I think I'm at that point in my life where I'm over cold Approaching. I just see it as a massive waste of time. Just very abysmal success rates. Approach hundreds of women to probably get laid or date at least 5? No thanks
Depends on your goal. If you just want to get your dick wet, online dating is perfect. Get decent pictures, learn a few texting sequences.
Nightlife works great if you want to steal a few kisses on the dancefloor, sacrifice sleep and drink alcohol.
Hobbies are great to source women with common interests. I'd recommend (and I'm going to try this out) to go for freebie initiation sessions rather than full-semester commitment plans. Go to yoga classes every once in a while because, you know, stretching is important.
With social circle, your success very much depends on your baseline charisma. Both as a leader in the group, and to have the balls to sympathize with the odd +1 girl who comes around.
Daygame is a slow grind indeed. My success rate isn't that high to be honest. But I'm obsessed with it, the growth is addictive. I like to see it as any other skill, eg playing the guitar or drawing. Getting a date with a girl from cold approach is like being able to play a cool song, or drawing a human face. Takes practice. There are no shortcuts.
Alright just to reveal a bit about myself:
* these days, at work, I have the cute girls from HR and the security desk smiling at me. I don't have their number, because I don't ask for their number, because I don't want to "shit where I eat". I just learned to small talk and I practice good vibes and warm eye contact with them.
* I approached 5 women this week in public transport. Got 4 numbers, the 5th was flattered by my compliment but refused to give her number because she's already seeing someone (wise decision, can't argue with her).
* Out of these 4 numbers, 2 haven't responded to me (yet?). 1 responded, I tried to follow up on her exactly as described in How To Text A Girl, still waiting for her response. 1 responded and I called her the same evening, we had a great 15 minutes phone call and I plan to send her an invite later this weekend.
Am I great at this? Absolutely not, my number : date ratio is shamefully low. But I'm happy because
every approach, even the failed ones, constitutes valuable experience. It takes a lot of trial and error, this skill requires a lot of fine tuning. But I keep winning in the sense that my baseline keeps rising. Had it not been for a year of "failed" approaches, I wouldn't be able to start a friendly conversation with a random cute colleague at the coffee machine. Today I call that a Tuesday morning. And my hunch is that I am getting closer and closer to a tipping point where all of a sudden my number : date ratio will shift to a point to give me reliable dates with cute strangers.
Here's another little insight for you: a few weeks ago I looked back and realized something: I've never regretted a single approach I've made. 20 seconds before it's scary. In the heat of the moment cortisol and adrenaline jump through the roof. But afterwards I'm always happy. If it was even mildly successful I feel like a champ; if she rolled her eyes I take that as precious experience points for further growth. I don't know for you, but for me this skill is profoundly meaningful. I'm coming to believe that something in our masculine biology incentivizes us and rewards us for these bold moves, even when they fail.
@King: Thanks for the warm welcome man!