Kyle MacDonald is a simple internet writer who lives in Canada. He allegedly "bought" him a house as a result of 14 trades which started from a red paperclip. How did he do that?
Mr Kyle was living with his roommate, Dom(also means house in Polish), who didn't have a healthy income who was living an ordinary life just like many. As he was experiencing some financial problems, he started to think about the idea to save himself from this situation, and he came up with a game "bigger and better". The rule of the game was pretty simple, start with a small trashy object of your choice, using your intelligence and luck each time to trade it for a bigger and more valuable object. So if you play it well, you can have something bigger and more expensive within just a few trades. Kyle has developed this idea and started to game with a red paperclip and after only 14 exchanges he bought himself a house!
BONUS:
A leader needs the guts to stand out and be ridiculed just like what Kyle did. Success needs an idea and brave leader to make it happen.
FUN FACT:
Here is a paperclip that cost $1,500(≅6000 PLN).
https://www.tiffany.com/accessories/desk/everyday-objects-18k-gold-paper-clip-bookmark-35917179/
QUESTIONS:
1- Do you have any "trade-up" success stories?
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Mr Kyle was living with his roommate, Dom(also means house in Polish), who didn't have a healthy income who was living an ordinary life just like many. As he was experiencing some financial problems, he started to think about the idea to save himself from this situation, and he came up with a game "bigger and better". The rule of the game was pretty simple, start with a small trashy object of your choice, using your intelligence and luck each time to trade it for a bigger and more valuable object. So if you play it well, you can have something bigger and more expensive within just a few trades. Kyle has developed this idea and started to game with a red paperclip and after only 14 exchanges he bought himself a house!
How did he do? Here are the trades he done it well:
1) He trades his red paperclip with a pen in the form of a fish on an advertisement site called Craigslist.
2) On the same day, he replaced the pen with a handmade doorknob in Seattle.
3) He then goes to Massachusetts and trades the doorknob with a small portable stove.
4) He travels to California to replace the stove with a Honda brand generator.
5) In exchange for the generator, he bought a small "ready-made party" ticket. Inside this ticket was a beer barrel and an illuminated sign, in which you could fill any brand of beer you want.
6) He exchanged this ready-made party ticket with Michel Barette, a famous radio programmer, for a motorized sleigh.
7) Not even a week later, in February 2006, Yahk replaced the sleigh with a two-person holiday plan for British Columbia.
8) He gave his holiday plan for two and exchanged it for a small and a little old caravan.
9) Giving the caravan, he got an album contract at MetalWorks music studios.
10) Then gave a contract to an album, giving Jody Gnant a one-year lease in Phoenix.
11) For one year's rent, he accepted an afternoon with Alice Cooper, one of the legendary names of rock music.
12) He exchanged an afternoon with Alice Cooper for a motorized snow globe of the KISS group with Mark Herrmann, a photographer.
13) Giving the snow globe to a producer named Corbin Bernsen, he starred in Donna on Demand.
14) In return for this role right, in July 2006 Kipling bought a two-storey house in the Saskatchewan area. He lives there now.
But let's listen to the story one more time from him. I hope it will give you motivation :)
But let's listen to the story one more time from him. I hope it will give you motivation :)
BONUS:
A leader needs the guts to stand out and be ridiculed just like what Kyle did. Success needs an idea and brave leader to make it happen.
FUN FACT:
Here is a paperclip that cost $1,500(≅6000 PLN).
https://www.tiffany.com/accessories/desk/everyday-objects-18k-gold-paper-clip-bookmark-35917179/
QUESTIONS:
1- Do you have any "trade-up" success stories?
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Sources:
Comments
Just some small stuff that i had profit on it. It was figures of alien from "alien" movie. They guy who bought it was obsessed on it.
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
Probably my pc which is very good. I could try to trade it for something different that will give me more profit.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Stories of people that succeeded in life or changed they lives based on one event that happened in their lives.
