John rolls something interesting where offers to tell them what the building is worth but he emphasizes that he is not a broker but the buyer.

I would echo the above comments and emphasize self-education as much as possible.

I got a business degree that emphasized real estate.  

I can't emphasize enough, marketing is a numbers game. 

I remember in Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Kiyosaki emphasizing making low offers and finding an agent willing to do so. 

Heck the Managing Rental Properties one is pretty helpful since it emphasizes treating ownership like a business. 

Just some things I picked up from the last few podcasts I've listened to.Podcast 201 - "America rewards persistence"Zombie-Houses-with-Justin-StamperPodcast 189 - really emphasized the Idea of "Systems".  

I want to re-emphasize that there are MicroMarkets here in NYC.

I cannot emphasize the importance of networking in the local REI scene.

I have a college degree too, not that it is mandatory, it was in business and emphasized real estate.