The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule and the law of the vital few) states that in many things, 80% of the consequences come from 20% of the causes. 20% and 80% are intended as rough estimates since actual proportions are rarely exactly 20% and 80%. The Pareto principle is great to increase focus. Don't try to do more. Just do more of the right things.
In the past 2 1/2 months, the number of ladies I am regularly corresponding with has increased to an unreasonable 20 or so. It takes a lot of time to write and reply to all of them, and I will obviously not be able to meet all of them before they get sick of me. I am considering to apply the Pareto principle to this problem. Very cynically indeed, I could identify the 4 - 6 ladies I am most interested in (and seem to be most interested in me), and simply drop the others. I have difficulties figuring softer forms of this procedure, suggestions are appreciated.
How about 1.5 - See the 4-6 girls but only drop off the tail end of your group, let say 5-7 because after you meet the 4-6, you made be down to 1-2 maybes. Hard to restart a correspondence again.
King,
From my experience, you are not going to get anywhere until you commit to just ONE, and then go and meet her. If it doesn't work out, then you start the process over. If the girl is sincere, she will want to meet you sooner then later. I do not see the need for lengthy correspondence. The point made here in the past is that you need to travel to "their" world. You need to experience part of the Ukrainian / Russian culture to be able to relate to your future FSU wife.
I have went through the above process 3 times and I believe I finally have met the right one. After 3 trips to Eastern Europe and Ukraine, I belive I "see the big picture" better then when I started this venture 2 years ago. All the time and money invested on the 3 other girls /trips were great and I have no regrets. As for now, I am waiting for her approval to start the Fiancee Visa process.
Scott
Scott,
I completely agree with you. In fact, I have no intention to commit to just one. My trouble is that they are 20, and it's too many for me to manage. Several do want to meet me soon, and I am having a hard time figuring how and when I will actually be able to travel and meet all of them. I already travelled several times to FSU, though only once to the purpose of meeting girls I was writing to. It was to St. Peters. I had 2 girls in my agenda, ended up with meeting just one. I liked her and we had a good time. It seemed to me we were perfectly compatible. She didn't want to go any further, though. As far as I understand, she was still too much emotionally involved in her past relationship, wasn't really ready to start a new one. Anyway I was, and still am, a little sad about that, because I think we were a match.
My congratulations for your success. It really sounds encouraging for me too!