On the one hand, you must be ready - mentally and psychologically.  

@Thomas Usher I love your swing for the fence mentality!

I have been reading and researching for almost a year and im now mentally & financially ready to take the next step, the only problem is that I dont know what that is. i spoke with one of my mothers old friend (who is an investor) and he suggestes i start at a County tax sale .

ya I think herd mentality in that industry will canabalize it in certain areas no doubt. but you have those that will do it more or less as a job they chose to do.. 

One view of college faculty is they are a bunch of anarchists who have nothing in common except they share a parking lot.The book Think and Grow Rich points out where specialized knowledge fits in the success process.

There had to have been an unhealthy dose of “dog eat dog” in his mentality. 

What you will be tested with more than anything for success is the mental part and continuously learning.

Those who have "the everybody wins" mentality are the ones with staying power. 

The issue with this is that the vast majority of MF owners are of the investor mentality them selves.

So frustrating to try to explain notes to people who have the mentality that if their financial adviser didn't recommend it to them then it must not exist!