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After being out of the dating scene for several years, I recently started going on first dates again and wow, things have changed. I'm looking for practical first date tips that actually work in today's world.

Some things I've learned: keeping first dates relatively short (coffee or drinks rather than dinner), having a few conversation topics prepared but also being ready to go with the flow, and not putting too much pressure on any single date.

What are your best first date tips? I'm especially interested in advice about dating etiquette these days - who pays, how to end a date gracefully if it's not going well, that kind of thing.

For first date tips, I always recommend keeping it relatively short and low-pressure. Coffee or drinks rather than dinner, so you have a natural ending point if there's no connection. This takes the pressure off both people and makes it easier to relax and be yourself.

Also, have a few conversation topics prepared, but be ready to go with the flow. Ask open-ended questions that invite stories rather than yes/no answers. And remember that the goal is to get to know each other, not to impress or perform. These first date tips can help make dating enjoyable rather than stressful.

My best first date tips include being present and attentive. Put your phone away, make eye contact, and really listen to what your date is saying. So many people are distracted or thinking about what they're going to say next rather than actually listening.

Also, be yourself rather than trying to be who you think your date wants you to be. Authenticity is attractive, and it's better to find out early if you're not compatible rather than pretending to be someone you're not. These first date tips might seem obvious, but they make a huge difference.

For dating etiquette, I think the most important thing is clear communication. If you're not interested in a second date, it's kinder to be honest (but gentle) rather than ghosting. Something like I enjoyed meeting you but didn't feel a romantic connection" is much better than disappearing.

Regarding who pays, I think the person who asked for the date should offer to pay, but it's nice to offer to split. These days, many people prefer to split the bill on first dates anyway. The key is to discuss it gracefully rather than making assumptions.

One of my first date tips is to focus on having fun and getting to know someone rather than evaluating them as a potential partner. When you're constantly assessing compatibility, it creates pressure and prevents you from being present.

Also, pay attention to how you feel during the date, not just how you think about the person afterward. Do you feel comfortable? Are you able to be yourself? Do you enjoy their company? These feelings often tell you more than any checklist of qualities.

For ending a date gracefully if it's not going well, I think it's okay to be honest but polite. You can say something like I should probably get going soon" or "I have an early morning tomorrow." Most people will take the hint.

If you want to be more direct, you can say "I don't think we're a match, but I wish you the best." The important thing is to be kind and respectful, even if you're not interested. Good dating etiquette includes treating people with dignity, even when rejecting them.

My first date tips include paying attention to communication patterns. Does your date listen as much as they talk? Do they ask you questions about yourself? Are they able to have a back-and-forth conversation?

Also, notice how they talk about other people in their life - their friends, family, exes. This can tell you a lot about their character and how they treat people. These observations are more valuable than any specific conversation topics or dating etiquette rules.

I’m trying to decide if we should invest in a new CRM system or just build on our current spreadsheet setup. The main thing holding me back is figuring out if the time we’d save on manual entry and follow-ups would actually justify the subscription cost and training time.

We tried this last year and did a rough calc. a couple hours a week saved on follow ups once people got used to it, but the subscription cost plus training didnt land as fast as we hoped.

We mapped out one month of tasks and time tracked for data entry; in practice the spreadsheet kept winning for smaller deals and quick updates, while the new system only helped when things got tangled.

I pulled the trigger on a rollout and it felt like we spent more time configuring than saving, and the team drifted back to email.

Is the real bottleneck the process or the tool, though?

There were some small wins like fewer duplicates and better reminders, but adoption was patchy and you could see the friction whenever the dashboards changed.

If we did a tiny pilot with a CRM and watched hours saved against cost for a month, we might get a rough read, but I’d go in with low expectations.

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