I began developing the game of “FreshBiz” back in 2004, but the real story began long before that. You might even be able to identify bits of this journey in the action cards of the game. I wanted to be an entrepreneur ever since I can remember, and with all kinds of creative ideas, I was always looking for ways to implement them. What made things challenging was that as a 12 year old, there really wasn’t anywhere for me to go to learn entrepreneurship, in fact, there still aren’t many options today. Back then, all I had was Monopoly, which frankly speaking just didn’t cut it.

So I started cracking the books and read everything I could get my hands on, from business books to autobiographies to success stories. The connection between games and business I made at the age of 14 after reading the story of Coca Cola. After finishing that amazing story, a friend of mine and I created a computer game which essentially simulated a business environment based on the Coca Cola story, and it was then that I realized that the business world itself is just a big game where all you need to do is learn the rules. At the age of 18 I graduated and decided to start playing in the big leagues. The 90’s were great since banks were giving out loans with low interest and little or no collateral, so along with one of my friends we became investment brokers, took out a very large loan (for two guys with a low income), and starting investing in the stock market.

Our small business did quite well for 3-4 years (which is the source of the action card, “Financial leverage”). This is where I learned the equation, that courage plus knowledge and the right opportunity equals an exceptional stream of income that is above and beyond the normal. This period came to an end when the markets took a dive, which cost us tens of thousands of shekels. It was a heavy blow for a young guy like me who was just getting started, but it also taught me the philosophy of recovery from a financial crisis.

The mid 90’s were the beginning of hi-tech startups, where there were literally opportunities everywhere. These times where extremely demanding with many sleepless nights, especially because I just jumped into the deep end of the pool and learned how to swim as I went along. Quickly, I developed new skillsets in all areas of management from product development and marketing, to sales and finances, which allowed me to participate in a number of entrepreneurial projects while working as an employee in a large company (this is what brought to life the action card, “Time is Money”).

This time period was exciting and full of opportunities but of course not without risk and uncertainty. Each additional project that brought with it some level of success already brought some level of failure which meant that I was constantly gaining new insights and new understandings. These processes gradually lead me to developing this new modality for entrepreneurial thinking.

Every successful entrepreneur will tell you that the best school for business is the real world, and that of course, that type of schooling is the most expensive one to learn from. Many of life’s lessons often cost money and sometimes heart ache, but this is simply a part of the process and progress. I introduced this idea to the game of “FreshBiz”, in the form of the toll passages which you need to pay as you pass through different sections of the board on the way to becoming a winner.

I remember hitting a financial crises and being at a major crossroads in life, when my wife, Anat, and I decided to open our own business as independents. We named the company,  “Fresh” and specialized in graphics & branding. Breaking though all the fears and concerns regarding how things would turn out, we set out on this journey with a determination that wound up taking us from a small studio into a highly successful and profitable business. We worked with hundreds of clients, playing an intimate role in taking them through their different stages of business establishment, branding, and identity creation.

The more I began to notice the emotional roller coasters that everyone was going through as they built their respective businesses, the more I realized the need for something that could help people win the mental game, get over their fears, and breakthrough to success.

That is how “FreshBiz” was born.

Often, we view money as the source of life; a necessity which if you lack, you simply will not be able to live. The breakthrough for people occurs when they think they are playing a simple kid’s board game, when in reality they are facing their biggest fears which is handling money and everything we relate to the money we have or don’t.

By the time I really began developing the “FreshBiz” game, I already had a strong financial base provided from the business that my wife and I had. This provided me with the ability to develop the game without any external pressures and taught me the importance of creating multiple sources of income. This lesson is encapsulated in the “Collect Profits” title on the board, which allows the player to collect the profits from all businesses which they have established.

The development of the game required investments of hundreds of thousands of shekels over the years which all came from personal sources as well as loans from the bank. At one point, we reached the decision to sell our home in order to raise the funding necessary to continue to make the dream a reality (in the game you can both take loans and sell businesses). The combination of strategies, connections, loans, leverage, and courage that it took to make everything happen in tandem was just perfect

Would you be willing to sell your home in order to achieve your dream?

The game, “FreshBiz” is my personal SUCCESS story which I am passing on to the world. It  was born out of my life story from every understanding I collected along the way and assembled into this entrepreneurial masterpiece. That being said, the board is open, ready, and available for YOU to use as an expression or metaphor to tell your life story as it is today. Your strengths and abilities will become apparent to you as you watch your fears and insecurities surface as well throughout playing the game.

Everything is a lesson. From the pace at which you progress around the board to your beliefs about money, and everything in between. This platform gives you the opportunity to practice everything you need and want, allowing you to let go of limiting beliefs which are holding you back so that you can embrace the unlimited possibilities that come through entrepreneurial thinking.

Today’s business world grows  richer and richer and the skills which served us up till now, simply won’t be enough in order to continue to be successful. Being good at what you do or having a particular niche is no longer enough.  In today’s world you need to think like an entrepreneur; using abilities and skills to  act on numerous layers at the same time. You need to a discerning eye to identify opportunities, create partnerships, generate multiple sources of income and much much more.

The best way to learn all this while enriching yourself and your abilities in a friendly and nourishing environment is through playing the game of “FreshBiz”. The amount of money you have is not important, the only thing that is important is your willingness to learn and develop your skills. Ultimately, it matters not how much you have, but rather who you become in the process.

So BE A PLAYER, develop yourself, and have lots of fun on your journey to wealth and success through multi-dimensional entrepreneurial thinking!

Ronen Gafni,

“Inventor and Entrepreneur of “FreshBiz

To contact me: Ronen@freshbiz-game.com