And these people, so call expert, gurus, and the likes, seem to omit the fact that, really funding is the main ingredient, regardless of how many people talk, and talk, and talk, about how can you start with no money, no credit, etc.  

I love what I do on the construction and landlord ingredients side so 20 hour days there are no problem :)

One key ingredient that you may be missing is forced appreciation ... if you were able to pick up that 4-plex at $70k because it was run down and vacant, then spend $30k to fix it up, put tenants in there, and be all in for $100k, but the property at that point would be worth $140k because of improvements ... yes, this type of thing is a lot of work to find these types of deals and remodel them, but those are the kind of numbers that get you in the right direction, speed up your progress, and supercharge your profits.

Preheat the oven and mix the ingredients. 

I started selling soap making and cosmetic supplies (raw ingredients & containers) online from my basement in 2002.

I've got the cash, I know the area market and I'm connected with an investor friendly agent, now time is the only missing ingredient as I wait to hit six months of employment at my current job for financing to pull through.  

If you 1. are motivated, 2. have goals you are focused on, 3. have your finances in order, and 4. know people in real estate who are smarter than you, like you, and trust you, then you have the most important ingredients for success in this business.

Confidence is the main ingredient to be successful.  

I had very few home run deals.Time is the magic ingredient for REI.

Who currently has ingredients for lasagna?