The easiest way to end up with the wrong car is to be sure you don’t plan for the right car.
Walking into a dealership without a plan is nothing compared to walking into a room full of singles without a plan. Sure, you can narrow down the selection by looks but beyond that, you are probably a pretty easy target for getting stuck with a lemon – they will see you coming.
To find the car of your dreams, you must first identify what that looks like: 45 miles to the gallon, all terrain capability, satellite radio…what can’t you live without?
Here’s the thing – when I ask someone to describe their “dream car,” very rarely are they at a loss for words or vague about what they are looking for. But when I ask what they want in a relationship, I can almost guess what is going to come out of their mouth, “Good sense of humor, great personality, nice looking, smart and kind.” Well that sure narrows it down! “Engine, transmission, brakes and 4 wheels.”
Sometimes it is actually easier to make a list of what you DON’T want than what you DO want. But, it’s a step in the right direction. I bet if you look back on past relationships or even dating examples, you can come up with a few things that you don’t want on your wish list. Write ‘em down. Paste it to your rearview mirror. Thumb tack that list to your forehead if necessary so you don’t forget. “Oh yea! I said I didn’t want another car that had 157,000 miles on it. So why am I considering this one again?”
Do your homework. Be smart. Be prepared. And…be specific.
If you have a top ten “wish list” for your dream car options, how does that compare to your top 10 wish list for your relationship options?
Thoughts?
Mama j
[Guest blogger Lisa Jander runs a website and has a book called DatersED focussed on educating teens on protecting themselves while out in the dating world]
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