Everyone Deserves a Second Chance to Make a First Impression

Sometimes an initial encounter doesn’t go well. Another opportunity to get acquainted might lead to an amazing outcome.

Karl Wiegers

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A photo of a young woman frowning and showing two thumbs down.
Image by benzoix on Freepik

I learned a powerful life lesson from a date that did not go well. The poor date was entirely my fault; I make no excuses. I was not in a good state of mind, distracted by thoughts of another woman who had just broken up with me. I wasn’t focused on Chris during our date, even though she was much more my type.

I’d known Chris for several years; we worked at the same company. We had joked around and even flirted a bit. I thought she was cute and funny so I asked her out. But I wasn’t good company that night. We watched a boring movie, and neither of us had much fun. I felt bad afterward because I hadn’t responded properly to her cheerful and friendly behavior.

Two months later I was in a much better mood. One Friday afternoon I stopped by Chris’s office and excitedly told her about my new car. I inquired what she was doing that evening. “Oh, just the usual,” she replied, meaning “Nothing at all.”

On the spur of the moment, I invited Chris to go to a movie with me that night in my new car. Before she could connect brain to mouth, she said yes. Later, though, she told me…

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Karl Wiegers

Author of 14 books, mostly on software. PhD in organic chemistry. Guitars, wine, and military history fill the voids. karlwiegers.com and processimpact.com