Kinetic Value

There's something you need to know about me: I believe impossible things, just like Alice. Why? Because the great thing about impossible things is that they are just that ... right up until they're not any more. Impossible, is only a temporary state.

You know that red paperclip guy? The one who got the house?  Yeah, he's cool. I'm going to copy him ... but not really. You never do the same gig twice. The paperclip guy worked off of an entirely different economic model, but I'll explain that in a bit. I'm going to do it bigger and better.

Impossible?  Maybe, but we both know how I feel about the impossible. Don't think I can do it?  I'd agreed with you, but then we'd both be wrong.

Now, why do I believe I can trade one hundred Corporate Express brand 1/2 inch staples into something much more than a strip of staples? Because people like stuff. Yes, we do.  Especially stuff we'll only use once, if ever. To me, that stuff represents unused and temporarily wasted value. Just because we're not using it doesn't mean it can't be used, right?

And why can't I use it? No reason ... no reason at all. So, off I go, collecting all that unused, stored, and somewhat inaccessible value. I'm going to barter it all together into a large ... something. I don't know what. Actually, I know exactly what, I'm just not going to say yet.

Why is this different from the paperclip guy? Because the paperclip guy used perceived value added to get what he was after. Fourteen trades from a paperclip to a house? Without advertising, his objects weren't worth nearly as much as he got for them. Not that I'm fundamentally opposed to perceived value, it's just that it doesn't really do society any good. It's like playing hot potato with a live M80 ... pass it fast enough while time lasts, but it'll take your hand off when the fuse is gone. Remember that dot-com bubble, and that housing bubble? Yeah, that's perceived value evaporating even faster than your 401k. But, you know, a few people got stinking rich off it all. Good for them. (Lame)

Advertising can create perceived value which may be added to the real value of a good or service. Hopefully the core value is more real than perceived. What is real value, you ask? I'll simplify it to two cases: use value and exchange value. Use value is like your shampoo or the food you eat, or even the weight bench that's collecting dust in your garage. Your car, your smart phone, and your TV also have use value, but you can see how each of these goods might vary in actual value depending on the owner's use of them.

Exchange value is more like the money in your pocket, or that thing you have that your best friend would give his left kidney for. This kind of value can be seen in skills, talents, and education, too. Both goods and services can be excellent examples of these two value types, just different amounts of each. 

Doesn't matter who you are, or where you are, you definitely have something that has value and that you're not using. It's just sitting there, depreciating. I'll bet it's a crockpot, isn't it? Someone, somewhere could use that crockpot to make some delicious and nutritious (or  suspicious) meals. You might also choose to re-gift that crockpot to that nephew or cousin who's getting married next month. Maybe I'll just call this kinetic value.

You should do something with it, whatever it is. See where I'm going with this?
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