I met Punita in K-Mart, a super-market in Christchurch, a few years ago. After securing her commerce degree from a college in Chennai, Punita got married to a bank officer. The couple wanted to become prosperous. They decided, like any other Indian, to go abroad to earn in lakhs and migrated to New Zealand with colourful dreams.

“We came to New Zealand with Rs.3,00,000. We thought that money would help us maintain ourselves for 4 months and we could easily get a job before we run out of cash. We got jobs in the third month. I am working as a part-time sweeper in K-Mart. My husband is working as a janitor in a restaurant. I earn NZ$600 a month. We lead a life that is financially and socially more inferior than our life in Chennai,” Punita said.

“What are your plans for future?” I asked Punita. “We don’t have a future here. So there is nothing to plan for it,” Punita replied as matter of fact.

“Everyone has a future. Whether it will be prosperous or not depends entirely on one’s attitude and aspiration. I understand that you are in a deep financial trouble and your present qualifications appear to be inadequate for better jobs. But why do you allow others such as employers and recruiters decide your financial future? You can create your own future irrespective of whatever you are and wherever you are. Have you ever thought about self-employment and working for yourself?” I asked her.

“Oh, that is ridiculous. Without money and an organisation what can I possibly do and make money?” Punita asked me. “The Internet is the biggest organisation that man has ever developed under the Sun. With a minimum investment or in some cases without any investment, you can become a money spinner through the Internet. Millions of people from different countries are doing it right now. You too can do it,” I told Punita.

“Neither my husband nor I have any special computer skills. We are just average users. I am not sure whether Internet income opportunities exist for people like me,” Punita was doubtful. Before I could reply, her mobile phone sang a beautiful ring tone. Her husband was on the line. As soon as she finished chatting with her husband I told her, “The Internet is a new world and has the potential to expand infinitely. It offers tens of thousands of income opportunities for us. No matter what your qualification is, you can find at least a dozen profitable online projects. Just now I heard a beautiful ring tone from your mobile phone. It is an income opportunity.”

Punita looked at me with her confused eyes and asked, “It is a song from a Tamil movie Minnale. How will this song Vassegara generate income for me?”

“You liked the song and so downloaded the ring tone into your mobile phone for a small fee. There are tens of millions of mobile phone users that don’t like the standard ring tones and download hot new ring tones everyday. They don’t mind paying a few cents or dollars for downloading the ring tones. You can build a website that gives information on latest ring tones. People will love your website,” I explained the concept briefly to her.

“How will I make money? You have not answered that question,” Punita complained. “The easiest way to get started is to visit the websites on mobile phones and ring tones, collect as much information as possible, organise the content in a unique way and promote your website. On your web pages you can display ads and generate revenue. You can do this type of project and start making some money in less than a month. Over time when your website attracts big traffic you will make a lot of money. Another way – it is a bit difficult to do but not impossible – is to create your own ring tones and sell them through your website,” I said to Punita.

Punita replied, “I will try the first method.” I took leave of her after a few minutes of animated discussion on the topic.

After a few months, during winter, I went to K-Mart to purchase new winter clothes. I was a bit disappointed to see Punita there. Before I could raise any questions Punita smiled and said, “I missed your card. So I could not contact you. I am earning NZ$5,000 a month from my ring tone websites. I am not a sweeper in K-Mart anymore. I have come here to buy a new stereo system. I am a customer like you.”