Spend a few days online and you'd think that the Internet is a community of multi-millionaires.

Everyone seems to be making $10,000 each and every month using a simple, guaranteed system that requires virtually no work on your part ... and they're all kind enough to want to share it with you.

Forget it. If they were actually making that kind of money, why would they have to resort to spam and hype? Let's examine some of the myths of doing business online ...

Myth #1: The Internet is a great money-making opportunity for everyone. Anyone can succeed!

Reality: If that were true, we'd all be rich. The Internet is a goldmine of opportunity, no doubt about that ... but it requires the same traits you'd need to build a successful offline business: a willingness to learn, motivation, hard work, determination, and all that other good stuff.

Myth #2: Once you have a website, you can just sit back and watch your bank account grow.

Reality: There is no such thing as easy money. You're going to have to work hard and do plenty of learning. Toss a site onto the web, sit back, and do nothing and you'll reap exactly that: nothing.

Myth #3: Yeah, but some opportunities can make you rich really fast! Some guy emailed me and said he made $2000 on his first day.

Reality: Maybe he did and maybe he didn't. Most people involved in these so-called "opportunities" are merely hoping to make that kind of money. They usually reap some benefit from signing up others (ie. you) ... Remember the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is ..."

Myth #4: All I have to do is build my downline and I can live off their sales ... I won't have to do anything!

Reality: Never rely on your downline for your income. The reality is that people join opportunities quickly - and just as quickly, they drop out. Most people never make a single dime. You should be able to make a living from the opportunity all on your own, without having to recruit anyone.

Myth #4: You have to be an HTML expert in order to create a website.

Reality: HTML is simple to learn, and there are many excellent books and tutorials on the subject. There's also website software called WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get"); even beginners can create websites without knowing a single line of HTML.

Myth #5: You have to learn to do everything yourself.

Reality: It's good to know something about everything when you're running a small home business. But if there's something you cannot do, try hiring a freelancer for professional, affordable help.

Myth #6: The more money-making opportunities you join, the more money you'll make.

Reality: It's best to concentrate on just a few select opportunities; otherwise you end up spreading yourself too thin. Start with one opportunity and work with it until you're satisfied with your progress; then gradually add a second. Multiple streams of income is a great advantage of doing business on the Internet, so long as you do it right.

Myth #7: You can make money without spending any.

Reality: Hmm ... this one is actually true, so technically it doesn't quality as a myth. :-) It is possible to make money without spending any - but chances are it'll cost you a great deal of time and frustration - if you last that long!

I've often heard that statistic that 95% to 99% of all Internet businesses fail. It used to shock me ... until I saw all those dreaded "404 not found" messages in place of websites that had gone out of business!

Why not learn from other people's mistakes and experiences? The fact of the matter is, a few wise investments can shave months off your learning time and help you become profitable much more quickly.