The Magnetic Power of Loving Your Life

By Amy Andersen, Founder and CEO of Linx Dating

In the world of modern dating, it’s easy to get caught up in strategy—what to say, when to text, how to present your best self. But if there’s one truth I’ve seen time and again in my years as a matchmaker, it’s this: the most attractive people are the ones who are genuinely excited about their lives.

Do something that sets your soul on fire.

This isn’t just feel-good advice—it’s a dating strategy in disguise. When you’re deeply engaged in a passion, whether it's launching a startup, training for a marathon, painting, cooking, or volunteering—something that makes you feel alive—you become magnetic. Your energy shifts. People feel it. They’re drawn to your vitality, your authenticity, your spark.

Too often, we treat dating as a separate sphere from the rest of life, like a side hustle we're supposed to "optimize." But your love life isn't a separate project. It grows from the same soil as everything else in your world. If you’re depleted, bored, or chasing someone else’s version of success, your relationships will reflect that. If you’re lit up, energized, and chasing your dreams? That radiance attracts people who want to join you for the ride.

This is why I always tell clients: focus on being deeply in love with your own life. When you’re firing on all cylinders, doing work that matters to you and surrounding yourself with people and environments that feed your spirit, your dating life doesn’t feel like a chore. You stop “performing” and start connecting. And that’s where the real magic happens.

The right relationship is not something to hunt down in desperation. It’s something you attract when you're truly living in alignment with your purpose.

So take the class. Start the business. Book the trip. Say yes to the dream that scares and excites you.

Because your future partner? They’re not looking for someone who’s perfect. They’re looking for someone who’s real. Someone who lights up the room—not by trying too hard, but by being fully, unapologetically alive.

Let the love you seek begin with the life you build.

Be the Bodyguard: A Simple Rule for Every Man on a Date

By Amy Andersen, Founder and CEO of Linx Dating

Let’s keep this simple: no matter how your date goes—great, awkward, unforgettable, or a complete mess—you walk her to her ride.

That means:

• Walk her to her car.

• Wait with her until the ride share shows up.

• Escort her to a cab or a train station if that’s how she’s getting home.

• Don’t just offer—do it.

This isn’t about trying to score points.
It’s not about romance.
It’s about being a man with presence, with standards, with respect.

Why It Matters

In a world where people are more distracted and disconnected than ever, small gestures stand out.
Escorting a woman to her ride says:

• I care about your safety.

• I don’t vanish the second the check is paid.

• I respect you, no matter how I feel about the date.

Even if there’s no second date in the cards, you leave her with the impression that you’re thoughtful, grounded, and aware of the world around you. And trust this—women remember that.

If the Date Went Well? Even Better.

If you actually liked her, that walk to the car or the wait on the sidewalk? That’s where the vibe either fizzles… or builds.
It’s quiet. It’s unforced. It’s real.

Those final moments can be the most telling. Not just for her—but for you too.

And once she’s safely on her way, send a short text:

“Had a great time—text me when you get home safe.”

It costs you nothing. But it speaks volumes.

To the men: Are you doing this? Because you should be.
To the women: Does this register with you?

The Spark That Started It All: How Linx Dating Was Born

It all began in the early 2000s, when I was working a day job in private wealth management in San Francisco.  Every day, I interacted with brilliant, accomplished professionals, many of whom were single and candid about their frustrations with the dating scene.

During an earlier stint living in Silicon Valley, I had been surrounded by brainiac, overachieving men—innovators, engineers, and leaders in tech. Meanwhile, up in San Francisco, I was meeting equally impressive professional women—dynamic, successful, and full of heart. And yet, despite how much each of these groups had to offer, both consistently lamented how difficult it was to meet truly compatible people.

That was my “aha!” moment.

There was a clear imbalance, and I saw the opportunity. What if I created a space where these exceptional individuals could connect with intention and ease?  Supply could meet demand, and suddenly, a market inefficiency could become relationship opportunities.  An idea had sprung.

From day one, my mission has been to be a strong "signal" amidst the "noise" of modern dating — cutting through the chaos to make meeting “the one” less onerous, and actually… fun.

So in 2003, I left finance and launched Linx Dating.  It started simply: coffee shop meetings, listening closely, and matchmaking by hand. But it grew quickly. Word spread, the network expanded and the network effect compounded, and soon Linx became a trusted, discreet service built on intuition, integrity, and real human connection.

