I feel like I'm folding a pair of pocket aces, but I have to play the game with discipline, or you lose your stake.

Maintain discipline in property management and consider tax planning to maximize tax benefits.

I was only thinking of a GC so I don’t have to interview multiple subs for each discipline.

Determine if you have the discipline to manage cash, or want to be a  landlord.  

Other than the depression of 1920’s no government has had the wisdom and discipline to do that.  

I agree with your thesis...deal flow IS real estate investing.Baseball is good training for REI...takes discipline and persistence after adversity. 

You should keep learning, networking, looking for mentorship, be disciplined and patient.Good luck!

Do this in tandem with being disciplined in your spending habits so you can save up more money.

It "can" indicate a certain financially disciplined person, but there is a reason DTI determines a mortgage and if it's good enough for the bank, well why wouldn't it be smart for the landlord too? 

This will help you make informed decisions about future investments and optimize your portfolio.Scale your investments: As you gain experience and confidence in real estate investing, consider scaling your investments by purchasing larger properties or expanding into different markets.By following these steps and staying disciplined in your approach, you can successfully invest in real estate and build a profitable portfolio as a software engineer.