What advice would you have for someone who has a messed up mindset towards dating?
From reading that over-analytical post, I'll try to put it in similar language:
Form hypotheses.
Test your assumptions out in the real world. With real girls.
Look at the field data you've gathered. Emphasis on field data you've experienced yourself, not reading what someone else wrote.
Revisit and revise your original assumptions now that you have more empirical data.
Everything you've written is still at step 1. Still all theoretical. Run through the rest of the process, to make progress.
The woman can (and typically will) pick the best option. This will usually take in multiple factors like attractiveness, personality, career prospects, etc.
I read this like I was watching a wildlife documentary about human mating rituals with a David Attenborough-like voice-over.
While you have a point, these are all logical things. Attraction is not logical.
A big part of attraction is how you make a girl feel. Do you make her excited? Happy? Curious what you'll say next?
You don't need six-pack abs, a bomb-ass job or the right country club memberships for that.
You'll get further with a girl by being 100 percent present with a girl, totally in the moment with her, than flashing your alpha male attributes.
You'd be surprised how many times girls will bail on a guy who expects his looks/money/status to do all the work but he can't carry a conversation with a girl.
"Ugh, all he did was talk about his workout/his business/his connections. Boring!"
Personally, I can't approach girls since I'm only average and haven't done anything remarkable so I doubt I can be considered as a serious option by any women.
I can relate to this because I used to think the same way. I had a "husband resume" approach to attractiveness. As if I had to amass the most qualifications to get a girlfriend the way you'd get a job.
"When I have more money, better body, higher status then I'll date and it'll be awesome!" Really though, it was an excuse to avoid playing a game I didn't think I could win, being who I currently was. It's a defeatist mindset.
The two best times to ask out a girl is:
when you first met her.
today.
Not 3-5 years from now when you've feel you've achieved those things but still have zero experience dating. If you wait until then you'll still have zero experience dating. Despite everything else you've done.
You don't have to be the better guy. You just have to be the better match. And if she think you're not a good match, that's okay. Move on and find a girl who is. There are lots of girls looking for all kinds of men.
If she does think you're a good fit and you like her too, go and date her. Try not to be insecure and worry she'll leave you. You're actually insulting her judgment and not treating her like an adult.
She chose you, so respect her fine taste in men ;)