64% of people will believe what you tell them if you include a statistic.

Did you fall for that? You get my point.

We are all responsive to stats one way or another. According to a hinge study, I have two attributes that only 2.2% of the worlds men possess. Apparently both are highly desirable for women. Surely my personality is number three!

There was a seperate study conducted on how much value a dog brings to a persons life, and the study suggested the logic estimated it around £70k per year. What was fascinating was that we receive and give love to a dog largely unconditionally. As long as we walk and feed the dog, and it in kind respects our rules and listens to us. Then we are cool.

So why in that case are our relationships with our partners so conditional?

In the hinge study women said there were no men that met their criteria. We have an availability crisis! Or is the crisis within the criteria?

I was told at school that a friend is the wrong basis for a relationship. I would say it is a great basis. You already have so much in common.

Free markets work in economies so why not in our personal lives. Lots of questions. But here are some suggestions.

Start organic conversation. If you can’t do this, stop and ask yourself why. Explore it. Are you already putting too many conditions on yourself. Tell a joke, pay a compliment. It’s free.

If you need help understanding yourself or the world around you. Drop me a message. Let’s have coffee. Men need each other and we need less pressure and more authenticity. Be that. Let’s broaden the search criteria, ignore the stats and lead with curiousity and an open mind.

Umbrellas and minds work better when they are open…