As always, I like to start with dictionary definitions and take it from there.

Webster's New World tells you that:

a SPONSOR is one who assumes a certain degree of responsibility for another in any of various ways.

a MENTOR is a wise, loyal advisor.

a COACH is an instructor or trainer as of athletes, actors, or singers.

All worthy definitions.

So often on Internet, ads attack us with exaggerations, misconceptions and outright lies. It doesn't take long to see through hype and know that person writing ad is not a sponsor, a mentor or a coach, but aims at filling his or her own pockets at your expense.

If you got on phone and talked to person, you'd probably find that they didn't even write ad themselves, but rather took their "sponsor's" ad and stuck it into an email and whipped it off to an ezine or safe list. C'mon, fess, up haven't you done this at beginning? (You don't have to 'fess up if you're still doing it. Just stop!)

How many sponsors have you known who "assume a certain degree of responsibility?"

If you have not yet found sponsor for you, then why not try to be sponsor that you would like your sponsor to be? Taking responsibility means, stop sending hypey ads. Take a really good look at business you've got and decide what you like about it and why it would be good for others. Write from your heart, not from your nervous system which may be worrying about paying bills.

You have to be very careful on Internet. There are many legitimate deals, but there are many unethical people also. Don't be misled by anything that guarantees riches for very little work. If you have a good product and market it well, you can make an excellent income and maybe even become wealthy.

When you first get interested in an opportunity however, before you go "gung-ho", step back a bit and take a hard look at it. There are danger signs that some have, and if you see them, it is possible you should simply walk on by.

Probably number one danger sign is promise of huge wealth in a short period of time with no effort on your part. Commonly called "illegal pyramids" or possibly a "ponzi", many are a money making system that create income from getting people involved in business, and not selling a real product or service. Or they may sell an inferior product at an inflated price with majority of purchase price being distributed as commissions. Like chain letters, they rely on a constant infusion of funds by new entrants to pay old. But, like musical chairs, when music stops, someone can't sit down.

Another serious danger sign is lack of contact information. If all you have is a form to fill out on a web site, and no contact methods, this should definitely be avoided. A legitimate company will give a physical address, a phone number, and have an email address you can write to.