Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A 67-year-old entrepreneur in Colombia has found an intriguing way to make money from something that many people enjoy discussing for free – gossip.
Miryam has built a reputation in her neighbourhood as a professional chismosa, a Spanish term for a woman who gossips.
In an interview shared by content creator Lady Daniella, and reported by Gulf Today, Miryam explained how she turned her knack for collecting local secrets into a source of income that she claims helped her buy two houses.
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Miryam said she positions herself outside her home, where she can observe and listen to conversations taking place around the neighbourhood. She keeps a notebook with her to record details she hears, saying the practice helps her remember information and maintain what she considers proof for the stories she shares.
“I can be here talking with you, but my little ears are well positioned to listen to what people are saying,” she explained.
Her rates depend on the nature of the information. She charges between 5,000 and 10,000 Colombian pesos for less sensational pieces of gossip, while more sensitive secrets can fetch considerably more, Gulf Today reports.
Miryam recalled one particularly valuable piece of information involving a man whom she claimed was unfaithful to his wife whenever she travelled. She claimed she was paid 700,000 Colombian pesos to remain silent about it.
In fact, Miryam also claimed that some people pay her to keep their secrets from their partners and families.
During the interview, Miryam gave Lady Daniella a look inside her home and showed her a board covered with photographs and other material. She claimed these items backed up some of the information she had collected, including alleged evidence of extramarital relationships.
Miryam said she takes pride in ensuring that her claims are supported by evidence. She also demonstrated how carefully she listens to conversations around her, saying that even while speaking to someone directly, she remains alert to what others nearby are saying.
Her reputation has earned her the nickname “Queen of Gossip,” although she said other neighbours have tried to replicate her unusual business model.
The entrepreneur also showed off a large piggy bank containing coins and notes, claiming that it represented the money she typically earns from selling gossip in a week.
Gossip is not limited to the streets around her home. Miryam said she also meets friends at her second house to play Parcheesi and other board games, using the gatherings as another opportunity to exchange the latest neighbourhood information.
She believes her unconventional profession has become more than just a personal source of income and can also create opportunities for others in her community.
“Gossip is my life; it runs through my blood,” she said.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
