1. Join EEVblog
2. Score some test gear
3. Post about your test equipment scores
4. Buy more test gear
...
10. Buy yet more test gear
11. Join TEA
12. Build your first circuit
Here - as a certifiable TGAS sufferer (who am I kidding - I'm not suffering - I enjoy it!!) - let me flesh that ellipsis section out:
5. Buy op/service manuals for test gear on evilBay
6. Troubleshoot test gear
7. Seek out obsolete/discontinued components to repair test gear
8. Read nixie thread and/or look at old HP Instrumentation catalogs
9. Repeat steps 2 through 7, now searching for older, heavier, more expensive to ship things
....
12. Buy or build more shelves to hold test gear
13. (or later) - build first circuit
-Pat