I'm trying to get into real estate investing before I finish my time so when I do finish I can shift to full time investing and work my way to being financially free.

As always, investors will change strategies and shift focus.

My list includes all of the Gary Keller books (Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Millionaire Real Estate Agent, The Shift, The One Thing****my favorite) Also 10X by G.

Stop worrying and get stream lining your business practices to fit your needs.I must admit I have one tenant that did not mention on his application that he has a invisible friend.

So, my Aurora duplex has a large lawn, but submetering the water will only shift the water bill to tenants and still get me a dead lawn.  

When you spend your last $2500 in the bank on marketing and get 3 phone calls from old people angry that you're sending them mail, your perspective on the previous material tends to shift.  

I know for me personally, with just one vacation rental, and about 80%+ booked, I spend maybe 2 to 3 hours a week - it's pretty streamlined with vrbo's system...both from my laptop and phone with their app.Aloha

Nice story here on your shift to "doing"...

Curious how other multi-property owners streamline rent collection, insurance, financing.Also in the midst of my first 1031, although I've of course completed 1031 transactions for clients. 

Even without your real estate license you can get experience working for a property management company and then shifting to say, an agent once you get the license.The more experience you have the better and the better way you can pick from on what you want to do with real estate.