HOW TO BE A MATCHMAKER

Tips from a pro -- How to fix up your relatives and friends.
Elsa Malinsky, founder of Meaningful Matches, www.meaningfulmatches.com gives her advice to singles.
Tips for the amateur matchmaker


Relatives and friends have good intentions but often have no idea how hard
it really is to match their single friends or relatives. They think that if
there are two unmarried people of the opposite sex and close in age - they
could be a couple. The reality is that true matchmaking is an art and a
very intuitive process. However, you can improve your matchmaking skills if
you follow theses tips:



1. Ask questions. Don't assume that you already know everything. You'll
be surprised what you may discover by asking questions. After asking the
questions, do what professional matchmakers do and write down what the
person is looking for such as age range, hobbies, if they want children,
religion, education level, etc.



2. Requirements are important. Remember, you are not finding a match for
yourself. If a tall woman wants a taller man, respect her wishes.



3. Water seeks its own level - match people whose appearance,
education, lifestyle, income, values, and level of professional
accomplishments are similar. If your male friend wants to meet a woman who
looks like Angelina Jolie, he better look as good as Brad Pitt.



4. Those who play together, stay together. Make sure that two people
have something in common such as a hobby, interest, profession, etc.



5. Ask for feedback. After the date, ask how it went. If you want to
try fixing that same person up again, it may help you figure out a better
match.



6. Men are from Mars . Men are more visual and will not be interested
in getting to know a woman better if he is not physically attracted to
er -- no matter how nice or smart she is. Women tend to overlook
appearance if men have a good sense of humor, personality, intelligence,
etc.



7. Ready for relationship? The timing has to be right for both
partners. Don't force it if timing isn't right.



8. Rough patch - Try not to match people going through personal
hardships such as a death of a loved one, unemployment or illness. They
need time to heal, recuperate or resolve their problems.



9. Doom and gloom. Stay away from matching people who are constantly
negative, unhappy or depressed. They will find it hard to build a good
relationship. Healthy relationships typically only exist among people who
are psychologically healthy and have a strong self-esteem.



10. Smokers be aware! The majority of singles - men and women -- don't want
to date smokers. It's not good for dating and for their health and it's not
very attractive. As one writer said "Kissing a smoker is like kissing an
ashtray." Tell your friends to quit smoking first.



11. Suggest an expert. Match making isn't for everybody. People hire a
personal trainer or a computer consultant when needed - so let your single
friends know that turning to a matchmaker is ok. A professional matchmaker
can guide individuals through the challenging world of dating to help find
the most important person in their life - their soul mate.



Still want to give matchmaking a try? Go for it. Happy Matching!



Elsa Malinsky

Meaningful Matches
847-256-7800