Internet, My Ticket to Self-Empowerment

Little did I know that the purchase of my first desktop PC (in the U.S.A.) and Prodigy Internet access in September 1999 were the ticket to that independence. I've almost abandoned my writing career that I started in Indonesia, when some fellow writers at several online writing communities inspired me to seek deeper inside. In an instance, I knew that I could rebound to my old writing self in a new land, the land that has just accepted my husband and I to stay in March 1999. From that moment on, I've been writing for various national, local, online and offline publications unstoppably. Lesson one.

But wait, that's more. My online lifestyle took me to learn how to do Web marketing effectively as well. To this very day, I have recruited more than 20,000 members for various online communities, including Suite 101, using simple and low-cost "primitive" methods. This gives me the first glimpse of financial independence I badly needed and proves that the high-tech world and the not-so-high can go hand-in-hand. Lesson two.

During the marketing effort journey, I've become acquainted with many young and new writers and recruiters, as well as some senior ones, whom later introduced me to other surprising and empowering ventures. The support I received from my online mentors keeps me abreast in my search for online independence, which is truly my true empowerment. Their unique and genuine perspectives sharpen my skills and broaden my vistas.

Through their eyes and the window of the Web, I realized that there are so many things to learn, so many possibilities to bump into and so many opportunities to grab. Not to mention the sincere friendship established. Lesson three.

In the midst of nowhere and frustration in starting over in a new land, I won a bounty grand prize from Suite 101 for referring a member who registered to apply as Contributing Editor. This is the probably the ultimate element of surprise of an online life that was so surprisingly unexpected. Lesson four.

After two years of my being actively online, things have changed considerably. "Dot-com meltdown" almost melted my optimism and eagerness. But not for long. If we pay close attention to the surviving e-companies, we'll notice the different approaches they have been taking. They're more conservative in spending and more down-to-earth in their brand images. Above all, they all have superior irreplaceable products or services to offer and they know

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