to Tennessee, and I did the real estate education and got licensed. My last job ended November 30th of last year, and I became licensed in Tennessee on September 12th. So now I'm just getting into the job, learning the software needed to do the agent work (like the MLS, my company's marketing websites, etc.) I've built some social media sites and a website, and I'm about to send out direct mail/yellow letters to look for great deals for flips, wholesaling, and BRRRRs. I might also find clients who want to list their house from my direct mail, as well. I also need to notify everyone I know, everyone in my personal sphere, that I am now a licensed agent because that's often where agents find their first clients.
In my time off and while getting my real estate education for my license, I was educating myself with regard to investing using the BiggerPockets podcasts, blogs, and books. I started listening to the podcasts consecutively from Show 1, and I'm up to 47 now. They're fantastic!