Eight days ago, I began my inspired idea of beginning a global adventure trading game, starting with a packet of Tim Tams (delicious double-coated chocolate cookies from Australia) for “something bigger and better.”

It all began when I was waiting for my flight to Los Angeles (from Brisbane). I came across a two-page article called “One Red Paperclip” in an Australian magazine (“Think and Grow Rich Inc,” Vol 1, Issue 1).

The article detailed about how Kyle McDonald from Canada, began a succession of trades in 2005 beginning with one red paperclip to achieve his ultimate dream of owning a house. Just fourteen trades after he began, and twelve months later, his journey was completed.

When I read this article, it gave me goosebumps. A loud voice inside my head said “This is it! This is for you! But instead of limiting it to the USA and Canada, you are going to match this with your global travels.”

I briefly hesitated as I checked in with my sanity. And questioned for a moment, if I could do it. “Of course you can!” my inner voice spoke up. “It’ll be fun! And lot’s of adventure!”

So I grabbed the magazine, and paid for it at the news stand. Then wondered what on earth I’d begin my trade with. And a series of questions came tumbling through my head.

“What will I begin my trade with?”

“What do I want to achieve with the trade? What’s my ultimate outcome?”

“How long will I do it for?”

I only had the answer to the first question, as I was racing towards through customs and now passing the final duty free stores so I could get to my gate to sit down and write out a quick blog article (see here).

Outside of a nervy store, I saw a table stand hosting packets of Tim Tams that stood nearby. Perfect! I grabbed two packets (an extra in case one got damaged, or that I ate one!) and paid. Each packet cost $3.75.

I hurried to the departing gate, nestled into a small cove near the wall, and plugged my laptop computer in. Sitting on the floor of the terminal, I wrote my first quick blog (see here) to announce, and publicly commit, my intentions. I sat there writing until almost the last person boarded, folded up my laptop and bolted onboard.

My heart was racing. My mind also went into overdrive visualising a lot of fun adventures meeting even more people throughout my global travels. I immediately loved this crazy, yet perfectly aligned idea.

So, to briefly catch you up on this last week.

After I landed in Los Angeles twelve hours later, and a brief fourteen hour lay-over for a quick sleep, some shopping (and some spontaneous rides in a limousine), I carried on forward on a flight to Fort Lauderdale to prepare for the annual Internet Marketer’s Cruise to the Caribbean. We departed on 6th January, and hit our first island (Grand Turk) on the 8th January. Yesterday, we visited Catalina Island, a small idealic island off the coast of La Romana. We played in the crystal blue water, relaxed in the warmth of the sun and drank plenty of delicious (too delicious) cocktails!

I slept well last night.

There has been very little access to the internet both for the time involved with all the travel and pre-cruise party,  boarding and now with limited access (and very slow) to the internet which is intermittent at best on the ship. Unfortunate. But also, I’ve had the time to focus on being on the cruise instead of online.

On a brief view of Facebook on my iPhone, I have seen a a first offer to trade the packet of Tim Tams for a gold coin from Las Vegas. Cool, someone entered in with an offer! Thank you!

Here’s the update. I’ve to start the game with my first trade on board the Carnival Miracle on the Caribbean waters.

Some of my rules for the trade are: I must be able to meet the person for the trade; I also want to take a photo, a quick video, and offer the opportunity to interview and share the trader’s website URL if they have one.

Over the last few days, I made mention to a handful of people on the cruise about my trading game. The mention of Tim Tams got several people interested.

So far I’ve had the offers of a drug combination of “Viagra and Valium” (and it was from a young guy!) I politely declined as I added a new rule to my game “No drugs or alcohol for the trade”. I’ve also had the offer of a gold medallion won from an onboard competition on the Carnival Cruise (Miracle). Again, the offer didn’t strike me.

Two night’s ago, when I got up from the end of my meal in the dining room, shared by all the 400+ internet Marketers I came aboard with, I walked past a table with some friends I brought on the cruise. I stopped. Saying hello to them, my eyes scanned the other people seated at the table. Tracey Repchuk and Sharon Worsely where also there amongst others. After saying “Hi!” I grinned and ignored the little bit of fear (and hesitancy) to ask, and sought permission to speak about my ‘self-promotion’ first from the group.

“I have a crazy adventure game I am doing. Can I have two minutes of your time to share?”

