My 5 year goal? To be Full Time Real Estate Investor.

Short background: I lost my job 5 years ago, spent a year trying to find another. During that time I did a ton of research about real estate but once I got that new job, I had no spare time or energy to begin to try and make real estate (or anything else) happen. I was a wage slave building a business for a small business owner. 6 months ago I was let go from that job when he sold it. Despite all my hard work and dedication building the company, I got nothing but 3 months severance. Since then I've been doing what everyone around me expects - looking for another 'job'.

But I'm sick of looking for a 9-5. I still want to become a real estate investor. The question is how to get there?!? I have a family and we've been living off my savings.

Starting in real estate generally takes decent starting capital to obtain/rehab/get going on a new property. I just remembered this sub exists and this possibility exists yesterday, having come across this sub about 6 months ago randomly. Now I'm hoping to use a 'sweaty startup' to bootstrap my way! But then I have analysis paralysis - which startup will afford me the ability to eventually hire others to do the work, while still providing enough cash flow to let me invest? Which business will let me get there within my goal time frame?

So I'm asking you: What business do you think would best help me reach my goal?

Your great idea could be a business that provides easy free cash flow, or the job type synergizes with real estate or maybe the business will simply help make the connections needed for future deal flow.

Any recommendations or ideas are welcome!