The other night I had dinner with my husband and two of his single male friends (Ben and Jack) who launched into a tirade about dating today. These good-looking, 40 something, self-employed bachelors are frustrated with trying to find a decent woman. I couldn't believe it. Ben and Jack think women today act desperate. Of course I asked for specifics – what does desperate look like? How can this be in an age of equality between the sexes? Initially, let men set the pace. That's it.

It's really very simple – dating harkens back to ancient mating rituals that have not gone away, nor been modified as much as women would hope. Dating Guidelines from the "Fellas" According to Ben, Jack and others, here are some guidelines that women might try following if they want to be perceived as "quality prospects" during your initial encounters with men: 1) With online dating, don't initiate a flood of emails. Frequent contact can cause him to feel crowded.

Don't Call to Say Hi, Check in, or Discover Why He hasn't Called. This is seen as pushy and desperate. If you don't like the slow pace, perhaps the guy isn't the right one for you. If you feel compelled to call when you haven't heard from him, don't make more than one light-hearted and friendly call. Either he'll pick up the ball or not, but leave that ball in his court. While all men don't feel this way, it's pretty hard to know who does and who doesn't before it's too late.

Demonstrate your delightful character by being fun to be with and looking your best. Flirt with him, flatter and praise him (but keep it genuine please), and show appreciation by thanking him. And, let him lead the way for at least the first 4-8 dates. It may be “old school” but there’s no arguing with what has worked well for eons and still works today. Try following this plan and discover how well it can work for you too. Chances are, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.