One thing a man can do if he finds that his PUA journey is not taking him anywhere is work on achieving what women obsess over. While a man does not need muscles, money, or a fancy car to pickup women, they certainly do not hurt. If a man finds that no matter what he does, he simply cannot get anywhere, he may need to look into improving his life first. Focus on work, and find a regular gym schedule. Most women will tell you that hulkish body builders are not attractive. It is unnecessary to become a gym rat to pickup women, but women do like a man who has good definition and is not a scrawny nerdy looking man as muscles activate the primal part of her brain telling her that you are a masculine man who can protect her against the lions.
As far as achieving in your career. This is the modern man's equivalent of providing a woman protection. Protection against financial destitution. A man with a good career will always be a woman's safety net if her own career turns sour, and for this they latch onto men that they are certain can provide for them.