We talk about women’s dating challenges. But we ignore men’s.

Most people recognize how challenging the dating landscape can be for women. What we rarely acknowledge is that it can also be incredibly tough for men.

In the newly released book "Notes on Being a Man", Scott Galloway, an NYU professor and cohost of the Pivot podcast, outlines what he believes are the three core virtues women look for most in a potential match:

1. Kindness
The capacity to treat strangers well and to think about others, even those you may never encounter again. It is one of the clearest indicators of how someone will show up in a relationship.

2. Intellect
Not academic intellect, but the ability to make smart and fast decisions. Galloway highlights humor as one of the quickest and most reliable signals of this type of intelligence.

3. The Capacity to Signal Resources
This does not mean having a Ferrari or a high-earning job. It is the ability to demonstrate stability, reliability, and the potential to build a life. Emotional resources often matter just as much as financial ones.

These are the qualities I see echoed every day in my work. Beneath the noise of modern dating, men and women are ultimately searching for the same thing: someone grounded, emotionally steady, self-aware, and capable of partnership.

The pressures of today’s dating world are real for both sides, but when we focus on what actually matters, genuine connection becomes far more attainable.