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Get Guys Begging For A Second Date: Here's How

Dating expert Rachel Greenwald, author of "Why He Didn't Call You Back," discusses dating etiquette.

Ever wondered why a guy didn't call you back? Rachel Greenwald has the answer. She spent ten years interviewing over 1,000 guys, and she lays it all out in her new book, Why He Didn't Call You Back: 1,000 Guys Reveal What They REALLY Thought About You After Your Date.

According to Greenwald, "there are more failed first dates today than ever before." With the popularity of online dating, singles have come to expect perfection. Because why wouldn't you, when you can land a new date with a few clicks of a mouse?

But when it comes to marriage-minded men, Greenwald's research reveals that there are clear, consistent reasons men don't call women back. It all comes down to stereotypes. Watch: Why Do Men Get Married?

"You can't make a meaningful decision about whether that person is right for you from a first or second date," says Greenwald. But in order to decide if someone has long-term potential, guys (and gals) use small cues to make big assumptions about their date's personality, lifestyle and character. "People are making decisions about whether a relationship could ultimately work based on very superficial data points."

Greenwald's book encourages women to be aware of the image they're projecting, and to make small adjustments to their behavior so that they can land a second or third date. "I don’t want to change you," says Greenwald. "I want to change the way you come across on the first date."

Greenwald has an MBA from Harvard business school, and published her first book, Find a Husband After 35: (Using What I Learned at Harvard Business School), in 2003. She leads a successful matchmaking business, and used her own tactics to find her own husband, so she knows whereof she speaks. Visit her website here.

YourTango spoke to Greenwald about why you should never Facebook friend a guy before going out with him, who should pay for dinner and the number one reason men don't call you back.

YourTango: What is a successful first date?

Rachel Greenwald: To me a successful first or second date is simply an invitation to go out again. You can't really get to know who the person is deep down until you spend more time with them, so the lack of a follow-up date invitation means that someone has quickly stereotyped you.

What's the most common reason guys don't call back?

The number one reason why men didn't call a woman back is what I call The Boss Lady. This is a stereotype of a women who is very accomplished and successful and frankly fabulous in so many ways, but the man walks away from the date thinking that he's more interested in hiring her than dating her. He thinks she's argumentative, competitive, not feminine, controlling and not nurturing. Read: Can Powerful Women Find Love?

This is NOT a reflection of whether he could be happy with a Boss Lady. He probably would be, because the traits that initially come across as bossy may later be deemed forthright or confident.

So, what do you do if you're a Boss Lady?

If a women identifies herself as a Boss Lady I don't suggest that she change her personality; I suggest that she show the softer side of herself first, before the stronger side emerges. A lot of that has to do with just changing how she speaks.

There's an example of a date in the book about a couple that goes to a dinner party and the man watches his date argue with another guest about global warming. She very aggressive and she's trying to win every point, and he thinks that she's very argumentative and competitive.

The right way to change your delivery would be to make a softer. You could say, "It's great to see this issue get so much attention. I guess we'll see who's right in the long run." The delivery of these statements is a very superficial thing. You're actually saying the same thing, but you're delivering it in a more gracious and open minded way.

Can you relate?

Discussion

Jant Jackson manhood101.com
Posted 1 week ago

Men don't like bitches aka "boss ladies" and yet most of the women on here are bitches and don't even realize it. This is the problem. Just pointing out that a woman is a bitch isn't going to help her. She needs to be put in check. If a man never learns how to put a bitch in check, he is doomed in his relationships to always end up with pushy women who walk all over him. Get your spine back if you want to learn how to attract women the right way: http://www.scribd.com/doc/21733512/Principles-101

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Posted July 29, 2009

just one question. If your goal is to make "the customer" want more, what does it make you on the relationship-level?

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ProudMary Starting Over
Posted April 14, 2009

Of all the questions I would ask a man...this is not one of them!

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Chacha Taken
Posted April 10, 2009

1,000 guys in ten years. Her number rivals my one! You go girl. Love ya, ChaCha.

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LeMaster Married I was born ready.
Posted April 8, 2009

Every woman in the world is a boss lady when it comes down to it. You just have to marry her for it to really come out.

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Kataroo Single Glass half full girl.
Posted April 8, 2009

this woman sounds amazing! it's true, you don't need to be a different person to get your man, you just have to put your best foot forward. that's what my grandma always told me!

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Lolita Single It all feels good.
Posted April 8, 2009

Rachel Greenwald sounds like she knows what she's talking about. If I ever end up needing some tips on the opposite sex, I'll know where to turn. Until then, I'll just keep doin what I do.

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Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted April 8, 2009

"Greenwald's book encourages women to be aware of the image they're projecting."

So, the key to second date is wearing a water-bra?

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BigAl Taken
Posted April 7, 2009

What fabulous insight into men and all their crazy likes and dislikes of women. Amazing how first impressions have such a lasting effect and that such small things are taken to mean so much!

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savannah Engaged We'll get there eventually.
Posted April 7, 2009

This is fascinating. I would love to know if her Boss Lady theory holds up in the bedroom as well! Bet not.

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