How One Small Step Can Lead to Extraordinary Journeys
In 2005, Kyle MacDonald took a red paperclip, made a trade, and unknowingly set off a chain reaction that would change his life forever. What started as a simple game of “Bigger and Better”—where you trade small items for something larger—ended with Kyle owning a house. The journey wasn’t just about possessions; it was about the power of possibility, the impact of connections, and the magic of saying yes to opportunity.
Kyle’s story is remarkable, but it’s also a mirror to my own path. It reminds me that transformation isn’t about where you start—it’s about where you’re willing to go and what you’re willing to trade along the way.
Where I Came From: Trading Struggle for Mastery
Growing up, my journey wasn’t paved with easy trades. Like Kyle, I had to start with what I had—except in my case, it wasn’t a paperclip. It was raw determination, an unshakable belief in my potential, and a refusal to accept limits placed upon me. Whether it was mastering my craft as a writer, navigating personal and professional challenges, or even finding ways to turn setbacks into stepping stones, every moment has been about trading up—about taking what I had and leveraging it into something greater.
Kyle turned a simple trade into an adventure, and in many ways, I’ve done the same. Whether it’s transforming my experiences into books, creating platforms for others to tell their stories, or using my skills to help people build wealth, success, and legacy, I’ve always seen life as a series of intentional exchanges. Nothing is wasted; everything is an opportunity to level up.
Where I Am Now: Trading Isolation for Impact
Right now, my work spans multiple projects—publishing books, coaching writers, diving into storytelling that matters, and even building digital nomad ventures. But at the core of it all is this fundamental principle: What can I offer that will create exponential value for others? Just like Kyle realized that a small, seemingly insignificant object could lead to a home, I understand that a well-placed idea, the right conversation, or a single piece of guidance can unlock massive transformations for someone else.
In The Patchwork Chronicles: Harlem’s Unwritten Stories, Rewired for Riches, or Dear God, Can I Be Rich and Famous Too?, my mission is the same—to take what I’ve learned and help others make their own powerful trades. I want to show people that they don’t have to stay stuck with whatever ‘paperclip’ life has handed them. They can trade up, step by step, toward their own versions of success.
Where I’m Going: Trading Experience for Legacy
Like Kyle, I believe in the power of unexpected paths. His journey took him to a house; mine takes me toward impact, ownership, and creating systems that help others win. My next ‘trade’ isn’t just about books or business—it’s about legacy. How can I take everything I’ve built and turn it into a movement that outlives me? How can I help others make the trade from survival to success, from stagnation to growth?
This is why I mentor, why I write, why I share. Whether it’s through guiding a first-time author, helping someone turn a skill into income, or showing others how to harness AI and digital tools for their own advantage, my goal is clear—I want to help people make smarter, more meaningful trades in their lives.
What’s Your Paperclip?
The most powerful lesson in Kyle’s story isn’t just that he made a trade—it’s that he started. He took action when most people would have dismissed the idea as foolish.
What’s the ‘red paperclip’ in your life? What do you have right now—however small—that you can leverage into something greater? Maybe it’s a skill, a passion, an idea, or a connection you’ve overlooked. The key isn’t waiting for the perfect opportunity. It’s about making that first trade and trusting the process.
I know this because I’ve lived it. And just like Kyle, I know that when you take that first step, you never really know where the road will lead—but it will always take you somewhere remarkable.
So what are you holding onto? And more importantly, what will you trade it for?
