The Number and the Expiration Date
July 15, 2007 
7 Comments
Recently I was asked this question from a woman reader:
“I’ve been flirting with this one guy on match.com (7 Day Free Trial) and another guy on Yahoo! Personals. We’ve had some fun email exchanges. One of the men said ‘This is fun, call me sometime. I’d love to hear your voice.’ Then he gave me his number. What’s the proper etiquette?”
So here is the proper etiquette. Forget about what your mother said that you’re not a lady if you call first. Things are different now.
My favorite email that I told a woman client of mine to send to a man after he gave her his number is this:
“Sure. I’ll give you a call. I like having all the power. 
Actually, I was kind of tired of having men call me first, ’cause then you just have to wait. Now it’s more fun…I can make you wait
Talk to you real soon.”
This email will make a guy think…and laugh. He’ll also realize that giving up all that power and waiting for that phone call is really not a lot of fun.
Not only that, but the next time he gets a phone number from a woman and considers making her wait three or four days for him to call, he’ll remember what it’s like sitting by the phone and waiting for that first phone call.
My rule for this is that if you’re a woman and you give your number to a man, put an expiration date on it like a carton of milk. If you give your number to a man on a Friday, put an expiration date on it of Sunday night. Making someone wait for that first phone call is a momentum killer!
Plus, what really does happen to the milk at midnight on the date it expires? How do they know it’s no longer going to taste good at one minute after midnight? Should you drink the entire carton at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday night, or if you drink the carton after midnight are you going to get sick? Don’t take your chances with this. Make sure and call someone well before the expiration date.
David, this is funny and genius=an exceptional natural capacity of intellect!! Put an expiration date on the number! Damn your good;) This is probably the most useful tool a woman could utilize out there in the dating pool. I don’t get out there much myself, but I think this is toooo good of advice here to be just read and forgotten. Utilize to maximize, whats the big prize; get the calls from the guys! (sorry, i think I need to go back to bed:) I love the analogy between the expired milk and the expiration date on a phone number! I know everbody at one time has taken a sip of outdated milk. It was nasty tasting and you spewed it out more than likely, then threw the contents and the carton out. If a guy hasn’t made contact with you within that expiration date, that should leave a proverbial bad sense of taste on his part for not calling. Spew the dis-appointment and rotten thoughts and feelings out and go get a new carton of milk! Be sure you don’t forget the expiration date;)
Good advice! I am getting ready to dive back into that “dating pool,” as Joan put it. I will definitely not dismiss this piece of advice David. This is a great idea. That gives enough time for him to call, and if you don’t get the call within that time…oh well. Time to move on to that “new carton of milk.” lol Joan I read your stuff and I sometimes envy the creative and humorous mind you obviously have. Love it! David, keep these great blogs coming. I would never in a million years thought to do something so simple yet effective as this. Thank you for caring about we womens success in our social lives in conjunction with the men.
Break time! How much can a person study before the brain shuts down. Had to search for this blog David. Thought you took Sunday off or something. Ha ha Well guys..if any show up here..better watch for that expiration date or chance of a date will go “sour.” Ha Joan your rubbing off on me:) If you are going back to bed I will come tell you a bedtime story and tuckyou in;) Well, going to grab a bite and hit the books. Everybody cross your fingers for me that I pass this exam tomorrow. It is a biggy. I’m out:)
Persia, you are sweet. You have a creative mind as well. I think everybody has the capacity to be be anything they want to be. Embrace who you are without envy of anyone, because you are a unique individual. There is one of you! Make the most of YOU because you are worth it:) Jacob you are going to excel above and beyond on that exam! You have the brains and have put the study time in needed to pass—now you have to believe it and you will do excellent! I missed my bedtime story and had to tuck myself in:(
I did get a little more shut eye. Much needed!
Persia it is the simple things in life that work. So many people are afraid to be themselves in the dating world and they give their power away.
dating is all about momentum and having fun.
Its late here and i have a cute black lab waiting for me in bed…so you thought i was going to divulge some private infomation:)
LOLI was skimming through here and saw the last comment. David, this is where the prase, “LuckyDog” just seems so appropriate! You know me. I say it like I sees it andI had to say it;) lol
I’d thought I’d come up with a great response to every scenario, but this response to women who receive men’s phone numbers is the best advice I’ve heard yet. Kudos to you, David…