So, you have finally exchanged numbers with that hottie at the coffee shop, after working up the nerve of course. Now, you have another dragon to slay – the awkward first phone conversation. Your nerves are rattled, so what are you to do?

Your etiquette on the telephone is an important part of the impression you give a potential date. A completely disastrous phone conversation can be avoided if you just take a few moments to get your thoughts together before you dial their number.
The telephone game has changed considerably in recent years. Therefore, it is important to hone your skills. Here are some tips to help you make an awesome first impression:

1. Do Not Be Longwinded
If you do not give the person on the other end adequate time to join in the conversation, you may experience an awkward silence once you do stop talking. No matter if you own your own business, are a busy executive or you are unemployed, you want the person you are calling to be under the impression that your life is full of activity. When you keep phone conversations long, the person on the other end will understand you to be in demand. In addition, being the first to end the conversation will always leave them wanting more.

2. End It On A High Note
One way to break an awkward silence is to end the call. The last thing you say will always be remembered the best. So, before you bring the conversation to a close, consider telling a joke or funny store to keep emotions spirited. Even if the rest of the conversation was a disaster, if you leave them smiling you are more likely to get another chance.

3. Have Purpose
If you have a purpose for making the call, you at least have an opening to break the silence. Avoid calling just to “say hi”. Instead, prepare for the conversation by having a purpose for making the call, for example to make dinner plans. This will make you seem assertive and thoughtful. This also works well in case you get voice mail.

4. Stay Positive
People do not always know how to respond to someone on the telephone that is negative and gloomy, resulting in awkward silence. No matter what kind of day you had with a disrespectful boss or an intrusive coworker, keep the complaints to yourself. You do not want to seem needy with a ton of emotional luggage. At least for the first conversation, keep things positive and light.

5. Timing Is Everything
Calling at the wrong time may lead to ignored comments or angered silence. To ensure the conversation is welcome and remains positive, you want to call at an appropriate time. Never call your potential date during regular working hours. In addition, you should not call on Friday or Saturday nights so as not to seem too desperate and inactive in life.

6. If You Get Voice Mail
Nothing is worse than an empty voice mail message, so say something. It is doubtful that anyone will be waiting by the phone for your first call, so you can expect to get voice mail from time to time. Make sure the message that you leave is brief and coherent. Simple leave your name, number and reason for calling, for example drinks after work on Friday.
Not using the proper etiquette for phone conversation, even if you are calling someone you met on the best dating site, will lead to unanswered calls and a loss of dignity.

Dena White is an experienced blogger on the topic of the best internet dating sites.

From an early age, Matt Dalio has walked a path in life that is a little different from the average person. While most teenagers are obsessed with videogames, cars, social media, or parties, Matt spent most of his time trying to help orphans on the other side of the world. It started when he was a young boy and he spent a year living abroad in China. He attended school there with the local children and was the only non-Chinese born student in the school. At first he was an outcast but the children soon befriended him and they all became friends. From this experience, he would grow up and never forget the compassion that his schoolmates showed him when he was the outsider.

Years later, while Matt Dalio was thinking of things he could do for his Eagle Scout project, he began to research how he could help Chinese children. He soon found out about the large number of orphans there. Because of the one child limit imposed on all Chinese families by the government,  if a child is born with an abnormality or birth defect, it is common for the parents to simply abandon the child. Although many of these birth defects could be solved with a simple outpatient surgery. So many orphans in China have cases of a cleft lip, or clubbed foot.

Matt Dalio realized that if he was able to raise money, he could possibly afford to pay for some of these surgeries for these children, which in turn would give them a better chance at being adopted and having a better life. This is exactly what he did.  Within 4 years his initial project raised over $1 million, and grew to a multi-purpose organization and provided everything from pediatric surgeries to financial aid for adopting families.

The China Care Foundation is now over a decade old and has raised millions of dollars helping hundreds of children. Matt Dalio’s initial vision became a reality and in the process, has changed the lives of many children and families around the world.