Any tips for a slow beginner?

I like the Reti, the Larsen and KIA setups for white, although I prefer d4 sidelines for white when attempting to play seriously, which I don't do here. With black I really enjoy hypermodern setups far more than classical setups and I feel get more comfortable in those setups. So much more comfortable that my best game ever (a draw against an IM in an online "long" simul) was in a sideline of a rather unorthodox defense (the nimzowitsch) by transposition.

Yeah just stick to your principles, and control the center with PAWNS not PIECES only

Another thing I've been told works for many is to go over miniatures by others, identify the mistakes and memorize the position, the bad move and the alternative (good move). While this can also be done with your own games, it seems it's easier to remember when it's a game played by others.

Oh, btw, that reminds me of a good advice I once heard and I do apply, even if sparingly so. Find ways to play in simuls against better players and if the time control allows for me, play them with a physical board on the side (and optionally, keep notation). The rationale behind that is very simple: many good players (especially so titled players) will play many openings, many lines and will do so in ways that will reveal you the "right" patterns. If you play on a physical board on the side, it will help you become acquainted with double checking for blunders. Also, if you keep notation, you can always pinpoint to where you had doubts about your moves and check on those later.

Actually you don't need to. But if you do it, all the more power to you. When I try to play seriously, I play to my strengths and for positions I feel comfortable in. Anything 1.e4 is way too abstruse for me. I would reserve "1.e4" for "surprise" value. aiming for rare sidelines for many of the potential replies.

The KIA or some lines in the Reti are enough to get people like me into a decent playable position with clear ideas. That's all I want, but you may want more, or different. Once again, for serious games, I still prefer 1.d4 and some sidelines.

Depends why you play...for relaxation, fun, challenge, or whatever.  Whatever you like about chess, follow that and let it bring you deeper into the game.  Your enthusiasm is what will make you learn and improve, otherwise it will just be tedious.

I saw an interview series where GMs were asked why chess is fun and many of them were surprised by the question....."Fun?!...well um..." 

Divide Your learning time into comfortable phases, e.g rest after 5 or ten tactics one minute; play one game with white and then rest some minutes before You play with black; play gamea with about 15 to 20 minutes time, speed wiil come time after time by itself;   dont hurry, dont anger, chess is fun... be patient with Yourself, some results and improvements need their time. 

Walk through the lessons moderately... 

Drink a glass of beer before the game.

When I started to play over here ... I often did it for inspiration... and in order my brains work more fast. )

But only one two three glasses... not more.

A good, free web resource for learning the basics about tactics is the 'Predator at the Chessboard' site. 

I have hundreds of books on Chess, learning, strategy, business, etc., but I still am horrible at Chess. Do I actually have to read the books, or is collecting them sufficient?

I, personally, stoped reading Chess books.

It's better to listen to the lectures about Chess on youtube.

Put even more effort into the games like you never have before. You really got to push yourself to really wanting to win & never ever giving up

keep calm and stay focus on opponent movements and follow your game plan.

"Keep calm" is good advice - but how? I guess most of us can spot mistakes much easier in other people's games; but in the heat of battle we still blunder ourselves. How can we foster the same detachment we have when viewing others' games when we play our own?

I think our eye must work hardly to see some move that leave other important protect though

@ExploringWA sorry, collecting is not enough, if only it was. You will have to read them, and what's worse you may have to make an effort to apply their teaching. Worse still, it is rarely a case of copy and paste, rote learning being the most basic level of education, but you have to work out how to make the teaching work for you and your style, a certain amount of trial and error is still required. As for me, inspired by this discussion, Amateurs Mind has just landed (thankyou Amazon) and I'm looking forward to digesting and regurgitating all 443 pages. Should keep me going until xmas at least.

You really shouldn't be discouraged at all....just play for some fun for the moment.... In my opinion getting to 1000 or 1100 is just a natural process that requires playing more and more and you get to there from experience....only after maybe 1600 I think you need to start studying seriously

Dunno if the OP still hangs out around this thread... but regardless of the good advice, I can certainly empathize with the feeling of being a slow learner and the inevitable feelings of discouragement. You may be frustrated at whatever level you're at, but (without being anything but a beginner) I sincerely doubt it is comparable to be tired about a dearth of visible progress as you hit a plateau with being tired about not being able to transition out of beginner stages. The plight of the beginner is very real. Some have managed to cruise through their beginner stages just by playing. Good for them. Others require more than mere playing.