The Backstory

At 28, Da'Quan had been single for five years. He was a high-achieving professional who couldn't seem to translate his career success into romantic success.

In Da'Quan's words, "I’m a workaholic and have prioritized my professional development over my relationship development. I'm undoubtedly skilled at many things, but building and maintaining romantic relationships is not one of them."

That internal clarity led Da'Quan to reach out to me for help.

The Love Blocks

Together we identified three core areas that were keeping Da’Quan single: he had low self-confidence, was emotionally guarded, and didn’t have enough time for himself, let alone enough time to nurture a relationship.

“I’ve battled with issues of self identity, rejection, and dating anxiety that sometimes make me lower my standards for the sake of not being lonely. My lack of social skills and cultural connectedness make dating difficult plus I struggle with small talk and the in-between dialogue. I am a great person at heart but I can never seem to convey that to potential partners.”

The Breakthrough

True confidence is always based on the evidence of your actions. It isn’t a state of mind so you can’t simply decide to be confident. To rebuild Da'Quan's self-confidence, we replaced fantasy expectations with the real dating skills that would generate proof he could trust, like how to authentically initiate connection without small talk. We also enhanced his emotional regulation skills so he only put his guard up when appropriate. Finally, we restructured his calendar so cultivating a relationship with both himself and a romantic partner fit into his life more easily.

“One of the big realizations I had was that I needed to get some things in place regarding scheduling. If I don't make time for myself, how can I expect my partner to make time for me? The whole experience helped me become more open to meeting people. Previously I would let opportunities pass me by. I learned how to put more efficient effort into getting and maintaining relationships.”

The Bond

Within a year of working together, Da’Quan started dating Benjamin in November 2024. Shortly after their first anniversary, Da’Quan reflected:

“To God be the glory for the great things He has done! Through every trial and triumph of 2025, love never left my side. I’m joyful, resilient, and hopeful.” 

Is Your Love Story Next?

If you’re ready to master your romantic magic, the next step is to schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with me.

During our session, we’ll assess your relationship goals, identify your dating strengths & skill gaps, and create a customized plan to develop your skills to lasting love levels within the next 3-12 months.

***

Amari Ice is a gay love coach, matchmaker, and master hypnotist who helps successful singles master their romantic magic by developing their dating skills and becoming their own matchmakers so that love becomes inevitable. Take the free Dating Skills Quiz to discover your dating skill level.