Opened this up again now that I have a monitor that can display it.
Just... ouch. I am not intelligent enough to figure this out.
You should consider starting with no preexisting enemies. That way you will not be interrupted until you start messing with gates.
Then just get started figuring out the research and constructions. Build up your constructions facilities, get some engine technology researched, that sort of thing. Pay careful attention to your resource projections because running out of something is not good.
Then build a basic geosurvey craft. Look at the distances, consider the extra distances to manoeuvre, build up a fuel-efficient engine, decide if you want double survey units for double survey speed, build up your shipyard, throw up a large deployment time, all that good stuff. Really, all it needs is to move fast enough to not drive you insane, have a geosurvey module, and not run out of fuel. Everything else is just gravy.
Once you are done with that, learn how to start an off-world colony, it just takes a cargo ship, and some infrastructure... But that gives you an idea of repeat orders and cargo transfer and colony hassles.
Once that is done you can look into the wonderful world of mass drivers... Stopping your empire from coming to a complete halt when it strip-mines the homeworld is an important lesson.
After that, combat, officer organisation, colony management, empire finances, these things are just trimmings.