how did you learn to work on cars?

I read LOTS of magazines when I was a kid. I started by just wanting to do it.

I would take stuff apart and if I couldnt figure it out, I would go to the parts store and the guys there would tell me what I needed to do to fix it,. (This was back when all the guys there had cool cars they actually worked on)

The first timing chain job I did, I had to do it TWICE because I didnt line up the dots-as I had been told. DOH!!

The best advice I was given is if it has fuel, fire, and is in time it should start. I might run like crap but it should start. So I always started with those things. LOL