I have a few Realtors in the Fort Wayne market and also some investment RE mentors that might be beneficial to you.

The connections of your partners, combined with your own network, can open doors to beneficial collaborations and increased deal flow.When considering partnership opportunities, look for investors who share your goals, values, and investment strategies.

In order to get the best value on your repairs, it may be beneficial to contact tradesmen directly for the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work.

Appreciation is definitely a great strategy but I don't see it being as beneficial to cashflow early on in investing.

The current state of the market has created a bit of a learning curve for new investors just getting started and I feel that starting a local meetup would be very beneficial for many of us.

The advice that others have posted is insightful and beneficial to anyone looking to start out. 

I've previously found cost segregation studies to be highly beneficial, particularly as a strategy to offset taxable income from both my full-time employment and rental properties.

And, I get why you view it as success: more deals = more fees and more chance to collect carried interest.But, the logic of this statement is purely beneficial to the GP and detrimental to the LP.  

Find a mentor doing what you want to do, and get to know the local lenders/brokers you will find this to be beneficial in your real estate journey.

Your mentor has needs; try to meet them and develop a mutually beneficial relationship.A mentor can benefit your growth, but it's not as simple as one post on a forum full of strangers.