By taking the time to understand what women look for in a romantic partner, you can jump into the world of singles with confidence and go! Otherwise, you’re likely to hear a lot of conversations that end with “You’re a nice guy, but” and “I think we should just be friends.”

You have enough friends. You want to find that special woman. Here are some tips to win the battle of the sexes!

Rule 1:

Always dress for success (on dates). He doesn’t show up to his date dressed like he would for a night in front of the game with his friends. A woman won’t appreciate that, no matter how laid back she is. A little hint: women notice shoes. While you don’t have to show up with a $500 designer pair, you should leave your old Nikes at home. The same goes for clothes that don’t fit well.

The jacket you wore to your friend’s wedding 10 years ago may still be in good shape, but that doesn’t mean you’re fit enough to wear it! Buy clothes that fit your size, not what you would like to have, and you will be one step ahead from the first moment. The fact that a woman looks at your clothes is not (necessarily) a matter of vanity; she just wants to know that you made some kind of effort for her.

rule 2:

Make him want to get closer to you. Make sure you smell good, but don’t overdo the products. A woman doesn’t want to be able to smell your cologne when you walk into the restaurant. Discover it with your charm and winning personality, not your aftershave.

rule 3:

Get a real job! Or at least a plan to get one. Women don’t find it attractive if you’re content to float through life on a wave of odd jobs after odd jobs. Even if you have a job that doesn’t excite you, have a plan for how you’re going to move on to something you can really sink your teeth into. Come to the table with a healthy dose of ambition, and you’ll come across as a much more interesting and attractive person.

rule 4:

Have something interesting to say. Yes, women like to be asked about themselves, but they don’t want to be the only one doing the talking. She knows when to listen, too: She may not want to fully talk, but you can bet she doesn’t fully want to listen either.

Rule 5:

Remember that she is not just one of the guys. At least not yet. She doesn’t want to hear any stories that begin with “I was so drunk” or “My ex-girlfriend and I were on our way to Paris when…” Stories about your past are fine, and even welcome, but try to keep the escapades from binge drinking and ex stories, particularly ex-bang stories, out of his first date repertoire.

Rule 6:

You’re not going to get some. Or at least that’s the attitude you should have on a first date. Never go into a dating situation expecting sex; A woman will think you are much more worth her time and her body if she cares about more than the color of her sheets. If you are too strong, you will risk being blocked by the girl of your dreams.

Rule 7:

Manners never go out of style. Be someone you are proud to sit with in a good restaurant. That means no burping, no thumb licking, and no inappropriate language. She wants to get stares because she’s on the arm of a handsome, stylish man, not because her date is picking his teeth with a box of matches!

Rule 8:

Be willing to have fun! Have ideas of where you can go on dates and don’t expect her to plan everything. The date must be a combined effort. Even if you’re just suggesting a restaurant or offering an opinion on which movie to watch, your date will take your opinions out of enthusiasm about your date.

Rule 9:

Show up on time. It may sound simple, but leaving a woman waiting sends the message that she and your date are not important to you. And if one of life’s little emergencies occurs and you’re inevitably late, never underestimate the power of a phone call.

Rule 10:

Flowers never hurt. It may sound old-fashioned, but girls like surprises, and bringing flowers to a date will almost always be a hit. Even if you don’t know her favorite flower, or even if flowers aren’t her thing, the fact that you thought of showing up on her doorstep with something special for her will immediately earn you brownie points. And if you remove the plastic that wrapped the flowers in the supermarket and present them as if you had just picked them, you will be doing better.

Here are some great dates and success in love!