Creating Wealth - from paperclips
Value is relative. One man’s throwaway is another’s dream?
Just saw this story over on ABC news - Kyle Macdonald started with one red paper clip, and a dream of getting a home of his own. A year of barter later, he’s not yet there - but he’s a long way from the red paper clip. with a year rent free on an apartment in downtown Phoenix.
The interesting part is the trades he made, along the way. What’s a red paper clip, a fish pen, or a ceramic door knob worth? To some, probably very little. To others, quite a lot.
Kyle himself makes a similar point, in one of his earlier posts :
I really encourage you to think outside the box and MAKE AN OFFER for this contract. It doesn’t need to be an object, it can be an opportunity or an experience or a even a service. ANYTHING really. The value of a recording contract of this magnitude is totally relative. If you are a decent band/singer and you’re willing to work on your career, this could be the catalyst for everything else that follows. Think of this as a sort of your own version of a red paperclip. It can all start here.
The point here is that value might be what you define it to be. Or it could be what someone else defines it to be. And the definitions could be very far apart.
And the goal doesn’t have to be a home. It could be paying off debt, making a fresh start on life, or anything else you want it to be. Just dust off something you don’t use, and figure out a creative way to turn it into something you want - or something someone else might want.
In a way, this fits in well with Jeff’s challenge, and why it caught my attention; the creativity involved in finding ways to move up is awesome.
Best of luck, Kyle.
Written by 2cworth on April 21st, 2006 with
1 comment.
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