Before banks. Before TikTok money advice. There was Babylon. And the richest man there had rules that still work today.
If you’re serious about building long-term positive cashflow—not just chasing fast cash or side hustle fads—you need to read The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. It’s a short, powerful book that teaches financial discipline through ancient parables, and it nails the mindset OFB lives by.
A Book Carved in Stone (Literally)
The wisdom in this book isn’t just old. It’s ancient. Babylon was a mighty city in what is now modern-day Iraq, and was once the financial and cultural capital of the world. The stories in The Richest Man in Babylon were inspired by clay tablet discoveries translated from ancient Mesopotamian writings. That makes this the oldest money manual in human history.
It’s not a stretch to say that these clay tablets are more relevant than most YouTube finance bros.
The 5 Laws of Gold (a.k.a. the Rules of Real Wealth)
These are the timeless rules that Arkad—the richest man in Babylon—taught. OFB lives by the same code.
1. Gold comes gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future.
OFB Application: This is Passive Capital. 10% of your income goes into superannuation or long-term investments. You don’t touch it. The financial nerds grow it while you live your life.
2. Gold labors diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment.
OFB Application: This is Active Capital. Use another 10% to build something: learn skills, grow your side hustle, or invest in a second rental property. Gold that works creates freedom.
3. Gold clings to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of wise men.
OFB Application: Don’t throw money into crypto pump-and-dumps or overpriced coaching scams. OFB teaches structured, low-risk, proven pathways. Know the game you’re playing.
4. Gold slips away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar.
OFB Application: Stick to what you understand. Don’t chase the hype. Train hard. Sell what you use. Build slowly. OFB is built to be simple, repeatable, and scalable.
5. Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who follows the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers.
OFB Application: No shortcuts. No hype. We don’t trade time for tricks. We build fitness. We build trust. We build cashflow. Slowly. Consistently.
Jim Rohn’s 70/10/10/10 Rule: Babylon for the Modern Doer
Jim Rohn simplified the entire financial playbook down to this:
- 70% to live
- 10% to charity
- 10% to passive capital
- 10% to active capital
Sound familiar? That’s OFB to the letter. We live by it. We teach it. We show others how to follow it with structure and speed.
You work full time at your job. That pays the bills. You work part time on your cashflow. That pays your future.
Final Word: Clay Tablet to Cashflow
The principles of wealth haven’t changed. What’s changed is the noise.
OFB cuts through that. We teach what works. We build disciplined doers. And we do it with a plan that dates back to Babylon.
Full-time at your work. Part-time on your cashflow.
Join OFB. Be the exception.