The Paperclip Challenge: by Small and Simple Things

In the Book of Mormon in Alma 37:6, we read, “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” Such was the case for Lalaine Cabading from The Philippines.

When Lalaine enrolled in Start Now, she was invited to participate in the paperclip challenge. The paperclip challenge invites participants to trade something of little or no value for something of a higher value. This trading is repeated until the ultimate object obtained is worth money that can provide start-up funds for an Income-Generating Activity. (An Income-Generating Activity is a product or service of a participant’s’ choosing that will provide for his or her family. It can be as simple as an in-home laundry service or selling food from a street cart. Start Now teaches participants how to make specific, practical, and achievable goals that measure progress and encourage IGA growth).

With a commitment to change her financial status, Lalaine traded her paperclip up to an amount of 68 Filipino pesos. She used this money to buy ingredients to make maja blanca, a typical Filipino snack. She started selling maja blanca and used the profit from this venture to buy mangoes. As her earnings increased, she started buying mangoes at wholesale prices, increasing her profits.

Soon Lalaine invested her earnings in secondhand clothing retail, a popular business opportunity in her area. After success in this venture, Lalaine had earned enough money to buy a used car! Owning a car was a huge blessing for her as it provided transportation to offer delivery services during the pandemic.

Lalaine often looks back with surprise at what a simple item did for her. Her favorite quote that she often shares with her chapter members is, “If you are looking for capital, look for a paperclip.”

Below are pictures of Lalaine’s paperclip journey from her first trade up to her current party delivery service business.