Welcome to Thinksmart

Invest in your Mind~! AURUM,Inc.

Abe Nathanson…

It has been awhile since I called on his name.
February 15th of 2008, I vividly remember arriving in the Big Apple for the very first time.
Leaving behind Aurum, my startup company of 5 employees back in Korea, I held tightly in my hands an outlandish cease and
desist letter from Binary Arts, now called Thinkfun. After the 14-hour flight from Incheon,
I had a 30-minute meeting with that broke me down and left me hopelessly depressed.
Many people all over the world dream of visiting New York City, but in the winter of 2008 this was an unreasonably cold and
distant place to me. However, the very next day, I arose to a new life, and the chance of a lifetime to meet a very special person.

New York Toy Show2008, Booth No 6016,
Abe Nathanson had white hair, decent build, and big eyes buried behind a thick pair of glasses.
At age 70, he was running a family business called Bananagrams.
I was invited to sit down with him and his family to play a game, and from that instant,
I was dreaming about bringing Bananagrams to Korea.

Abe Nathanson,
He was my mentor, a benefactor if you will, a wise friend who presented me the true essence of life and
the full picture of living out its purpose. Five years have gone by since he shared his sandwich with me,
discerning me through his thick glasses and sharing his long journey in. On the warm summer night of August 9th 2010,
friends and family gathered from all over the world to celebrate Abe’s remarkable life,
crying and laughing over recollections of his great moments. Recently, I looked through those notes that
I kept during our yearly meetings. Abe was always encouraging to a lost young Asian man who had just started up a business.
I am so proud to say I was that man who received so much from him. To this day,
I cherish his overwhelming passion and thrill for “how to live a great life.”

Introduced in the very first Teaching Tools book in 2009, Bananagrams has returned once again this year to
highlight our cover page. With the whole family of great games offered - Appleletters, Zipit, and
Jumbo Bananagrams are just part of the collection - the tenth volume of Teaching Tools has a very special place in our heart.
As tribute to our company’s slogan, “Invest in Your Mind,” I would like to dedicate this book to Abe Nathanson, my life-long teacher.
I have learned that sharing what I have with others now is more important than sacrificing this moment in order to gain a bright future.
Yes, we seem to be taking baby steps at times; nonetheless, I want to share with others just as Abe did with me.

Abe Nathanson, I am so grateful for your life. Thank you.

Company Introduction