GeekMBA360

"How did you guys meet?" — this is one of the most commonly asked questions we ask couples who are in love.

Over the years, I have heard many answers.

• "We were high school sweethearts. We have known each other since we were thirteen years old."
• "We were in the same English class during our freshman year in college."
• "We had a common friend who set us up".
• "He was my TA in college."
• "We met at work".
• "eHarmony.com"
• "We were part of the same bible study group."
• "I was traveling in Argentina, and fell in love with this guy I met in a Cafe."
• "We both were part of a weekly hiking group."
• "We were partners in a Salsa dance class."
• "I was the sales rep. He was my customer. We ended up getting married."
• "We met at the Kaplan GMAT class."
• "We were both on the same coed softball team."
• "We were both studying in the quite room in the public library."
• "We were both volunteers at Habitat for Humanity."
• "We were both interns at Microsoft."
• "We met at the post office. I was short of $10 dollars. He came to the rescue."
• …

There are many ways for people to meet and fall in love. But, I know very few couples who met in bars or other type of "meat markets".

The most common theme is that people meet via shared activities — school, volunteer work, sports, dancing, work, etc.

In fact, there is a body of academic work on building personal and professional networks via shared activities.

But, I keep hearing complaints from single guys and gals about how hard it is for them to find dates. They go to bars, clubs and other "meat markets". I keep telling them that they’re going to the wrong place!

Finding a suitable significant another is one of the most important decisions in your life. Your life quality, career satisfaction, and financial security will have a lot to do with your choice of spouse. You’ll be much better off by finding someone via shared activities. Instead of going to bars and clubs, take a class you have a genuine interest in. Volunteer for a cause you care about. Join a sports league. Sign up for a dance class.

Do things with others, expand your horizon according to your interests, and you’ll meet a lot of truly interesting people.

Related posts:

• Who was the bartender I met at Montana?
• How my friend got a high-power finance job by walking his dog
• What’s the most effective way to network?

Excellent resources:

• Mars and Venus on a Date: A Guide for Navigating the 5 Stages of Dating to Create a Loving and Lasting Relationship
• Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections
• Your Next Move: The Leader’s Guide to Successfully Navigating Major Career Transitions