Master Matchmakers Sound Off About Dating

You might have seen them on VH1's Tough Love. You may have even picked up their book Crash Course in Love. However you've made Steve and Joann Ward's acquaintance (even if it's just now), you'll learn they're no strangers to mincing words. This mother-son matchmaking duo offers Oprah.com their top five tidbits for creating successful relationships.

Why does "tough love" work?

• Sometimes people close to you will only tell you what you want to hear
• An outsider can be brutally honest about what you're doing wrong and help you focus on areas to better your relationships.

Are there any "good" men and women left out there?

• Yes, they're everywhere!
• You need to have the skill set to recognize them.
• You must be able to focus on the positive!

What is the difference between visualizing your most compatible match and being too picky?

• Focusing too much on physical criteria can blind you from finding the right person.
• If your emphasis on physical or material criteria is too heavy, it's likely you're too picky!
• Relationships are about communication, respect and trust - those should be on your list.

What are the cardinal rules of dating?

• Be positive! No one likes a downer.
• Make the other person a priority.
• Don't discuss things like politics, money or religion right away.
• Joann's views say don't discuss sex on the first date while Steve says it might come up and that the right time to talk about it is before you have sex.

What can couples do to keep the love alive once they've found it?

• Keep things fun, entertaining and interesting.
• Love what you do and this means the effort your put into your relationship.
• You have to be willing to keep working at it!

Read the complete article here.