You've replayed it a hundred times. She stood three feet away, scrolling her phone. You had an opening. You composed the perfect line — after she was gone.
For all you know, she's married now. To some guy who said something. Anything.
Openers are cheap. Almost any sentence works when it's delivered within three seconds. The expensive part is the standing there, drafting and deleting, while the window quietly closes.
The "22 Rules" stripped out my hesitation. What to open with, how to keep it alive, and the one habit that costs guys more women than anything else: waiting for perfect.
You asked her if she wanted to grab coffee. Then you asked if the time worked. Then you asked if the place was okay. Then you asked if she'd prefer tea.
Four questions. Four chances for her to say no. Four signals that you're terrified of making a decision.
Plan it. Pick the place. Pick the time. Tell her where to meet you. She'll either show up or she won't.
Either way, you look like a man instead of a scared little boy.
Originally posted by Jariel
Seriously man, you need to step back and look at what you are doing.
You're taping conversations and analysing them.
You're waiting for her to call and looking for any excuse to call her.
You're planning what to say to her.
You're thinking of trying the old wrong number, accidental call game.
This is obsessive behaviour!
I don't mean this as a criticism against you. I've been there myself with an ex-girlfriend and that's why I recognise it, but you need to stop yourself now and let go before it gets out of control.
If she doesn't call, she is not interested and you have to get on with your life. If she is interested, you are going to scare her away with this desperate behaviour.
Assume she's not going to call, otherwise you're going to find your life comes to a halt! Trust me on this!
Three seconds. That's how long it took. Your shoes. Your posture. The way you held your drink. Whether you looked at the floor or looked at her.
She already filed you away. Interesting. Boring. Safe. Bold. Before you even opened your mouth.
Everything you say after that is just her confirming what she already decided.
So stop rehearsing lines. Fix the first three seconds. Stand tall. Look up. Smile like you mean it. Walk like you belong wherever you're standing.
The words come later. The impression comes first.