Twenty-five years later, that initial spark has blossomed into something extraordinary—a thriving network of ambitious minds and open hearts.

If you’re curious to learn more or are ready to find your match, visit our website linxdating.com.

The Spark That Algorithms Can’t Predict

Even the brightest minds in AI still need help finding love.

On April 23, Linx Dating had the pleasure of co-hosting an unforgettable evening—AI Luxury, a gathering that brought together brilliant minds, investors, engineers, and creatives to explore the future of artificial intelligence and connection.

As I welcomed guests with a toast, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fascinating tension—and synergy—between the human and the artificial. It’s a topic that lives at the heart of my work every day.

While Linx Dating might seem like an outlier in a world dominated by deep tech and data science, I’m consistently struck by how much overlap there really is. Many of my clients are AI founders and investors—visionaries who are reshaping how we live and work. They can optimize complex systems, model human behavior, and predict patterns with incredible accuracy.

And yet, when it comes to matters of the heart…

That’s often where they pause.

That’s where I come in.

The very people pushing the boundaries of what machines can do still turn to a human matchmaker when seeking something as seemingly elusive as love.

Why? Because despite the power of data, there’s still no algorithm for chemistry. No line of code that captures a shared glance across the room. No machine learning model that senses the quiet compatibility of two souls.

At Linx, I’m exploring how AI can be a tool—a way to refine the matchmaking process, surface deeper insights, and help me do what I do even better. It’s exciting. And it’s real.

But I also believe in what can’t be automated:

The intuition, the emotional nuance, the “magnetic spark” that only humans can truly feel.

Maybe that’s the inner Jane Austen in me. Or maybe it’s the seasoned realist who’s seen that, time and again, what matters most is not just compatibility on paper—but energy, timing, and courage.

So what happens when we bring these worlds together?

We get a future that honors both data and desire. One where AI enhances—but doesn’t replace—the magic of human connection.

To everyone who joined us at AI Luxury: thank you. Your presence, your ideas, and your openness made the evening so much more than a networking event. You reminded me that this is only the beginning.

And to those reading:

Here’s to more innovation, more heart, and more belief in the unpredictable beauty of what it means to be human.

Putting Self-Care into Practice: A Personalized Guide

By Amy Andersen, Founder and CEO of Linx Dating

Understanding self-care as a personal curriculum is one thing. Living it is another. Here are concrete steps to help you identify, refine, and implement the care practices that are most effective for you.

1. Start with a Self-Audit

Take 15–30 minutes to reflect on the following:

When do I feel most like myself?
What consistently drains me?
What reliably restores me?
When do I feel calm, clear, or at ease?
What do I need more of—and what do I need less of?

Write down your answers. Patterns will emerge. They are clues.

2. Track the “Noise”

For one week, note moments when you feel agitated, foggy, overstimulated, or withdrawn. Then ask:

What preceded this feeling?
Was I hungry, overcommitted, overstimulated, or isolated?
Did I bypass a need (rest, food, quiet, connection)?

This process helps you understand your signals and what causes them.

3. Design Your Self-Care Menu

Using your insights, create a personalized self-care menu with three categories:

Daily Needs
Examples: 8 hours of sleep, 10 minutes of sunlight, a short walk, uninterrupted time alone.

Weekly Needs
Examples: creative time, therapy, dinner with a friend, decluttering a space.

Emergency Tools
Examples: “I’m overwhelmed” list—meditation, nap, journaling, canceling a non-essential plan, a phone call to someone grounding.

Keep your list visible—on your phone, your mirror, your calendar.

4. Honor the Quiet Needs

Self-care isn’t always glamorous. It’s often boring, repetitive, and deeply effective.

Schedule it like a meeting.
Build it into your routines.
Resist the urge to wait until you’re “burnt out enough” to deserve it.

5. Communicate Your Needs

Let close friends, partners, or co-workers know what’s essential for your well-being. For example:

I need quiet time after work to decompress.
If I seem off, it’s usually because I haven’t eaten or slept well.
Nature resets me. I’ll be taking a solo hike this weekend.

This builds relational support for your self-care instead of trying to do it in isolation.

6. Revisit and Revise

Your needs change. Your life changes. Once a season (every 3 months), ask:

What’s working?
What’s missing?
What can I let go of?
What do I need to recommit to?

Self-care evolves—your plan should too.

Final Note

You don’t need to earn your well-being. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to justify care. You are allowed to feel good without a crisis. Start by giving yourself permission. The rest will follow.