The best you can do research your market, improve personal budgeting, improve credit, and get your dollars working for you.

For instance, someone making $500k a year and living in a very highly appreciating market might be extremely happy on a deal that loses $200 a month but is getting 5% appreciation on a 2 million dollar property in San Diego, butut that doesn't make sense for the investor with 30k and a lower paying job.When it comes to the book series I agree with you that the order doesn't make sense (having read both).

The number of calls you make, are only important if you are guaranteed a specific dollar in return per call. 

Drive for dollars in all of the multifamily areas, especially closest to you.

Contact wholesalers and maybe do some digging of your own via driving for dollars. 

I'm not sure of the exact dollar amount, but I believe if the grantee quick claims the deed for under that amount you avoid the transfer tax.

Try driving for dollars.

A successful investor's time may be worth hundreds of dollars per hour.

Obviously it's a start but I don't think I can cash flow more than a few hundred dollars per property with zero down so what do I do next to keep growing my portfolio?

.: How could you afford a $3k plus rental and making an issue of an extra hundred dollars?