He definitely has influenced a lot of people as countless successful guests on the BP podcast have mentioned that reading Rich Dad Poor Dad was the book that first got the into real estate investing. 

I'm a newbie in the "REI" world (although I've read countless books on the subject, listened to numerous BP podcasts, attended several webinars, etc) I've yet to actually pull off my 1st deal...             

I'm a mechanical engineer and I've specified these units on countless projects.

However, after countless lunches with real estate agents, property management companies, closing agents, real estate attorneys, project managers (as opposed to GCs), mortgage lenders, hard money lenders, accountants, appraisers, and insurance agents, I feel quite overwhelmed regarding who I should work with.

Using HML's is only one entrance strategy of countless entrance strategies...and probably the most expensive and restrictive.This is where you can come in and help the mentor by providing some downpayment and then ride on your mentor's experience in rehabbing properties. 

After reading and listening to countless articles/forums and podcasts I was finally able to make that first plunge.

Since then, I've been reading/listening to everything I can...Trump Style Negotiation, Invest in Real Estate Without Banks (didn't finish), 13 Steps to Valuing Your First Multiplex (in progress), countless podcasts, countless YouTube videos, two BP webcasts, etc...can't get enough.  

I own a local tile shop and could give you countless GC recommendations, shoot me a PM. 

I would always run numbers, see where it actually makes sense and then knock off 20-30K, you don't want to offend people when making offers, I have had countless situations where we have sent in "low ball" offers to sellers, never to hear back, even when raising the offers later.

But, there are countless areas that are worth looking at to live for a primary residence.