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- 📕 From ‘Swiping Right’ to Date Night: A Survival Guide
📕 From ‘Swiping Right’ to Date Night: A Survival Guide
PLUS: The 'Why + When' Method, 20 perfect dating app messages

Greetings gentlemen!
This is The Dating Dose. We're like your trusty sidekick, ready to help conquer the monstrous challenges of dating and soar with you on an epic quest for love.
In today's dose... 💉
📕 The heart of the matter: From ‘Swiping Right’ to Date Night: A Survival Guide
🌐 The best on the net
💓 O-G-A
🤝🏽 Courses by Dashing Date
💪 Man Up Mission teaser

HEART OF THE MATTER
From ‘Swiping Right’ to Date Night: A Survival Guide.

The world of dating apps can feel like a minefield; one misstep and KABOOM! 💥
Once upon a time, the hardest part of online dating was simply ‘getting the date’.
But now, men have stumbled upon a new challenge - 'keeping the date'.
We're talking about that delicate period between landing a date, and the actual meet-up itself.
We’ve coined this 1-2 week period, 'Gap Week' 🗓️
And today, we’re going to equip you with the skills to navigate this hilly terrain 🏔️
Usually, our guidance revolves around self-reflection, providing you the tools to find your own authentic solutions.
But online dating is a different beast, and united we must stand 💪🏽
So, consider this newsletter a special treat - a rare edition where we hand you the magic sword: The ‘Gap Week’ Survival Guide, filled with everything you need to make it safely to the other side.
Ready? Let’s slay! 🗡️

The story of Ramit 🧔🏽♂️
Ramit was a client of ours. A kind, quirky, and smart guy. He had a lot going for him - a great career, a passion for hobbies, and a passport full of travel stamps... but, like many men, his dating life struggled to keep up.
During our time working with Ramit, he conquered a major online dating obstacle - 'getting the date'.
He was matching with at least two quality women per week, and he could land a date with almost anyone he wanted.
But then, a frustrating pattern emerged.
His matches would often cancel a day or two before.
In other words, things would crumble during ‘Gap Week’.
Ramit started to take it personally. Despite his success in securing a date, once it was scheduled, he'd become insecure and anxious.
Navigating ‘Gap Week’ is already tricky, but once your confidence starts to waver, that's when second-guessing and overthinking can take over.
“How much should I communicate before we meet?”
“Is the date still on if I don’t hear from her?”
“She hasn’t responded to my last text, is she still interested?”
“Should I send another text?”
“What should I say?”

All this overthinking led to Ramit putting out a desperate, insecure energy 😟
What was once an exciting idea of meeting someone new, now became a nervous waiting game.
And trust us, that kind of energy can be felt - even through a screen.
However, for Ramit, there was light at the end of the tunnel.
With our help, he figured it out 💡
🧰 An essential tool in Ramit’s dating arsenal was understanding some fundamentals around communication. Introducing…
Dr. Mehrabian's famous 7-38-55 rule 👇
Dr. Albert Mehrabian was a University professor renowned for his studies on personal communication. He's best known for introducing the 7-38-55 rule, suggesting that only 7% of communication is verbal (relying on the words we use).
The rest?
38% - Tone of voice
55% - Body language
Now think about how you typically communicate with your dates.
Yep, you've got it, TEXTING 💬
In the world of SMS, tone and body language are completely removed from the equation, leaving almost everything open to interpretation 🔍
That means the women you match with have to rely on their personal experiences and perspectives to piece together an image of you. Just imagine how far from reality this can be!
With two strangers trying to build a connection this way, it’s no wonder why things go sideways during ‘Gap Week’.
We're not saying you should stop texting altogether until your date rolls around. But what we are saying is to set yourself up to win, aiming for a clear line of communication that doesn’t leave anyone guessing.
Plus, women dig and appreciate good communication skills.

So, how did Ramit turn things around?
For starters, armed with this new understanding, Ramit found it easier to refrain from taking things so personally. This not only boosted his confidence but also allowed him to make smarter decisions, helping him keep things afloat during 'Gap Week'.
His next step: He employed what we call the “Why + When” Method.
Let’s get into it.
The ‘Why + When’ Method
Let's peel back the layers of the dating onion and zoom in on one particular example of Gap Week, where Ramit matched with Jessica on a Sunday.
Here's the step-by-step breakdown of how he put our 'Why + When' method into action. Brace yourself for a tear-free journey!
Sunday: Ramit and Jessica match on Bumble. They speak on the phone (this is one of Ramit’s ‘moves’ by the way) and he secures a date for Friday night. They’ll meet for drinks 🍸
Monday: Ramit reaches out to Jessica via text. He wants to set the tone for what she can expect in terms of communication during ‘Gap Week’ 💬
In writing this text, he follows our ‘Why + When’ Method: He doesn’t just tell her when he’ll be in touch next, but also casually drops in the reason why.
The 'Why' is crucial because it cuts through potential overthinking, and let's face it – everyone is over-analyzing texts!
Text template:
"Hey Jessica, it was great chatting yesterday 🙂 Just wanted to let you know I have a pretty crazy week coming up (finishing an exciting project at work), so I'll touch base again on Thursday with some ideas on where we can grab drinks. Looking forward to meeting you! Have a great week"
Why this works for Jessica:
Jessica feels acknowledged and knows exactly what to expect from Ramit this week. Plus, she’s not left wondering why he won’t be in touch sooner. Even better, she’s been given a little extra glimpse into his exciting life 👀
Why this works for Ramit:
Ramit has eliminated the stress of having to ‘keep up the momentum’ during ‘Gap Week’. He can now relax and look forward to his date on Friday.
Fast-forward to Wednesday: Without the added stress of overthinking, Ramit has more room to play! He decides to reach out earlier than planned:
Text template:
"Hey Jessica! Just saw this _____ (insert silly photo or meme*) and thought of you ;) Hope you’re having a great week!”
Why this works:
His message comes as a welcome surprise. Jessica feels flattered he thought of her during his busy week.
*For the photo or meme, anything related to their previous conversation together or from her dating profile could work. Otherwise, he can just say “Hey Jessica! Taking a quick lunch break and thought of you ;) Hope you’re having a great week!”
By the way, Jessica is likely to reply. So Ramit will stay mindful of keeping the convo short and sweet, ending off with a reminder that he’ll touch base again tomorrow.
Thursday rolls around: Ramit sticks to his word and reaches out to confirm the plans. He’s prepared with a few suggestions on where they can meet for drinks.
Text template:
"Hey Jessica! Was thinking we could check out The Crying Onion Pub tomorrow, how does that sound?"
They finalize the plan and, again, Ramit wraps it up with exactly what she can expect next.
Text template:
"Amazing, looking forward 🙂 Will text when I’m on my way, but I’ll be there by 7PM - See you soon!”
Friday AKA Date Night: Et Voilà! Ramit has made it to Friday with not just a date in place, but an anticipated one at that! This takes us to the end of a successfully navigated ‘Gap Week’, all achieved without excessive texting, overthinking or unnecessary stress.

