I'm a firm believer that people tell you exactly who they are, but it's your job to listen. If you ignore deal-breakers, you're assigning yourself a longer sentence than necessary with someone who wasn't worth your time to begin with. When you spot a red flag, instead of ignoring it, celebrate the fact that you found out early and then get out as quickly as possible.
Patti has a great tip for listening to those red flags. "Listen to what he or she is saying," Patti explains. "You're on a date, you're sipping Champagne. Ask him where he sees himself in five years. The answer will tell you so much about him. If he doesn't know or he thinks everything will be the same, he's probably not ambitious enough for you. If he talks only about work and doesn't mention family, he may not want kids. Listen for the signs early on."