Summary
Highlights
Dr. Orion Teraban addresses the common complaint from women about men putting in the 'bare minimum' during courtship. He argues that men doing the bare minimum are actually doing it right, and he will present three reasons to support this claim.
Men cannot move backward with women; initial effort sets the standard for future expectations. Starting with high effort creates an unsustainable logistical challenge and leads to women becoming acclimated to a certain level of treatment, making it harder to impress them later. A smart man gives his relationship 'runway' to grow.
Starting with the bare minimum establishes a healthy reinforcement protocol where better treatment is a consequence of good behavior. Men who immediately offer 'princess treatment' without any reciprocal effort are responsible for fostering entitlement in women. Relationships should be like jobs, where consistent good performance leads to rewards, not upfront payment.
Doing the bare minimum helps men identify women who are genuinely attracted to them as individuals, rather than to what they can provide. A woman highly attracted to a man will find value in simply being with him, regardless of elaborate gestures. This approach filters out women who are not truly interested and helps men find partners for long-term relationships.
Men should give women every reason not to date them. Any woman scared off by a man doing the bare minimum for a stranger is either 'psychotic or not living in the 21st century'. This approach, though potentially complained about by women, is presented as the right way for men to date in today's world.