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Unique Consultant

While looking for a freelance writer for a small gig I am helping out with, ran into this interesting ad on Craigslist - Online Dating Profile Consultant whose services were advertised thusly:

Finding the best words to make sure you’re “right swiped” by your perfect match is no easy task. In the (vastly) growing world of Online Dating, it is absolutely imperative that you do find the best way to express that you’re just looking for someone fun who shares your love for dogs, Netflix, and Chipotle.
Much like the business world, online dating is staggeringly competitive. Your dating profile is essentially your resume. The only thing you have that sets you apart from the other 3.2 MILLION social networking singles is your word. Your first impression will be the one, the only, the 100% deciding factor in determining whether you will be “right swiped” or left. 


And they go on some more after that. All very fascinating stuff. The price point hits a sweet spot I think - not so low that it seems ridiculous and not so high that there is not much incentive to give it a shot. It makes you wonder about what's real and what's not in life. The idea that there is only one chance to make a first impression and for that to have life-changing consequences goes beyond dating or job-hunting. 

How about being coached for every business and personal meeting of consequence, having a consultant write your emails for you where it matters to strike the right tone. By the time StitchFix has determined our wardrobe for the week, Grammarly has corrected every kink in our writing, BlueApron has taken the thinking out of cooking, Spotify has figured out your ideal playlist the work for such unique consultants has shrunk a bit. At what point do we give up agency to gain an edge over the competition whatever that may be.

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