I have been a long time listener of the podcast and would like to begin analyzing deals.

Just read Bigger Pockets and listen to all the podcasts all weekend!!!

But I can tell you, the first thing u should do is listen to the BP podcasts.

I'm just spending much of my time reading books, articles and listening to the BP podcast right now before I dive in. 

Thats awesome from a newbie's shoes. 

I have liquidity from the previous business to invest and hopefully kick start this endeavor.Biggest challenge - I don't know this industry, I am coming from a completely opposite industry in the technology field.What I have, I think, in my favor, are colleagues from the RE industry with experience in both traditional RE sales (agent/buy/sell) but also experience in the REI side (one owning about 70+ properties and the other owning about 25 properties, both using their properties for passive cashflow)With an engineering/analytical background, my greatest fear right now is the unknown and I am trying to shore up that experience through reading and listening to others, but as I have already discovered, its like taking a drink from the fire hose - way more knowledge than I can consume in a short period of time.Questions I would pose to anyone interesting in providing some feedback -- Best way to look for that first opportunity?  

I have been doing a ton of reading and listening to the BP podcasts. 

I've almost listened to half the podcasts and all the ask bp podcasts.

Listen to all the strategies that people discuss at the meeting.  

I listened to an audible for Rich Dad, Poor Dad just last year and played the Cashflow game on the iPad.