Awesome post
I too am in real estate and have experienced the same advantages. It is one thing to be an employee in business and yet another to be a small business owner. In case those here need direction it is much better to be the owner.
In regards to the self help business books most of them are full of craziness but they are still good to read. If you only take away one good idea from each one you are still better off. Read them all with a grain of salt and use what you can from them. Your life will be the better for it.
Skyhigh