The Do's and Don't s of Dating...

I read an article last week about what you should and shouldn’t do on a date. And, got to say, they made some pretty valid points:

1) Don’t talk too much about your ex. It’s quite ok to mention them, but overall it’s best if you focus on the future.

2) Don’t show your emotions too openly as it might make you appear a little unstable.

3) Show that you have a good sense of humour.

4) Be enthusiastic. Show that you’re interested in spending time with them.

5) Do your research before you meet.

6) Don’t concentrate too much on what you want. Listen, really listen to what the other one has to say.

7) Don’t exaggerate your strengths.

8) Don’t turn up unprepared.

9) Remember to tell him/her in how many different ways you’d be a better match than your rivals. Show evidence.

10) Don’t forget to ask questions.

11) End your meeting by providing a short summary of yourself, outlining all the things that you’d have to give. Recap your skills and strengths.

Oh! Hold on, what’s that title again?

“Do’s and don’ts in a…”

erm,

“… job interview”.

Ok, now everything makes sense:

The article was published in a Finnish business magazine Taloussanomat, and I must admit that there was a brief moment when I was wondering just a little why they might’ve had chosen to write about dating.

It is amazing though how you come up with explanations to almost anything that needs explaining and establish a connection between any two subject/phenomenon if you think that there should be one – and that how scarily easily it happens:

Perhaps they wrote about dating in a business magazine because successful dating makes you succeed at work, I found myself thinking. Or maybe dating improves corporate profitability, somehow? Employees who date are more creative and thus more of an asset to their employers? Going on a date provides an excellent opportunity for practicing your negotiation skills? Dating your boss helps you climb the career ladder? People who date are happy, making board meetings a pleasant, jolly event for everyone? And so on, endlessly.

Still, I think most of these rules would actually work pretty well on a date too. It's all human interaction, after all.