by Mike Armstrong

Created on: March 12, 2009

I think that these days it is difficult to be a man. The past few decades have seen the erosion of many of our male stereotypes and women's expectations of us has changed markedly. No longer are we the provider, the protector and the leader; now we have to be sensitive, emotional and able to cry when the X factor is on!

Seriously, finding the balance of what a woman wants in her modern man can be tricky; the only good advice I can give is to be careful. You see we don't have any of the role models that our fathers and grandfathers had; they were preceded by tough men and that is what women expected of a man in those days. The only role models we have to go on are those from films and television and they, gentlemen, are make-believe.

In general, retain the manly traits of masculinity, emotional strength and courage, but don't be afraid to shed the odd tear when the moment is right. With valentines day in mind, here are some basic tips on dating:

1. Always look your best. Don't be tempted to turn up in casual attire (unless you have planned a date walking in the hills). Put in some effort; wear proper' shoes (my ex-wife was the one who took me shopping for new shoes to help my dating exploits she was right too), a smart shirt and trousers; women really appreciate it if you make the effort here.

2. Get your hygiene and styling sorted out. The comb-over is definitely out, as is any other method of denying your challenging lack of hair. The good news is that a lot of women like a clean-shaved head or extremely short hair and it cab make you look years younger! Sort yourself out with some quality deodorant, cologne, and/or aftershave but don't go overboard! Take a trick from the ladies; spray your best aftershave into the air in front of you and then walk into it it gives the right balance. If you don't know what smells the ladies like, get yourself down to your local department store and ask the advice of one of the experts behind the counter.

3. Sort out your job. Women are rarely attracted to hippies, beach bums or drop-outs. They may even fall for your laid-back charms initially but they will always be checking whether or not you have the ability to be a provider, even if they don't need one.

4. Get your knowledge levels up. Keep up to date with current affairs by reading a newspaper and watching the news. Not only will you appear more intelligent, it will give you some subject matter to talk about! Women do not appreciate stupidity or laziness. Current affairs are

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