My stages were similar to this, they are as follows:
1) I get the game, i play, i play, i play, i play get a drink play some more, go pee play some more, fall asleep wake up and play some more.
2) realize i can play online, realize i can play online so i start doing it.
3) Make some freinds make even more enemys. i thnk i'm good cause i always host rooky games and win.
4)i go to rated rooms lose, lose, lose, realize just how much i suck. But stay around anyway (which in the long run i think helped me)
5) join a clan ( that i'm still in today its a real good clan were kinda like family now) realize i'm not that good and get help from clanmates which has helped me 6) still dont play rated cause not many in the clan do (but i'm starting to turn)
7) now i read forums all the time and try to only play games with ppl i know are good.
All this took about 7 months. How long did it take the rest of you????