[X&Y] What Does "High Maintenance" Actually Mean, Anyway?
Published: Fri, 12/16/11
X & Y COMMUNICATIONS NEWSLETTER FOR MEN
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WHAT'S INSIDE: When someone is described as "high maintenance",
what image enters your mind? That's a good question, huh?
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THE FIRST SIX YEARS
Six years ago this week the first X & Y Communications newsletter
ever went out to 14 people, all of whom were personal friends...even
including some women I had dated.
Today, this particular e-mail message is being sent to almost
exactly 50,000 readers, which is overwhelming to think about.
But the truth is that the ONLY reason why Emily and I are doing
what we do nowadays is because of YOU, and we still wake up every
morning excited about having the chance to help make a difference
any way we can.
Guys all over the world have responded powerfully to the down-to-
earth message that real, "normal" guys can achieve breakthrough
success--all by simply reclaiming the "big four" traits that high
quality women crave.
Speaking of the "big four", The Master Plan represents the absolute
top-shelf toolkit for becoming that kind of authentic yet evolved
man.
And I can't think of any better way to celebrate the sixth
anniversary of X & Y Communications than by making my flagship
program more accessible to you than ever before.
Simply use the coupon code "6year50" when ordering and I'll give
you The Master Plan for a full 50% OFF:
http://www.deservewhatyouwant.com/masterplan/subscribers
I'll make sure this coupon code is valid through the weekend...but it
WILL expire Sunday night right after the Ravens/Chargers game.
Just enter "6year50" in the "Coupon Code" field on the order page,
hit "Recalculate", and enjoy all the benefits that come from
reclaiming your birthright as the kind of man high quality women
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And now, just for "old time's sake" check this out this "classic".
It's one of the VERY first newsletters I ever wrote back in January
of '06...back before I'd met Emily and when I was still writing to
both men AND women at the same time (which can be tricky stuff)...
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WHAT DOES "HIGH MAINTENANCE" MEAN?
Everyone is familiar with the term "high maintenance". And it
appears to carry a connotation that most of us do not want to be
associated with personally.
But have you ever noticed how difficult it is to be on the same
wavelength as someone else when discussing it?
Here's what I mean.
Girl calls Boy (for the sixteenth time this morning) and opens
with, "Um...I was wondering...what should I have for a mid-morning
snack? Have you eaten anything this morning?"
Boy responds with, "Wow, girlie. You are high maintenance."
Girl responds with, "Me? High maintenance? I am not!"
Boy naturally comes back with, "Hahaha. YES you ARE. And I've
really got to get back to work now, okay?"
They hang up, and Girl wonders how she can possibly be anything
close to "high maintenance". After all, she hasn't had a pedicure
in weeks.
So what happened here? Why the disconnect? The answer is
disarmingly simple.
"High maintenance" is far from a generic term that is easily
defined. Having thought about it, I'm convinced people are likely
to differ with regard to their mental picture of what it looks
like.
The good news, however, is I believe that the term is not entirely
nebulous, but rather one with multiple-definitions. Each one is
clear when considered separately. Here we go:
1) Material High Maintenance
This is the woman (or man?) who is flat-out expensive. She has the
Tiffany catalog open on the Web while watching the Home Shopping
Network.
She really likes that little Mercedes convertible that just came
out...or was it the BMW? Whatever it is, white with tan interior
works. Doggie purses. 200 pairs of shoes. You get the picture.
This is not necessarily gender-specific, but the female stereotype
seems to be a much clearer one.
2) Physical High Maintenance
This person spends a lot of time on physical health, appearance,
etc. If a woman, she always has a manicure and a pedicure. She
also has a tanning salon membership. If a guy, call the dude
"metrosexual".
Whatever the gender, we are talking about lots of time in the gym.
You can also bet this person is going to take longer than you will
to get ready in the morning...maybe A LOT longer.
3) Emotional High Maintenance
This is a person who needs a large amount of "connection". A phone
call every ten minutes might be in order here just to let you know
s/he was "thinking about you". This person wants lots of
reassurance that you still love him/her. Such a person might very
well come off as needy or clingy.
4) Operational High Maintenance
Do you know someone who always needs help with something? If this
person is involved with something, chances are someone else is
also. It could be anything.
This particular example can present itself in the workplace as
easily as in personal relationships. This stuff isn't necessarily
meant to be manipulative; we're just talking about someone who
tends to depend on others for help/input an awful lot.
5) Sexual High Maintenance
When the other partner just can't possibly keep up, someone who has
an unusually high, virtually insatiable sex drive can be viewed as
"high maintenance". This also applies to wanting constant
affection, backrubs, etc.
OK, if you have ever met any of the above, give me a virtual thumbs
up.
From now on, when this topic comes up you should be able to frame
it appropriately and get the point across.
By the way, while reading the examples, did you figure out that
"high maintenance" is not necessarily a bad thing? Relationships
work for different reasons, of course, and if both partners are in
sync about "maintenance levels" then there isn't a problem.
For example, a woman may be high maintenance materially. If her
man has the financial means and loves to lavish his woman with
expensive stuff (and this can be justified in his mind a number of
ways) then there is no issue.
This will be especially true if the woman is genuinely appreciative
and doesn't develop an "entitlement mentality" (future newsletter
there).
I can also assure you that lots of people appreciate someone who is
'high maintenance' physically. The important thing here is to
realize the time and expense that must be invested to pull that
off. There's a balance.
Further, some couples equally enjoy affirming each other in the
emotional sense. If that's what they like, and neither is annoyed
by the amount of time required, it works.
The operational type won't be obnoxious if s/he is the type who
typically (always?) reciprocates by being generous with time and
efforts to others.
And if you ever find yourself in a relationship with the sexually
high maintenance person, that may be a prime illustration of the
concept "be careful what you wish for, because it just might
happen".
Be Good,
Scot McKay
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