Be cocky. Be funny.
I rarely ever compliment girls. Every other guy in the club is doing the same shit. Girls like assholes. So I'm a bit of an asshole. The same girls that say I'm "sooo mean" are the same girls that are buying me dinner and drinks.
I know this always sounds like some sort of "goes without saying" non-advice, but in my experience you should never underestimate the impact simple things like dressing well and generally looking out for yourself (even on a merely superficial appearance level) have on your self-esteem and how others perceive you.
On a less superficial level, you need to feel good about what you're doing, i.e. your job/your academic studies/whatever, your hobbies, your social life.
Take your time to see whether or not you're content with where you are, identify areas where you would like to change things and how. I realize this is easier said then done. Sometimes it will require outside help, e.g. coaching, but sometimes even a word of advice from someone you trust might be enough to inspire you.
Yes, the superficial stuff is very important. And as you might imagine, feeling good about yourself is part of being cocky. But you don't need to wear an Armani suit, be the CEO of some big company, and have a million friends to party with. As long as you got a job that can pay the bills, some nice clothes and a good circle of friends to keep you busy, the rest is just game. Of course, if you can afford the Armani suit, then it does make the game easier.
And that said that the Time Tunnel was cancelled - that post was straight from 1987.