What Women Want - The Sixty Million Dollar Question

A man and his wife are having some problems and are giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized he needed to be up at 5:00 a.m. to catch a flight for a necessary morning business meeting. He needed his wife to wake him up.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence, he wrote on a piece of paper, “Please wake me up at 5.00 am”. He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning, he woke and realized it was 9:00 a.m. and he had missed his flight. Furious, the man was about to go and see why his wife had not woken him up when he saw pieces of paper on the alarm clock.

The note said, “It’s 5:00 a.m. Wake up.”

Men are just not equipped for these kinds of contests.

We all know men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Both are in the same solar system, so there should at least be some mutual understanding, right? It got me thinking about how men and women ever get together in the first place, given their differences.

Generations may change, but certain key traits continue to attract women. Here are six that I was brought up to believe in.

1. Grooming and hygiene—cleanliness matters.

There is a lot to be said for someone who presents well. A clean-shaven, well-groomed man is a better choice than someone who just got off work and hasn’t showered.

Maybe it's just me, but I have a soft spot for a lady who is well-groomed and wearing perfume. Guys, the equivalent for men is aftershave or cologne. Subtlety is the key. You want your lady to be able to breathe, but provide that slight air of provocation.

2. Style and dress – attention to detail.

For a woman, it used to be ‘every girl's crazy about a sharp-dressed man,' just ask ZZ Top!

Taking the time to dress nicely and appropriately seems to me to be a mark of respect. If you can't be bothered to make an effort, then why should the lady you are trying to impress?

3. Your smile – warmth that instantly attracts.

A warm smile means a warm heart, and that is very important to ladies. A warm smile portrays security and that you are a genuine person. A warm smile is a non-verbal expression of goodwill and kindness. Everyone understands and appreciates it, no matter their language or culture.

4. Your manners—politeness never goes unnoticed.

My grandmother taught me about good manners from an early age. My mother and father reinforced it. Simple acts, like opening a car door for a lady or letting her go through a door first, are traditional manners. Sadly, these gestures seem lost on the younger generation.

Put your phone away. This shows you care about the person. Say "please" and "thank you." These small gestures mean a lot to the right lady.

5. How you listen – truly paying attention will mean a lot.

Most men have difficulty listening, let’s face it. I confess I do. Pay attention to your date. Make eye contact and ask open-ended questions. These things really matter.

This reminds me of a joke:

A man is reading an article to his wife: “It has been said that women use 30,000 words a day, compared to 15,000 words for men.”

The wife said, “We have to repeat things twice to men. They never listen."

The husband turned to his wife and said, “What?”

6. Be energetic and let your humour shine.

Positive vibes attract people, and a good laugh makes you memorable.

Nobody wants to be with a 'sad sack' or someone who does not uplift them.

Ladies, correct me if I am wrong. Does any of this strike a chord with you?

In this day and age, many of these dating charms have been lost. Men have partly forgotten how to behave. Also, phones make it tough to meet face-to-face early on.

Of course, I may have it completely wrong, which may explain why I don’t seem to be able to get a date. What do you think?

Till next time,

Calvin