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.
Yes. Not always, but in general yes. Some kind of social circle keeps the socializing skill tuned.Plinco said:you mean to tell me that you have to have a social circle?
Nothing is guaranteed, unless you truly believe in yourself and live long enough. I am almost in the same boat you are. I too will be turning 26 in less than two months, and I am not where I want to be. Fortunately, I (and you) have the power within to control destiny.AlmostThere! said:I'm going to start living my life like the chraracter in "Yes, Man'. I'm gonna make an effort to do something everyday outside of work. Whether it be going to a museum, local bar, dance class, bowling league, etc. I'm gonna fill my life with interesting activities. My mindset is not going to be getting a girlfriend, but just doing stuff so I can have stories to tell and memories to remember. Most people find it easy to be my friend. I'm hoping if I keep active and away from the computer, it's almost guaranteed I make friends and meet girls.
What do you guys think?
Also, I'm not a bad looking guy. Girls have said that I'm attractive but nothing more than that. My weight is on the slim side (think Brad Pitt in Fight Club). And I'm about 5'10''. So...I'm not really short or really skinny. I'm pretty funny and when I'm in the zone, I can be VERY witty and quick thinking. I have a good job and my own place. So....I think that my lack of a LIFE is why I'm girlfriend-less and *****-less.
Hopefully you guys will be interested when I post back in a few months or so when my situation has improved.
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.
Yes. It's a good idea. It might take you a while to get the ball rolling so have patience.AlmostThere! said:I'm going to start living my life like the chraracter in "Yes, Man'. I'm gonna make an effort to do something everyday outside of work. Whether it be going to a museum, local bar, dance class, bowling league, etc. I'm gonna fill my life with interesting activities. My mindset is not going to be getting a girlfriend, but just doing stuff so I can have stories to tell and memories to remember. Most people find it easy to be my friend. I'm hoping if I keep active and away from the computer, it's almost guaranteed I make friends and meet girls.
What do you guys think?
What's "a while"?Alle_Gory said:Yes. It's a good idea. It might take you a while to get the ball rolling so have patience.
It'll take you approximately 1 year and 8 months.AlmostThere! said:What's "a while"?
I don't mean to sound impatient but I am impatient.
EDIT:
Will it take two years before I can have a girl in my life as a girlfriend or a girl I get regular sex from? I'm not a total social nitwit. All I need is to get out the house. I'm hoping by May, I can have one or two girls in my life.
Next Monday you'll feel more confident. After the gym you'll feel more confident. After one more drink you'll feel more confident. After you get a better haircut, a better jacket, a better job.
You've been "getting ready" for two years.
She's standing ten feet away right now. She'll be gone in four minutes. No amount of preparation will manufacture the courage that only comes from moving your feet.
Walk over. Stumble through the first sentence. Let it be clumsy. Let it be imperfect. You will feel more alive in those ten seconds than you have all month.
I do?Iceberg said:You scare the crap out of me.
Until you're comfortable with all of this. It will be a significant change being more social. If you get used to it quick, great, if you don't be patient and stick with it. You will be comfortable on some level with being around people since it is part of you.AlmostThere! said:What's "a while"?
I don't mean to sound impatient but I am impatient.
Maybe. Maybe less, maybe more. It's your call. Just remember, chill out if things don't go the way you want them to. There's always more opportunities. Be prepared to make mistakes and live with them. It's part of the learning process. If you haven't made a mistake, you haven't really tried.Will it take two years before I can have a girl in my life as a girlfriend or a girl I get regular sex from? I'm not a total social nitwit. All I need is to get out the house. I'm hoping by May, I can have one or two girls in my life.
You've said it a hundred times. Maybe a thousand. And every time you say it, you train your brain to freeze the next time she walks into the room.
Leagues are a myth invented by guys who are scared of women.
She's a person. She has bad breath in the morning. She picks songs she can't sing in the shower. She overthinks her own texts.
Walk over. Say something. The league dissolves the second you open your mouth.
I see you're still focussed on women, despite most telling you to work on expanding your social network first. Think about every guy who has had or is in a healthy, successful relationship. I bet the vast majority of them have good social skills and solid friendships. That's how it works. And that's how you should start out.AlmostThere! said:I'm so worried about girls because I'm IN MY MID-TWENTIES AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP. I look like I'm still in college now, but will I still look that same when I'm thirty? I have a fear of only being able to attract women who did all kinds of ****ing when they were younger and then want to settle with me.
You know how Michael Jackson never had a childhood so he lived his adult life as a child? Well, I never got the confidence and experience being with girls in my teens and I want to make up for for lost time and what I missed.
Also I'm in a rush because of society and what I see everyday. Girls with guys. It's hard not to be reminded of my *****y life and my cold lonely bed.
Will you tell a man that's thirsty to stop whining and be patient. He will have a false sense of patience but he's still going to show signs of his thirstiness. Guess what, no female with me tonight, tomorrow night, or Sunday night. Probably all of next week too. Hmmm, and it's said not to masturbate so here I am lonely and have no means of sexual release. Paying for sex makes me feel like sh*t. Energy has to go somewhere.
So that's why I'm in a rush.
And I hate wasting money, to answer your question.
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.