Is this method guaranteed to work?
When it comes to dating, nothing is foolproof. But if you've ever found yourself feeling lost and overwhelmed in the battlefield of online dating, left wondering “where did I go wrong?”, this approach is reliable, and sure to lead you to more meaningful and enjoyable dates.
Alright, time for a recap!
Keep the 7-38-55 rule in your back pocket. It’s not about having the courage to speak up, it’s about the fundamentals of communication. Use this new knowledge to your advantage.
Limit texting until after you’ve met face-to-face. Use the ‘Why + When’ Method to manage expectations and get you both through 'Gap Week'.
Unsure or unclear about something? Just ask! Talk directly to your date (not your best buddy!). Remember, there are two of you in this. You're not supposed to carry the weight of figuring it all out solo.
To build on this “Just Ask” concept, we're loading up your survival guide with even more goodness - templates of what you can say the next time your mind starts to whirl and twirl…
😵💫 Unclear thought: I can’t tell if she wants to see me again…
✅ Just ask: “Hey Jessica, hope you crushed your work presentation this week! I had a good time on Friday 🙂 Would you be up for getting together again?”
🥴 Unclear thought: She left me on ‘read’. I don’t know if she still wants to meet up on Friday…
✅ Just ask: “Hey Jess! Hope your week is going well! Looking forward to drinks on Friday. Are we still on? 🙈”
😑 Unclear thought: Messaged twice already and still haven’t heard back. Should I text one last time…
✅ Just ask: “Hey Jess! How’s your week going so far? Would love to see you again if you’re up for it. Also, we only just met so if this isn’t for you - no hard feelings! 🍻”
And there you have it! You're now equipped with the ‘Gap Week’ Survival Guide.
Remember, this isn't about having polished lines or rehearsed answers. These are simply frameworks! At the end of the day, it's all about authenticity, respect, and being genuine. So borrow anything you need from these strategies, and over time, tweak them to make them your own.
The real magic happens when you tailor this guidance to your unique style and personality!
Final thoughts…
Early-stage dating is a low-risk opportunity to practice your communication skills 🗣️
Never be passive aggressive in your texts - it's a red flag that can be felt a mile away. If you’re feeling frustrated, hold off on messaging until you're back in a positive mindset.
To reap the full benefits of today’s learnings, the first step is to get your energy in check. Read our newsletter on the Secret Sauce to Attraction where we do a deep dive on this topic.

THREE AWESOME LINKS...🌐
The Best On The Net
[Twitter 🧵] I asked 30 women out over 30 days (link)
[IG Post 🎞️] 5 dating templates for texting (link)
[Article 🗞️] 20 perfect first messages on a dating app (link)

THE USUAL...💓
O-G-A
📱 Online dating tip of the week:
Don't initiate or get sucked into long, overwhelming text conversations. Practice crafting insightful yet compact replies, and keeping the banter alive with short, easy questions. For example, “I love sushi too! Just tried ‘Sushi Mania’ with friends last week 🍣 Have you been?”
🧠 Growth Man Quote:
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."- George Bernard Shaw
🪞 Affirmation of the week:
“My voice is one of my strongest tools”

THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR...🤝🏽
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Your Man Up Mission is 1 practical 'to-do' item each week to keep you moving, motivated, and manly! It’s designed to help you put theory into practice and see tangible results in your dating life.

This week's mission, Mr. Smooth Talker, is designed to turn you into a 'Gap Week' Guru! Our 3 step plan will show you exactly how to use these new techniques in everyday situations, so you can effortlessly transition them into your dating life.
If you want to increase your confidence communicating with women, and reduce dating anxiety, the Smooth Talker mission is your golden ticket to mastering 'Gap Week'. Don’t miss it!! 👇👇👇

AND AS ALWAYS...

“Shoot your shot and detach from the outcome”
💡How We Can Help
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That's all for now!
Thanks for reading, and see you next time 🫡
-The Dating Dose Team ❤️