Raji gave me a piece of paper on which she had written: '5 AM-9 AM: Household work. 9.30 AM-1 PM: Household work. 1 PM-2 PM: TV. 2 PM-4 PM: Sleep 4 PM-8 PM: Household work. 8 PM-9 PM: TV. 9 PM - 9.30 PM: Argue with husband about money and other things. 9.30 PM Sleep with a heavy heart.'
"What a meaningless life!" Raji said. "You asked me to analyze my life for 24 hours and do a self-evaluation. I did it and I have come to the conclusion that I have nothing useful to do in my life other than being an honorary maid."
"If you look at the events as they are, life would appear to be meaningless. If you take some effort to observe and understand what is behind each event, you will become conscious of the meaning of your life. Every event comes to us to make us prosperous," I said. Raji smiled and said, "So, you know the meaning of my life though I don't know it."
"Yes, I do. Indian housewives are hard workers and well organized. They are self-giving to their families. If they extend these capacities to making money and stop wasting their energy, every family will become prosperous in a short time," I said to her and asked, "Your note tells me that you can spend 3 to 4 hours a day to make money working from home. Are you willing to take efforts to make money?"
"Well, I am ready to sacrifice my sleep and TV in order to make money," said Raji. "I am happy with your positive response. There are hundreds of real income opportunities that can be done without any investment. However, when you take the 'free' route, it takes time to see decent income," I told her. "My husband earns Rs.15,000 a month. I don't mind investing a few thousand rupees in my online business," said Raji.
"Reseller web hosting business will be a good project for you. Having a website is becoming a fashion. I know you are not an expert in web design and web hosting. But, in less than three days, you can acquire the required basic knowledge and start your own web hosting business. Technology has so advanced that even a dummy can run a sophisticated website," I told Raji.
"I see ads for web designing and hosting everywhere. Is there any sense in entering a highly competitive industry?" asked Raji. "Unless there is a huge demand in the market, why should there be huge competition? If there are many competitors, you can straight away start a business to make profit. The trick is in finding your niche and concentrating on what your competitors are not doing. I suggest that you buy reseller web hosting space for Rs.1,000 a month, subdivide the one account into many accounts, say 100, and resell each account with a template for Rs.100 a month. You will make a profit of Rs.9,000 a month. Once you get clients, the income becomes recurring and automatic. After the initial marketing effort, you have to do only the regular maintenance work. If you want you can expand the business to any level," I said.
"It's interesting. Tell me more," Raji requested me. "Learning how reseller web hosting works is easy. Identify your niche market and concentrate on people who don't need complicated websites. Instead of trying to sell to all types of customers, focus on service types that need just a simple brochure website such as architects, doctors or lawyers. On the Internet you can find web templates for all types of industries. As serious web developers don't offer websites with hosting and design for Rs.100 a month, professionals will not hesitate to accept your offer. Once you have a few clients, all others in your town will seek your services, so that they are not left behind. As you are looking for decent income with a minimum investment of money and time, you must concentrate on people who need simple and static websites that don't require frequent updating," I explained to her.
Raji met me after three months. "My father-in-law is a member in an association of astrologers that has 400 members. He sent my offer letter to all the members. In the first week, only 10 members signed up. As soon as they put up their websites, they printed their website addresses on their visiting cards and the letter heads. They feel good and believe that their status has gone one-step up. Many other members did not want to be left out. They felt their prestige was in danger. Within two months 80 members signed up. If all the members sign up, I will be making more than Rs.30,000 a month," Raji told me.
"I am happy to hear the great news," I said. "My husband and I have become good friends. Last night when I was creating a website account, he even made a cup of tea for me! We have been married for 14 years, and that's the first time he had done something for me," said Raji and blushed.