But you have to look at the other benefits of RE since that's where the real juice (wealth generation) comes from. 

Once all the other expenses are added, there is hardly any "juice" left and in some cases none. 

I've held jobs as welder, jeweler, diamond cutter, Baker, postman, motorcycle/watercraft mechanic, etc... wife had several odd jobs as well, from swamp meet concessions, to house cleaner, to Gym Juice bar, to telemarketer, to Librarian.

Plus, when we looked at the logistical tail end of it, the juice did not seem worth the squeeze. 

Investors are more willing to pay retail for investment properties that are juiced and fully retail rented.  

There was one that I was asked to participate in that went belly up and all investors lost their investment. 

But, since you want it more like a partnership, you write a deal where he has your ~15% equity share...Does that help get the "brain juices" flowing? 

Bigger Pockets is the right place to get the real juice of the situation and hear from different perspectives other than a person who is trying to create their own "religion" of motivational adages. 

The juice is worth the squeeze.But if I was to generalize it.

Next time you're down, make sure to grab coffee/breakfast at Juice N Java, the Surfanista, and Simply Delicious.