My one year anniversary of entrepreneurship is rapidly approaching in a matter of weeks. It was with great trepidation and fear of the unknown that I began my online venture.

I became a telecommuter from my home office as of 1987 but my position was one of an offsite employee. For 13 years, I could count on a comfortable weekly paycheck and as much job security as one could have in this age of "downsizing". My comfort zone fit like a glove as I am someone who cringes at the thought of change.

Alas, as they say, 'All good things must come to an end'. New management appeared on the corporate scene and unemployment soon loomed on the horizon, The notion of securing a "real: job (a 9-5 position working outside the home) was never a consideration. Once you have become a telecommuter, it's highly unlikely that you ever "go back" to the rat race.

My job search began in earnest. I frantically searched for a replacement at-home career. Site after site promised , "We'll get you a $40,000 a year job. No experience necessary!" soon led me to realize the only ones getting rich were those making the false promises. Why would I submit any fee to find a job, I asked myself. If an employer is "legit" there should never be a fee involved to land a job. I learned that many others desperate to work at home like myself were being caught in scams. "There must be a site that offers WAH jobs with no money required", I thought. So... If I couldn't find one, I'd start one! I would create a website where visitors could go and find links to telecommuting and home-based business opportunities with no strings attached. In conjunction with the site, I would publish a daily newsletter featuring work-at-home job listings, business articles and tips and more.

I sat down and mapped out my goals for the coming year:

1) A venture that would allow me to continue being home with my 4 kids and to be a "hands-on" mom. The flexibility to work my schedule around theirs.

2) As with any new business, I knew I would be working for no income at the start. After 6 months, I was hoping to be at the point where my newsletter would support itself in terms of paid advertisers, albeit how small the revenue.

3) My targeted newsletter subscriber base would reach 1,000 by year's end.

4) Very little capital, if any, was to be allocated for start-up expenses.

5) If I wasn't still enthused and in the honeymoon phase after a year, I would reconsider my business.

As I approach my year's end, I feel that I have reached, and at times, surpassed my original goals set:

I am able to work around my family's schedule. Rising at 4:00 a.m. allows me time before they are on the move to answer email or research content for the day's newsletter. I take a morning break to get them off to school, work 4-5 additional hours until the bus deposits them at home. IF time permits after dinner, I'll check my email but sincerely try not to cut into our family time. My office door is shut and my work day is over.

By six months, I was able to accept paid advertising. My rates were extremely low but my newsletter was self supporting! The income was enough to cover my ISP, web host and other business expenses.

One year later my subscriber base consists of 2,700 daily readers - 2 1/2 times my targeted number!

My start-up costs have been virtually nil. As a former consignment shop owner, I thrive on thriftiness (all right- I'm downright cheap my friends tell me). My website was created at no cost in exchange for ads in my newsletter. There are an abundance of free sites on the Internet where I continually promote my site and newsletter. Ad swaps are popular and a super avenue for spreading the word about your business or product. I am proof that you don't need to spend huge amounts of money to start with.

To date, I still love what I'm doing. I have acquired many faithful readers, some of whom have turned into friends. My Internet colleagues have been super supportive and have been so instrumental in my online growth. How many of the working population can make the claim that they love going to work each day. It makes it even better that my "commute" to work is a 10 foot walk to my home office.

Have I succeeded? Without a doubt! My salary currently is 1/2 of my former job but.. I'm doing what I have a passion for and most importantly, I am able to be here with, and for, my family. Now that's success!