Pessimists, realists, and naysayers: that about covers the gamut of those who think you're wasting your time online, right? And it's not as if you don't have to face your own doubts every day. So, how can you cope with all of this unwanted advice?

Let's define our terms. Pessimists are those who, no matter what, always put the worst possible interpretation on circumstances. You say something good about it, and they invariably will say, "yes, but."

Realists are proud of themselves for not wearing rose-colored glasses. In their view, they see things as they are: no better, and no worse.

Naysayers can be either, or both. But one thing you can be sure of; neither they, nor their ugly sisters believe that anything good will come of your attempts to start an online business.

All three groups will offer "helpful" suggestions. Here are three.

1. "Why don't you get a real job?"

By that they mean that you get someone to hire you for 40 hours per week. They pay you biweekly or monthly, and give you a couple of weeks off each year.

When you hear that, then think to yourself, "A real job means that I'm just-over-broke, working below my capability, making money for someone else, of which I get to keep a small percentage. And I could lose that j-o-b anytime because of the whims of my boss."

2. "You can't be serious. No one makes money online."

Lee McIntyre, a multi-millionaire, once said that when he applied to become a member of a networking organization, he was turned down because the board didn't think that he had a serious business. He recalls thinking to himself that his income exceeded the sum of those who didn't think much of his business.

In many respects an online business is quite different from one that is offline. Depending on the person, I'll ask if he or she would like to know more about how it works. Hardly anyone does. An online business isn't a "real" job; it's much better than that.

3. "It'll never work."

Funny how those who most commonly make this statement have never had a business of their own. That means they really have no idea what is required, what you need to think about, or what decisions you have to make.

When you hear that, just remind yourself that they have as much to offer as an empty oil drum.

Dude, You’re Getting a Telescope!

You might remember the Dell computer commercials in which a youth reports this exciting news to his friends that they are about to get their new computer by telling them, “Dude, you’re getting a Dell!” It was a cute series but it reflects the excitement young people get about anything new, particularly if it’s a new machine.

So when its time to finally get your children that very first telescope, you want to make sure it’s just the right thing. There are a number of reasons you should put some serious thought into just what this beginner telescope should look like. Perhaps this will be your children’s first experience with a real telescope. They may have a healthy and thriving love of astronomy from your family trips to the country to watch a meteor shower or just to gaze at the stars. And you may have piqued their interest showing them how to enhance the experience with binoculars or even letting them play with your telescope.

But this is a big moment. You want them to “bond” with this first telescope the way you did and catch the excitement of using the power of a telescope to do things with their love of astronomy that they could never do before. The reasons for taking care with your choice are many including…

* A telescope is a big step into the lifelong hobby of astronomy. If they get the wrong thing, frustration could make them lose interest both in the machine and in the field of study.

* Kids have a short attention span. You want this beginner telescope to take them from where they are to the next level while giving them those gratifying moments discovering new things in the stars every time they use it.

* It has to be a hardy piece of equipment. Kids don’t always know how to treat delicate equipment. So the starter telescope should have some good “training wheels” on it.

* It has to be their teacher even when they don’t know they are in school. A good beginner telescope, accompanied by some stimulating documentation that is written just for kids will stimulate their excitement and use it to teach them to work hard to reach new heights in their quest for knowledge about the stars.

A lot about how you go about getting this first telescope will depend on your own expertise in astronomy. If it is your passion and you have developed a pretty sophisticated knowledge about telescopes over the years, you not only are well equipped to make this choice but you will be there to guide them as they begin to use it.

But if you are just encouraging them in a wonderful hobby that you yourself have not been involved with in depth, first of all, congratulations. You are giving them a wonderful gift of not only knowledge but the love of astronomy and the natural wonder of nature. But you also need some help. So here are some quick guidelines.

* Find the astronomy geeks. They are easy to find in hobby shops, astronomy clubs and societies at the local college. They will help you enthusiastically.

* Look at the telescope you are considering through their eyes. It should not be too complex. Don’t get something that will intimidate them.

* Don’t buy a toy. Your kids will know the difference.

* Make sure it can grow and be expanded as their knowledge expands.

If you put some wise consideration into just the right starter telescope, your kids will be as excited they have ever been for a gift. Don’t be surprised if you hear one of them squeal, “Dude, you got a telescope!”