Andrew Neel

If your notion of the perfect date is going home with the hottest chick at the bar, this article is not for you. I'm about helping YOU have great long-term relationships. If that's what you want, you've come to the right place. (If you are not sure what you want, get that straightened out first.)

So what's the perfect date? It's certainly not some Hollywood fantasy of a chance meeting turning into an all night escapade and exploding into eternal love by morning. Neither is it the Hollywood favorite of finally winning your long-held secret love when she is falling for someone else.

Put simply, the perfect date leaves you with a “Heck Yeah!” or a solid “No.” If you are left in “Maybe Land,” you are killing your future.

So Here's What You Want to Know:

Your date is going to be about getting to know her values, her vision, her habits, her commitments and her expectations. Are they compatible with your own? It's not that you have to share them all, but you have to know if there's a good chance you can work with each other.

And that starts with being clear for yourself. Start by figuring out what's important to you. If you are a militanrt vegan, that might not jive with a partner who just has to start her day with bacon and eggs.

Do you have to hit the links with your crew every Sunday morning (save maybe on your honeymoon)? Does she expect you to give up your vulgar friends when you grow up and get married? How about be in church in your Sunday best, with the kids, while she sleeps in?

Does she plan to save the world? Is it her own crusade, or does she expect you to be her First Lieutenant? Or is it okay if you hang back and watch the game and mow the lawn?

You get the point. Make the list. List everything that is important to you. Figure out which really matter. If you are meeting women on-line, make sure your non-negotiables are clear. It does make the pool smaller. It also makes you stand out from the crowd, and saves both of you time.

Set the Stage:

Like I said before, you want a “Heck Yeah” or a solid “No,” and you want it quickly. So start with a short date, but let that already reflect your values. If you just love one of those big pretzels with mustard and a walk through the park, invite her to that over a lunch break. If you know she has a favorite coffee shop, offer to meet her there.

And if you can, find out a little something about her, a favorite color, or book, or flower, or a hobby or an interest. And if you find out she's into fantasy games and imagines herself an elf queen, maybe you find her a little token that appreciates that.

The point is you want to check if you are comfortable where she is, and the other way around. And if this leaves you with a bunch of “Nos” before the first date, and that's great too. Did you really want dates that weren't going anywhere anyway?

So assuming the date is on, put on a nice pair of shoes (matching your belt if you can), and go be yourself with her.

If you want to get a bit bolder, tell her this is her one chance with you. You are going to walk out of this date saying “Heck Yeah, I'd love another date” or “No, thank you.” So she might as well be herself, because you are pretty sure that's the only thing that might move you.