Sound Engineer For Live Sound, just want to bounce questions off you. Options

[soon2be]

I'm very interested in making music but right now live sound is more important for me to know. And even though Im learning the baby of basics when it comes to making music and sounds on the computer I want to be able to focus more on live performances. So I need to be able to bounce some simple questions and have them anwered in simple terms.

What (to you, the answerer) is the most important quality in a live sound engineer? What is the first thing I need to focus on?

I know things here and there from listening and watching but I dont have a starting point, so therefor I dont know which way is up. I dont know if there is a way up really because the more you know the better huh?

[Robbins Egg]

From personal experience I can tell you, that if you don't have formal training in audio engineering, you should find a way to do it.
And the best way to learn live sound, troubleshooting, etc. is to find a gig with a sound reinforcement company if possible and learn from the bottom up. That's how I learned. I started in the shop repairing, went on the road as a sound roadie, eventually got opportunities to mix monitors, then house mixing for the opening bands, which lead to having opportunities to go on a tour mixing for the headliner. It's usually apprenticeship that results in opportunity, and the lessons you learn along the way will keep you in good stead forever
The only thing else you need is to find the way to survive the road torture and not burn out!