So, my current venture has me reading Stephen R. Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and it has some incredibly valuable points in it that apply to this field. The difference between the personality ethic and character ethic and how developmental growth can't be shortcut.

The same thing applies to developing social skills and habits. Many men want a "quick fix" to talking to women or a line to feed them to get what they want, but ultimately that isn't how the game is played. We build upon a foundation which we set personally by first interacting on a low level, building our confidence up more and more, until we are at the point where saying hello to a random stranger and making sexual jokes isn't shaking us to our core.

I found myself in the situation where I wanted to start dating again and approaching women in public seemed daunting to me because I was thinking of just faking confidence and getting a date. Problem is, that doesn't work. I'm going to start talking, I'll stumble here or there, the conversation won't flow and then I'm up shits creek without a paddle. What I needed to do more than anything was just take action. I started by giving women compliments like "Nice jacket" or "I like your hair, it looks great!". Simple stuff, no conversation, just something to grab their attention for a second or two. Once I was beyond that step, I could then start having small talk and working my way up to flirting more and closing.

The endgame as we know it is to close. People forget though, that if you're not constantly engaged in this behavior, there is a process you have to go trough to develop skills. Without these skills it's like going into a gun fight naked.

Just an interesting late night thought I had while reading, figured I would share with you all and discuss what sorts of things worked for you and what didn't.

Curious to hear your stories if you have some to share and are willing.

TL;DR - There's a process for everything in life, don't shortcut it.