Not discussing reasonableness, only usefulness—this is the blind date perspective, also known as the adult perspective.

You either talk about love, or you talk about matchmaking—don't mix them together, because the result is a mess. Why do so many people today feel that dating and marriage are so difficult? Because they conflate the two.

If you're doing matchmaking, let the matchmaker be the decider—if she thinks you're compatible, then you're compatible. If there's no romance, fine. Figuring out how to live well without romance is your problem to solve, not the matchmaker's. Her job is already done.

If you can't accept that, then go chase romance and put practical conditions in second place. Don't say you have no feelings once the conditions align, and then complain about their lack of status once feelings develop.

If you can't prioritize and make trade-offs, don't get married—because you're pursuing an extremely low-probability event. Conditions match AND there's love? That happens maybe once or twice in ten thousand couples. Why should it be you? Besides, most people really want to marry up—and have the other person fall in love with them too. For that, you're better off reading power fantasies; those stories have everything.

Whether someone can be an excellent employee depends on their individual talent and ability. But whether they can be a general manager depends on their background. If your background is rough-and-ready—if you can crack open new markets and smooth over difficult clients—then you become that general manager so the rest of us have work and a meal. The sole reason they promote you to the board is that behind you stands a certain interest group.

At any time, a rational person always knows what their primary goal is.

If you pursue appreciation, you'll discover you've lost a great deal. If you pursue preservation, you'll likewise discover you've lost a great deal. And just as if you pursue the happiness of living in your own home, you will similarly find that you have lost much.

To give is to receive: unless you're willing to lose a great deal, in the end you'll gain nothing at all.