"What kind of desperate person do you think I am?!?" she snapped.

She apologized, but explained that she felt “weird” about online dating. This perked my curiosity, so later I asked some of my other clients if they ever tried it. Some only confessed after their faces turned three shades of crimson. Since I am a strong proponent of online dating, I dispel any stigma or embarrassment when I recommend it to my clients. This is what I tell them:

For many singles, life moves like Richard Petty around Talladega Speedway. We change jobs every few years. We relocate more frequently. We cannot remember last time we answered a phone with a cord. Even if time is not issue, some single people cannot shake feeling that everyone else is happy while they are always alone. We may look at online dating as an act of desperation, because “normal people don’t need something like that.”

The simple fact is that you are not weird if you use an online dating service. We only feel weird when we think we are doing something outside norm. Consider this: over 40 million people in US access online dating websites every month. It is fastest growing sector of online content. There is no reason to feel embarrassed, because if you date online you are actually part of a huge group.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to find someone special, or at very least make some new friends, so why not use every resource available to you? You do not get extra points for meeting someone in a bar or while waiting for dry socks at Laundromat. Does it matter to you how you met important people already in your life? You probably barely even think about it.

Myth: A Professional Tax Preparer knows all there is to know about taxes so you don't have to know anything them.

Truth: Tax Preparer's/CPA's/Accountants are not uniformly informed about ALL tax laws. Most are able to file a personal income tax and know all laws and how to apply them to personal income tax.

There are thousands of excellent, hard-working accountants doing a great job. And if you use a tax professional, maybe they have done everything possible to reduce your taxes. But many professional tax preparers are just tax preparers.

They may know how to prepare a tax return in their sleep. They know what numbers go on which form. But that's about all they know.

A good tax preparer is not trained in tax reduction strategies.

The only way you are assured to get tax deductions you are entitled to, as a Home-Based Business Owner, is to become informed yourself.

Myth: You must "itemize" in order to take Home-Based Business expenses.

Truth: Many people misunderstand terminology here.

When you "itemize" your income tax you file Form A&B and take such things as medical, home mortgage interest etc. You will only "itemize" if total of Form A is over standard deduction (for 2003 taxes…$4,700 single, $9,500 married)

Some people call this filing "long form."

All taxpayers have opportunity to itemize if it is to their advantage.

Whether you "itemize" or not has NO bearing on your Business.

Myth: You're not making a profit so there is no advantage to filing business income taxes.

Truth: This is so not true! There's many tax advantages to filing a Home-Business tax return and especially so if you are not making a profit. If you also work a job, be it part-time or full time, in addition to your Home-Based business it is especially beneficial to you to file a business tax return.

Expenses incurred in your business can be taken against your job income thus reducing your taxable dollar, which decreases your tax liability.

Myth: Because you work a full-time job your Internet Marketing Business is just a hobby.

Truth: Only another Internet Marketer can truly understand hours and money spent on what someone else would call a "hobby"!

The rules clearly state you have a business if you meet 8 rules. Four of most important rules to meet are: