I once read a story about a guy who started with a single paperclip and over time was able to trade up to a car or an aircraft carrier or something. Everyone was really impressed, but the joke’s on him! Sure, he was swapping for more and more valuable items, but do you know what else he was getting? Responsibility!

Owning a car/aircraft carrier comes with a lot of maintenance and worry, so ultimately he was trading away freedom with every step. I bet that if he’d offered someone to trade his paperclip for their newborn baby they’d jump on the offer. Does a paperclip ever cry all night then ruin its pants just because? No paperclips I know!

As they say, the man with only a paperclip has nothing to lose (Not counting the paperclip).

-wes