“Yes!” the group gave me their full attention.

I pulled out the packet of Tim Tams which I had hidden in the paper bag I was carrying. They were handed to me in it at the store I purchased them from.

I explained my mission.

Tracey Repchuk’s eyes lit up! “Tim Tam’s!!!” she almost squealed!

Sharon’s eyes also bulged with delight!

I felt a little relief because of the recognition of the Tim Tam’s. This time, I wasn’t going to have to explain what they were or how amazingly good they are to eat! My experience so far with most of the others in the large group is having to define what they are (because it appears Tim Tam’s are not readily recognised by people outside of Australia or New Zealand).

Sharon’s brain started ticking over, and she soon piped up “I’ll trade you my brand new book. It’s “Linchpin” by Seth Godin.”

I recognised it immediately as a very good trade. “Yes!” I nodded with enthusiasm and delight that I had kicked the game off with my fist trade and one that had really good value for me to trade forward.

“OK! Well it’s in my room. Let me go get it!”

As we were all preparing to leave the dining room for the night’s show – a ventriloquist – we agreed to meet at the ‘Phantom’ Room where the show was being held.

The Global Trading Game Begins! 1st Trade

After the show (which had more entertaining value when three of our marketer’s from the group became part of the act and were hilarious), Sharon and I met up and traded. We also caught the opportunity on video and a photo.

The most amazing part is that I made a deep connection immediately with Sharon. While we had briefly met on the cruise last year, I couldn’t recall what her business focus was. So I asked. When we chatted I realised how serendipitous this union was. While, my focus as “The Global Butterfly” is all about ideas, insights and inspiration to help people create their own lifestyle design on purpose”, Sharon is a leadership coach and professional speaker on “Living Life on Purpose.” When I found this out in our brief interview my jaw almost hit the floor. Of all the people to connect and trade with!

Sharon Worsley is from Canada, born in Canada, but also spent eighteen years of her life living in Sydney Australia. So she knew what Tim Tam’s were when I announced them. Until last night, it had been eight years since she had one of the delicious chocolate coated chocolate cookies melt in her mouth.

There were a few more amazing points I want to honour Sharon for. She mentioned during the interview that while she raced through her mind to consider what to trade for, (she even thought about trading her beautiful diamond ring!) her focus was on several things:

1) What could she trade with me that was of value to the next person, particularly in this environment within a group of internet marketers. Her focus was on bettering the trading game, not on getting the Tim Tam’s (though that was also the outcome).

2) She did the trade to share the Tim Tam’s with her friend Tracey Repchuk and her kids, because she knew how much it would delight Tracey with the thoughtful gift.

I’ve learned some valuable points tonight. The biggest highlight though is simply “ASK!”

When I told Sharon about my initial hesitation to ask, she acknowledged me that she saw me hesitate. But proud and so glad I did, she told me how she mentors and coaches people based on Jack Canfield’s “Success Principles” (one of my personal favourite books and mentors in the world). You get what you want in life when you “Ask! Ask! Ask!” she says.

This valuable lesson was brought home, again, for me with my first trade with Sharon.

If you don’t ask, you’ve already given yourself an automatic “No!” If that’s the worst, they why not ask anyway?!

So… with the first trade exchanged only five days after announcing the game, who’s next and when? If you’d like to offer something to trade for the book “Linchpin” by Seth Godin (and signed by now Sharon and myself) then please leave your comment below! (If you note something on facebook, please simply copy and paste here too).

Stay tuned for some additional updates on how this game is going to pan out, and what’s a bonus plan for all those involved in the trades!

Who Got The Book?
What did they trade it with?
Click here to find out

The details for the first trade are:

Date of first trade: 8th Jan 2010
Time of agreed trade: 10:10pm
Time of trade exchange: 11:35pm
Began trade with: 1 Packet of Tim Tams
Value: AUD$3.75 (GST – tax – included)
Person: Sharon Worsley
Traded: Book “Linchpin” by Seth Godin
Value: Canadian $32.50 + 13% Tax
Bought: in Canada
Website: www.SharonWorsley.com

P.s. Here is one really cool pic of Sharon Worsley sharing the Tim Tams with Tracy Repchuk and her family out on the Lido deck of the Carnival Miracle. This was on Sunday 9th January 2011.

Sharon Worsley Shares Her Tim Tams With Tracey Repchuk