In 2005, Kyle Macdonald traded a red paperclip for a fish-shaped pen.

Through a series of 14 online trades, he was able to turn that single paper clip into a house. Think about that.

He traded a doorknob for a camp stove. A snowmobile for a trip to British Columbia. A snow globe for a role in a film. He ended up with the house.

Remove the rules and trades are an exchange of value.

We all have something to trade.

Trade your abundance

Throughout Kyle's endeavor, he encountered people who were willing to trade items with a much higher financial value.

But what's the value of an old generator when you have 10 more in your garage sitting around collecting dust?

Someone willing to trade their 'worst snowmobile'? Who has a worst snowmobile? A person with a snowmobile to trade.

Trade your experience

Experience is a teacher.

Over time we learn and we grow. Regardless of your age, there are things you've done that others haven't experienced.

• How to do things faster

• How to do things better

Your experiences are currency.

Trade your time

Value your time.

There are only so many hours in the day and your time is a precious resource. You don't get it back. The people you choose to give your time to are the luckiest people.

For that reason, when you trade your time, you're giving away a piece of yourself. Make the trade worthwhile for you.

You don't always need to trade

When you're privileged with time, experience, or abundance, you don't necessarily need to trade. You don't need to always make a buck. Or win.

You can take a step back. Stop competing. And just give away what's yours.

What do you have to trade? What can you give away?