I've dated tech bros who treat dating like they're working on a startup. Once I found the right one, we applied this mindset to improve our relationship.

• Maggie Zheng works at a tech startup and has noticed patterns in the tech workers she's dated.
• Tech professionals often approach relationships like work projects, focusing on goals and optimization.
• She and her fiancé set goals they jokingly call OKRs and hold quarterly planning meetings as a couple.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maggie Zheng, a 26-year-old from Arizona who works for a tech startup. It's been edited for length and clarity.

There's a saying about dating that definitely applies to men in tech: 'The odds are good, but the goods are odd.'