This blog is mostly about the adventures and fun that I get up to.

However, there are so many other people out there doing great stuff and having great adventures too.

So, I am adding a new feature to this blog, which is to find these people and have a quick chat to them. First on my list is Kyle (aka One Red Paperclip guy).

Back in 2005/2006, Kyle was an internet sensation, when he managed to, through a series of ‘bigger and better’ trades, trade up from one red paperclip to a house.

He put out a book recently detailing the 14 trades that it took to get to his ultimate prize, and the fun he had along the way, and after finishing the book last month I knew he was the perfect person to be the inaugural interviewee.

======

Firstly, are you totally over being known as the One Red Paperclip guy, or do you still totally love it?

I kinda like it. Easy to walk down the street and nobody knows who I am, but it makes a nice ice-breaker when people ask questions like “so what do you do” etc. Many folks have already heard of the red paperclip stuff and they usually like it!

It has been nearly 5 years since your One Red Paperclip adventure. What is the moment you remember most strongly from the experience?

The housewarming party in Kipling after all the trades were finished. HUGE party. More than 3000 people cam to Kipling (pop. 1100) over the long weekend and almost all the traders were there as well! It was a massive town celebration and just a really fun time all around.

I personally loved the snow globe trade. What was your favourite trade?

Tough to say really. It was amazing to be on stage with Alice Cooper and to visit Kipling for the first time…but my all time fave is the red paperclip for the fish pen. Without that trade, nothing would’ve ever happened!

Were there times where you thought about quitting? If so, what kept you going?

Sort of, yes. What kept me going was the strong desire to reach the goal of trading to the house, and to keep my word that I was going to do it. There were thousands of people around the world who were following the story and rooting for it all to happen. I didn’t want to let anyone down!

Do you still keep in touch with the people you traded with?

Some yes, others not so much. We’re all spread out over the place so it’s tough to keep track of who’s doing what.

Do you still live in your house in Kipling (the house Kyle won, in Saskatchewan, Canada)?

The red paperclip house is now a cafe and Dom and I live in Montreal.

How would you feel if I said that staples are much more reliable for keeping paper together than paperclips?

You’re probably right. I don’t really care about paperclips at all! I trade those things away!

What are you working on at the moment?

A bunch of different projects. Kinda early to talk about because they’re in development. Starting up new things, and doing some public speaking about the red paperclip adventure and such. Good times.

Finish this sentence. No-one knows that I…

Received the doorknob + espresso maker from Shawn as a housewarming gift! I actually got one of the trade items back, in the end. It was awesome to see Shawn again, and the coffee is delicious.

(The doorknob was the item that Kyle got for his fish pen, and traded to Shawn for a camping stove)

Lastly, what words of inspiration can you share with the aspiring adventurers out there?

Start small. Think big. And have fun!

======

You can find out more about the One Red Paperclip adventures on Wikipedia or Kyle’s website, and I would definitely recommend picking up his book – a great read.

If you have any suggestions for who you want to hear from next, let me know and I will see what I can do.