Unfortunately, the only successful product exchanges are games in primary schools,
where I exchanged cards and rocks with other children,
which were needed to play the game.
Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success
point would you stopped at?
I would probably find a lot of things to play "Bigger, Better" game,
but I don't like this kind of game, so I don't know what point it would lead me to.
What kind of stories inspires you?
I don't like stories where the big part was played by luck.
The stories that motivate me are based on hard work and many sacrifices,
because I consider it the only solid and reliable way to success.
2. I think my idea for "Bigger, Better" game is to study and work. I can exchange knowledge and my time for money and interesting work.
3. I like stories about people who work out their way to success, I don't really like situations where luck gives you the reward. I believe that you need to work out everything on your own, not count on a stroke of luck.
When I was a child, in my primary school, me and my friends used to play in collecting stickers and beautiful, small cards. All of us trade and exchange our property for better goods. I wasn't really good in this. I always made bad decisions and wrong exchanges, which after all I regret.
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I would start my "Bigger, Better" game of hairband. I think in some situations, many people would give anything to have it. I would stop at the point when I would be hungry, and someone would want to exchange for food.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Not really, I feel more disbelief in such histories, because there are very rare and unlikely, maybe a little bit of admiration for resourcefulness and creativity. I feel also frustration, that some people need to work really hard for many years to get to the point where others can reach with a little bit of luck.
2. I think so. I have some classic football shirts, which are invaluable to football fans these days. I think I would find people who would consider exchanging. However, I don't plan on it because I'm a sentimental person.
3. For sure, story of Kyle MacDonald is interesting. Showing that with an idea and a bit of luck one can gain a lot. However, I definitely prefer stories based on work and sacrifices. Biographies of people such as Mariusz Pudzianowski, Adam Małysz and Jan Kulczyk. The stories of these people inspire me the most.
2. I don't really have any object like that for now. Unfortunately, I don't think I would trade it like that because I usually stash away my stuff.
3. Story presented by you was quite interesting but I prefer to watch a movie about this type of people and take my lessons from it. Books are really interesting too but not only about trades but how they accomplished their success.
I've only trade up my time like making skins for Minecraft for items in different game. only with friends. But that's still something.
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I may find some funny bottle opener. I would love to get a house but that doesn't sound realistic in our country. USA has much bigger population and celebrities.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Oh this redpaperclip story was really great to read it shows good in people.
2. I don't think I have this object. I'm not a businessman type and I don't know much about it.
3. I'm inspired by other stories. Not related to the topic of this article. I am interested in space discoveries, NASA activities and the development and future of our planet.
1. The only trade-up stories of mine that I could think of would be exchanging skins for weapons in couter-strike. I achieved more than I had, though not by a lot.
2. I currently dont't think I have it. I also don't think a lot about such things, but maybe in the future I could put some more effort into that.
3. I am kind of a person that is rather hard to inspire. It is not about kind of stories really. The story itself must be decent enough to inspire, the kind of it doesn't matter at all if story is simply bad.
2. I would have stopped when I realized that I had changed a pen in the form of a fish to a regular red paperclip.
3. Stories like this. Or a story from the movie "Shawshank Redemption".
I don’t have any "trade-up" success stories
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I’m more collector person I prefer to collect thinks than to trade them
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Short and with happy end…
2. I think maybe my gaming setup. It's worth some money and also I can trade some of the parts and find profit form it.
3. These ones which ends good? Hard to answer
I used to trade an items in online games. The concept is the same -- find a person that is either unaware of the true cost of the items in their possession or willing to trade with a bit of loss. Patience, and then profit. This made me several hundred dollars which is for a kid in one of the poorest regions of Ukraine was a ton of money.
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I guess I would stop each time I receive one of the things I need, from my "To get" list.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
The ones that provide clear strategies and elaborate on them.
