What I wasn't listening to was my Jiminy Cricket in my hear saying "bud you're going to have you first child and are starting your dream job you expect me to believe that you devote the time needed to make the 20K/month in passive income that the speaker is talking about in this very small specialty market of investing".As I have matured as an investor, I have realized that nothing comes without hard work in this game. 

When seeking council from experienced local investors, don't come across as a "gimme gimme" person but rather, trading your time, energy, devotion to help in their business in exchange for knowledge. 

My "why" is to have more time to devote to growing the game of lacrosse in my hometown of Lexington, KY.

I will devote myself to learning as much as I can, as I'm barely scraping the surface right now.

I ride horses and the great thing about having Fi, is that I can devote most of my time to doing what I love. 

Nights and weekends is when I devote my attention to getting my REI business of the ground.  

Holy cow, that is absolutely AWESOME that you have not only almost hit your FREEDOM # but more importantly you get to devote time to the most IMPORTANT aspect of ones life their family!

The difference between your story and @David Metzger 's story is that it appears David hired an actual Property Management Company devoted to that trade. 

@Jeffery Waicak ....you seem to be wanting to justify that "healthy eating and devotion to exercise" is a key.

Your regular friends won't have any input about tenant issues, or suggestions with rehabs, or about screening, or if they do-- it's probably just emotionally based on not helpful. .... so when all your spare time is devoted to real estate, who can you talk to that's just as obsessed and addicted?...