(I'm a slow learner.)Another consideration, talk to your HVAC person, (maybe two or three) and ask about how long new systems are supposed to last.

As long as the learner is wearing out the mentor, and asking good, concise questions, then probably the mentor doesn't mind adding value here and there.  

I am a quick learner and have many references that can vouch for my hard work ethic.

I'm an avid reader and learner.

@Omar KhanI would agree with you, but "a better quality life in an ever-changing world," at least for me, means that if your education didn't force you to run original experiments to reach a conclusion and/or write a lot of research papers expressing a hard-won, well-developed viewpoint, you left school as a lousy autonomous learner.

I'm hoping to connect with individuals (or networks) from whom I can learn and hopefully provide some value of my own.What I've got to offer:1) I'm a proactive learner - I enjoy absorbing knowledge, asking questions, and challenging basic assumptions.2) I don't take myself too seriously and actively try to avoid being an *******.3) I have found decent white-collar success; I am the VP of Analytics at a digital marketing agency.

Kinesthetic learner, hands-on experience teaches me, sometimes the hard way. 

However, I'm a visual learner and would love the opportunity to accompany someone while walking through a property.

I am a firm believer in the Buy & Hold strategy, an avid reader, and a life-long learner.

Yes, this will be my first build, but I am quick learner and willing to do as much of the legwork and researching as possible.