2. It could be anything. I think with a cardboard pizza box I have some good chances.
3. It’s not easy to answer that question, it could be different kind of stories.
2.I think that I could try to replace my car, it has changed a lot by me and I think there would be a person with similar taste.
3.I am inspired by the stories of people who have achieved success working hard for it.
2. Personally, I have two collectible footballs. I think that I would certainly find a willing person for an exchange that could be very beneficial for me. Although I will not do it.
3. I am inspired by stories that are irrational. I mean, those that cause me surprise that it can be done like that.
Unfortunately no, but I have to admit that the whole idea of trading-up is fascinating. I don't know if I am persuasive enough to accomplish success in this subject, but I would be more than happy to try one day. Maybe at first among my family, but later I would propably go further with this and start trading with strangers.
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I think that my first object to start trading up would be something with a potential value, but with no purpose for me. For example I would start with my old smartphone. It is in a condition which makes it pretty much impossible to sell, but to trade it? It might work out! I think that the success point for me would be to end up with a car. Nothing fancy of course, but not a piece of garbage as well.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
Stories which are about people who achieve success by doing what they love inspire me the most. It is a beautiful idea to become very wealthy and happy by caring only about doing something that is your passion and nothing more. Naturally becoming better and better at something that brings you joy and never bores is in my opinion one of the biggest reasons to be happy.
2. I would certainly find a few things to start the game with. I don't like such games and I'm never going to do that.
3. I don't like stories of luck. I prefer a story in which work and knowledge led to success.
2. I do have a couple of odd items and object that I don't use and are just gathering dust while for others they might be valuable. Figurines, a baseball ball of the Chicago White Sox game, MTG Cards couple of autographs, etc. If it comes to success point I would stop at I honestly have no idea, I would just go with the flow and trade until I decide to stop.
3. Mostly stories that are not based on luck but hard work.
2. For now, I think i'm not really involved into this game but for sure I would find something that attracts my attention when I start that game from my perspective.
3. I like stories when people have almost nothing but they achieve lots of things. That may be called luck but I think only self-motivated, courageous, risky and responsible people can achieve it
2. I believe that any object can be the trigger, so yes. I think if I participated, I would stop only if I somehow had secured a steady income.
3. I like stories of ordinary people setting up ordinary companies. Such down to earth stories are much more motivating and realistic for me.
Actually I don't but I'm very familiar with case of swapping. In a matter of fact I've also read about exchanging paperclip for a house - it was quite a shock for me that is possible. It's the case of making things out of nothing. What is even more impresive is that he end up with house, his own house. I was happy with trading colorful sheets in my primary school and actually my biggest trade of all time was getting that Winnie Pooth sheet. Let me just tell you that was really big one.
2.Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I personally would start with something as ridiculous as that red paperclip. Just imagine it's traded finally with really amazing thing like car. It would be great if it was some kind of modern classic. I've always wanted Porsche. To be honest, what a way to get it!
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
It's just the kind of story that inspire me, give me hope that everything is possible with right attitude. Actually it's hard for me to be inspired, but it's not impossible. What also hits me in the right spot is the case when someone have come through all road long - from zero to hero.
2. From all of the things in my house that I could sell with a continious profit, it would be my PC and all of it's components.
3. I'm inspired by stories about people that succeeded in a very bizzare way, as it was shown in this article. It's not common to create such chain of events on a regular basis
2. So as I described above, back in the day it was a very popular way to quickly make money on the Steam Market. Unfortunately, it didn't last long because Steam changed its policy and introduced additional security. I think that every item can be good, it's enough to find anyone who needs the item at the given moment, in return giving us something more valuable. I stopped at $120, although I could go on for sure. I can't answer why though, I don't remember anymore.
3. I am inspired by stories that affect the imagination. I'm tired of worldly life, which is why I often think about other universes and very willingly introduce new characters or lands. It helps me write my own work that gives me a lot of satisfaction and makes me feel better.
