By: Adin van Ryneveld
Have you ever wished that someone would just give you a nice house? Or perhaps a smart set of offices for your business?
In 2006 an ordinary American, Kyle McDona
ld, swapped a single red paperclip for a house. Of course, there were little swaps in between, but 14 trades and 1 year later he had changed a seemingly valueless paperclip into a home.
Not to be outdone by the challenge, local girl Telana Simpson has decided to swap a matchstick for a set of offices for her business. We caught up with Telana via Skype on Saturday evening.
Secrets2Success: How did you get the idea of trading a matchstick for offices?
Telana: A friend of mine in London blogged about one red paperclip and when I read about what Kyle was trying to do – he was about half way through his trading story – it just got me so inspired. I thought it was such a great idea, that I just wanted to try it too! I had no idea if it was possible – Kyle Mac Donald hadn’t made it yet, but just the idea of it got me thinking so much more creatively, that I just had to try it for myself. Life is full of possible experiences, and to me this idea of making nothing into something by trading was an experience I wanted to have. I thank Kyle for being such an inspiration to me.
S2S: Now are you hoping to own your offices like Kyle or would you be happy with a 5 year lease?
Telana: First prize would be my own offices – title deeds and all! but when I get to that stage, I think it will depend on the types of offers I get and where I am with my business, so I’m hoping to get pleasantly surprised at the time, but I’m keeping my eye on those title deeds. Something that I’ve learnt from this journey so far is the usefulness of being able to be flexible.
S2S: So far you’ve had a few trades: a matchstick, for a pen, for a frog, for books, for wine, for a holiday, for cash, for a balloon ride, for a party, for 375 t-shirts. Do you have a favourite trade? Or experience?
Telana: Each one has been so different…as I’m thinking of them now, I can’t say which one is more of a favourite.
S2S: Are you going to take it to the next level like Kyle did? Do you think there is a book or a movie in you?
Telana: Well, I’ve just experienced a bit of being a movie star. I entered onematchstick into the Netweb Headstart competition and won a movie. So we have filmed a short movie to help explain to people what I am trying to do, and right now it’s being edited. I’m calling it: “onematchstick the movie” – not at cinema near you.
S2S: *Chuckle*
Telana: And to go back to your question, I do have a book in me, but not sure what it’s going to be about, yet.
S2S: What has been your greatest learning from this experience?
Telana: Greatest learning! Wow! There have been quite a few. Maybe the greatest is summed up in my favourite saying at the moment: “Anything is possible, and everything is negotiable!”
S2S: Who said that?
Telana: Me.
S2S: I love it!
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Telana is currently trading 375 T-shirts for cash (which will then be used as part of her next trade). As a reader of Secrets2Success, you can help Telana out by visiting here and buying your own OneMatchStick T-shirt by visting her site www.onematchstick.co.za
To order your limited edition onematchstick T-shirt, visit the website. Remember to use the special code to track the trade!
