Is it possible to have guy friends

Those are the conversations that can establish a business relationship, but also potentially lead to friendships with other guys. But you can also look at sites like Eventbrite. The truth is, most of the people attending are there to meet other people—or at least not afraid of making new connections.

Hell no. You may not make ANY close friends. But, again, much like in dating, simply getting out there helps increase your chances of making an acquaintance that may eventually turn into a true friendship. A cafe, your regular bus or train route, a bar you frequent, even your gym? The key is simply to make the initial connection, without trying to force a friendship at first. Often, breaking the ice once can lay the groundwork for a real relationship to develop over time.

But what if…[suspenseful music]… gasp …you decided to actually meet up with some of these guys in person? Face to face. It may not always be possible for connections that live on the other side of the country or world , but there may be opportunities to meet up with contacts that live within a reasonable distance. When writer Bob Gordon was looking to reinvigorate his social life and meet guy friends, he started going to Reddit Meetups.

He had an interest in raw denim, and ended up finding a meetup that he drove to, where he met a bunch of new, like-minded guys. Not all of them became lasting friends, but having the in-person interaction definitely helped create a new bond with some of his connections.

Even though the idea of getting set up may seem awkward, it can often take the pressure off meeting new people. To start with, you have a common interest talk about from the get-go: your mutual friend.

So starting a conversation is fairly easy. His goal was more specific than just meeting new friends; he wanted to surround himself with rich and influential people he was familiar with that adage that you are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most.

I want my booze now! He would repeat that trick each time he grabbed a drink. And that simple exchange would often turn into multiple connections throughout the night. If you have 12, friends on Facebook but no one to give you a hug when your girlfriend dumps you, then you need to reevaluate your social life. Record labels have the same challenge. Meanwhile, they expect to lose money on the other artists on their roster. We have to get be comfortable simply making initial connections—acquaintances—which may or may not develop into friendships down the line.

Can we predict how often those acquaintances will turn into friendships? Much of the anxiety that men feel around trying to pursue male friendships seems rooted in the notion that the stakes are higher than they actually are. That by simply having a conversation, they are making themselves vulnerable and opening themselves up to be judged.

I know how to comport myself with women because I practiced hard in high school and in college. Will he accept me or not? Because that is the potential runway to friendship. One of the best ways to make personal connections is through the guise of networking. And this is far easier—and less awkward—now that our understanding of networks is changing.

With employees staying at jobs for shorter periods and as technology has enabled more mobility and competition in the workforce, the importance of having a professional network is even clearer. Can I buy you some coffee sometime? You might feel uneasy asking to connect without having a specific plan.

But usually the best thing to do is just focus on helping the other person somehow. And often this means simply introducing to someone else you know who might be useful to them. As Adam Grant shows us in Give and Take , this kind of selflessness can actually drive our success in big ways. So your girlfriend likes to hang out with you, and she likes to hang out with them. Odds are, you guys would probably get along. Especially if you guys get a secret handshake.

Basically, it all depends on trust. Honesty is always the best policy. Unless you stalked her on Facebook for seven months before you asked her out. That you should probably keep that to yourself.

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Your Name. Kyleigh Hoye. Image via Giphy. Edited by Kayla Caldwell. That fear is so real. If two people that are friends decide to date and it doesn't work out, it always makes things weird. And, of course, there's always the chance that he digs you as a friend and nothing more. There's nothing wrong with that—especially since you might actually feel the same way. But if you're feeling it with a friend, it's worth thinking about making a move.

The foundation for a relationship has already begun building itself. Rewards Free Stuff Promos. You are most definitely sending mixed signals.