When I was young (sounds very strange)))), me and my father were searching for different metal things hidden in ground with metal searcher. I`m from Ukraine, and on its territory, there were a lot of battles in the past, that`s why ground is very rich in finds. That was the start of my path as a collector. And collectors don’t sell their stuff, they trade it. And I`m not an exception. Imagine, you have two or three same coins but the price is not “above the sky”, so you decide to trade it. Similar situation is with stamps or badges. I can`t tell you some story, because I can`t explain you the level of my success. But I can describe you situation, when the price of coin flies to the sky, not because that it`s made from precious metal or is very old and has some historical value, but cause that it has some defect, made by printing machine!
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
At first, accept my apologies, but this story sounds ridiculous. But I really believe that there is a rule, maybe it`s even an exception from rule, that proves the rule – “Right place, Right time”. And it`s not a question of luck, it`s the question of assurance that you`ll achieve something. Of course, you should to work hard, to achieve some success and it`s beyond the doubt. But as I mentioned, sometimes “exception” works.
About “Bigger, better” game, I think I could try with some intellectual property (some poetry or music). And I`ll never stop. But I`d really believe in it. And it’s the problem. That`s why I asked to excuse me.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
The stories from category “incredible”. They prove that there are no any coincidences.
Personally, I have never participated in such an event.My friend traded-up few times with friends. He traded gun or character skins with other people.
2- Do you have an object to start your "Bigger, Better" game? If so, in what success point would you stopped at?
I don't know this kind of game. I'm good at things like buying and selling directly or creating and selling something. So I don't know much things about this game.
3- What kind of stories inspires you?
I like stories about people working on the road to success.I like to see the challenges and find solutions. But I believe you have to take care of everything on your own, not by chance.s
2) I think that my object would be something simple and for the everyday use. For example, a pen. My success point would be having my own house as well, so I would probably stop at that.
3) Stories that inspire me are the ones where people come from nothing and have no support from others at the beggining. These stories show that anything is possible, you just have to believe in yourself, your work and have a plan. When I see such a stories of people I know that hard work and commitment is the key to success.
Maybe not "trade-up's" but just trades: buy chep on aliexpress - sell for more on olx, curently i'm experimenting with "plasma lighters".
What kind of stories inspires you?
I've always had a crush on "from zero to hero" stories and i think that one of this kind of story per day could fuel You up for twenty four hours :-D
2. I will probably start with my drone. It is worth some money, and currently I am not using it. On the other hand I dont take much risk, I `d prefer to "play safe" so probably I will stop before I can afford to buy a house.
3. These kind of stories I find very inspiring. But i dont like this "coach" lifestyle posts. I like the real stories of people who begin with nothing and changes the world by using creative solutions. The stories of people who changes the world.
2. I don’t know, maybe my phone worth something...
3. Stories of someone’s success from beginning are the best. They show the whole path as a process, not as instant change of well-being. That gives you motivation to spend you time with quality.
2. Well, if I answered that question I would reveal to you my secret plan for being a millionaire ;) So I would rather not be answering that question. And as my success point, I would not stop. World is for fearless people that are not scared of loosing and will always crawl back at the top.
3. I am no writer, nor creator, so I don't think that something could be inspiring for me. But to be fair, I think that the closest thing that could be inspiring for me would be music.
Once, when I was in primary school, I would exchange colorful cards with other school friends. This was my first business: D. I remember that I was good at it and I always did good exchanges, I got the cards that were on top.
2. Do you have an object to start the game "Bigger, Better"? If so, at what point in success would you stop?
I would probably start by selling a car. I know he's worth more than I gave him. This may be my idea of getting to the big things.
3- What stories inspire you?
I am inspired by stories that give me hope that everything is possible with the right attitude and willingness. I can hardly get inspired, but it is possible. The right place also strikes me when someone has gone all the way - from zero to hero. I really like this story and I am often full of admiration for such people.