The beauty of real estate investing is there is no one-size fits all for any investing discipline, simply isolate your goals and find the investment vehicle that is going to provide you the returns and lifestyle investment (time) for you to achieve those goals. 

Your goal should be to find a happy medium where you enjoy the lifestyle of the place you live and are comfortable investing where it makes sense.And the answer to your actual implied question is "Yes!".

That changed my life, my business, quadrupled my income (just to start) and allowed a life and lifestyle that I would never have achieved had I continued doing what did not work. 

But all items, all actions we do, consciously or subconciously, we weigh the benefit vs the negative consequences.

Today I am very happy with the decision I made to leave, and I am living a lifestyle that I could never achieve working for someone else, financially or freedom of time.In a nutshell, unless you are making a ridiculous amount of money, it is not hard to beat what ya are makin in a 9-5.

While this is true, if someone wants only what they deem as security the current standard - lifestyle "creep" - is barely relevant.

I know people who aren't passionate about it and just ended up selling the properties but they made good money just didn't care for the lifestyle involved. 

I listen to Lifestyles and Buy Sell Fix Flip podcasts as well.

Cut your lifestyle you think you are entitled to and get a second job and save money like crazy.

Ever since then, I'm glad to be going into this lifestyle not only because of financial freedom but I'm able to give more financially for my family and the community I'm in.