15 December 2006
	ENTREPRENEUR How to pull a woman By Larry Claasen

Do girls find you "sweet" but not dating material? Are you stuck in the "friend zone"? Date doctor Ramon Thomas is in the business of helping single men find Miss Right. For R500 a week, Thomas provides two hours of consulting along with unlimited e-mail and phone support, advising men on how to meet women and keep them interested. Thomas, who has a background in Internet security, started his business two years ago after going through a bout of misfortune in the love stakes. Tired of struggling, Thomas researched the seduction community - pick-up artists made famous by Neil Strauss in his best-selling book, The Game. As the term suggests, the men specialise in picking up women and passing on handy hints to other men. Impressed by the transformation in his life, Thomas decided to go from being student to teacher. He is completing his own book, which will be the basis of dating workshops he plans to introduce in April next year. He insists his goal is not to turn men into Casanovas but to build their confidence. Thomas teaches his clients to speak openly to women. Though demand for his services is growing, he is able to attend to only a handful of clients as he works on a one-to-one basis. He expects to boost his clientele when he starts the workshops, which can host up to 50 men.