Hot-Take Dating On Prospect First Meeting

"Introducing “hot-take dating”, the most efficient way to find love today".

So stated someone choosing to use said method on a new date of her own. In the hope of getting if nothing else, then at least a decent article out of it.

I know what you're thinking. If you maybe more 'mature', those comedy movie montages spring to mind where a swift series of rapid fire disastrous first date encounters show the despair of a lead character. If you maybe somewhat 'fresher', then a mandatory pre-first date questionnaire flashes behind your eyes making you confront anything from slight icks to outright showstoppers upfront.

I did also shriek at their how-to guide. Featuring among others;

How to meet
THEN Online
NOW Asking someone out in the wild. Tell that hottie on the bus you like their energy and see where the conversation leads

Everything comes 'round again if you wait long enough, hey. Anyhoo ...

PUAs look away now. Minds are already set. So best to find those boundaries and respect where we lay outside them.

Purposely ask about all those potentially tricky issues early doors.

For a cat person and dog person shall never mix. And that's at the mild end.

Remember those topics you're meant to avoid in polite company? Bring 'em out. What's the point if the insurmountable arise?

Eye-rolls abound from those at either end of the scale. Dewy-eyed with disneyfied romanticism through to hardened cynic through shattered dreams.

This vibe majors on ID'ing those vital shared values. The single indicator underpinning successful relationships, apparently.

Yet we do this on every Sales first date. In our realm, aka First Call.

Take this, from psychologist Jo Hemmings;

"... many people have learnt the hard way that ignoring red flags early on can be costly".

There's a list we must populate to uncover what and - at least as importantly - how those whom we meet think before we are happy to qualify them as valid opportunity.

Why would we pursue a deal where the possible client insists they only ever buy X, if we're resolutely Y?

But it's not as simple as that! I hear you cry.

Exactly. Yunno, selling...

Still, I quite liked this hot-take frame though. Because I'm going to use it myself now.

A bit like that celeb-interviewing trick. Mid-chat things have gone slightly off-track, turn it back to a few specifics. Intro our 'hot-take'.

Trending corporate buzzword there?
Most recent new project green-lit?
Biggest current airtime issue?
Favourite customer?
This year's salesteam mantra?
Eye-catching new role created?
Exciting partnership announcement?

Granted, my samples above aren't quite 'is cheap wine worth it?', 'who did you vote for?', or even 'tell me about god'. But they are the types of query that reveal how close to our page this customer candidate writes on.

Bear in mind, these can be a two-way street. So our own takes on each are also essential to know how to share to adjudge kindred spirit likelihood.

And should you craft your own versions, your hot-take could well lead to consummation of a sales kind.