Seeking Truth

by Dr. James W. Jackson

Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

Many old, salty sea captains have managed to sail their ships back to the safety of harbor lights with nothing more than a magnetized sewing needle balanced on a cork, floating in a cup of water. That was the only compass they needed to get back to the comforts of home and hearth. And while it is touted that a compass never lies, yet, it can deceive you. The direction of "north" that your compass gives you just might be wrong. Compasses point toward the magnetic north pole, located near Ellesmere Island in North Canada. But true north is not there. It is over 70 miles away. Depending on where in the world you are located, the difference between where your compass is pointing and where you are in relation to true north can be considerable.

When I was just a kid, I learned that it was possible to take even the finest compass and make it tell you that north was anywhere you wanted it to be. All you needed was a cheap refrigerator magnet close by and you could perform miracles. No longer would the needle of the compass point to earth's magnetic north, but to wherever the refrigerator magnet was placed in close proximity. Of course, the accuracy and utility of the compass was completely spoiled. No longer would it perform the function for which it was designed. No salty sea captain would set his cup of water, cork, and magnetized sewing needle on top of a refrigerator magnet and expect to sail safely home.

Through the years I have been concerned about how easy it is for folks to employ their handy refrigerator magnet to situations of life and truth. It doesn't take much for someone to slip their refrigerator magnet onto the table and proclaim that "north" is precisely where they say it is. I have become increasingly bothered with the proliferation of "relative truth" and the difficulty of determining "True North." While growing up, I used to wonder why glib politicians were referred to as having magnetic personalities. Today, I think I better understand. With their handy little refrigerator magnet they can change the compass direction of "north" two, three, four times in a day, or even a debate. But, where precisely is True North?

I was traveling in the Bulgarian city of Hoskovo, performing a medical Needs Assessment for Project C.U.R.E. I struck up a conversation with one of the health officials, a former officer of the Soviet Union. We began talking about what it had been like to live in the country prior to the collapse of the Soviet regime. "Everything was relative," he said. "You never knew just what to expect as 'truth.' You could only depend on what you were told at the moment and you were expected to respond accordingly. Everything was relative with no unattached or independent 'absolutes.'" Then he related a story to explain his point."

There was a certain clock shop on the main street of our town. The man who operated the shop had a good reputation in the community. He was conscientious and kind, and knew a lot about clocks. On the back wall of his shop he had on display a large and beautifully hand carved clock with an expensive and precise set of works inside. It was, indeed, a masterpiece and kept very accurate time. The clock man loved the clock and was very proud of it."

My new friend went on to tell me, "Everyday, an important-looking man walked by the clock shop. He would stop momentarily and study the clock on the back wall. He would then pull out his own pocket watch that was attached to his jacket by a handsome chain. He would reset his pocket watch, place it back in his jacket and hurriedly walk away. One day the clock man stepped out of his store and stopped the man as he reset his pocket watch. 'Do you admire the clock on my wall? I see you stop everyday and look at it before you walk on.' 'Yes,' he said, 'I love your clock, and I know that it is very accurate. I have a very important job. I work at the large factory by the river and I am in charge of blowing the whistle precisely at 8 o'clock. I check the time on your clock every day so that I will know exactly when to blow the whistle.' The clock man gasped. His mouth fell open as he stumbled with his words. 'You are the man who blows the whistle each morning? But, I set my clock each day by your whistle!'"

For this coming New Year, I have made for myself a resolution: Don't get caught up in depending upon relative truth, but diligently seek, as if for the finest treasure, Truth that is unattached, loosened from and non-manipulated by the agendas of this world. 

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com


photos: istockphoto.com and Jimmy Dozer

How Christmas Affected Cultural Economics

by Dr. James W. Jackson

Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

Radical teachings passed down through the centuries:

We owe a great deal to the intervention of the Christmas story into our economic history. To those of us who were not born as Jews, we were introduced to an entirely different collection of thoughts and traditions. Moreover, the revolutionary teachings of Christ changed moral standards and expectations forever. We were given a nobler concept of what it is to be human and were given insights into our own weaknesses and greedy foibles. Christ shed light on concepts not available from any other source. Those concepts were indispensable for the later experiments with the concepts of a free society.

Christ’s teaching changed the vision of the “good society” proposed by the classical writers of Rome and Greece, and made possible new ideas of culture and economics. Philosophers and writers who adamantly refuse to believe in Christ’s claims to deity or the correctness of the Judeo-Christian position, are none-the-less compelled to admit their indebtedness to the unique teachings of the Christ of the Christmas story. Richard Rorty, whose parents were ardent followers of Trotsky, and he, himself, totally immersed in atheistic Marxist teachings, once wrote that as a progressive philosopher he owed more to Jesus for certain key notions, such as “compassion” and “equality” than to any of the classical writers. In Bertrand Russell’s book, Why I Am Not a Christian, he conceded that although he took Jesus to be no more than a humanistic moral prophet, modern progressivism is indebted to Christ for his ideals.

In Plato’s Republic, citizens were divided in the following way: A few were of gold, a slightly larger body of silver, and the vast majority of lead, (that sounds a lot to me like my frequent flyer program). Those considered in the group of lead all had the souls of slaves and, therefore, were properly enslaved. Only the persons of gold were truly to be treated as individuals of importance and worth. Christ taught that God, who made every single child in his image, gave every child worth and dignity, saying, “what you do to the least of these, my children, you do unto me.” It was revolutionary teaching to identify God with the most humble and the most vulnerable. Christ taught a fundamental equality in the sight of God to all human beings. Whether a person “believes” in Christ or not, it would be intellectual dishonesty to deny that his teachings radically changed concepts regarding culture and economics.

Christ taught that God sees “into” us. God sees us as having equal weight in our “uniqueness,” not because we are the “same,” but because each of us is different. Each is made by God after an original design. This concept of being equal in our uniqueness is quite different from socialist concepts of being equal because of our sameness. Christ’s teaching did not promote a leveling notion. Neither does it require uniformity for equality. On the contrary, it tries to pay heed to and give respect to the unique image of God in each person. God did not make us equal in talent, ability, vocation, bank accounts or position. He did not take away what is unique and submerge it into uniformity, as we have seen promoted in so many economic and political cultures where, traditionally, the impulse has been to pull people down and place them all on the same level, regulated by the state.

Another revolutionary teaching that resulted from the Christmas story in Bethlehem was Christ’s teaching on compassion. Historically, most teachings regarding compassion are limited to one’s own family, nation, culture or kin. Christ’s teaching nurtured and encouraged the impulse to reach out, especially to the most vulnerable, and to the poor, the hungry, the wretched, those in prison, the helpless, hopeless, and the sick. His teachings instruct us to even love our enemies and see and respect the dignity even of those who in the eyes of the world have lost their dignity.

The radical expectation of those teachings pushes to include the concept of universal compassion!

Those are a few of many teachings introduced into our cultures and economic systems because of the Christmas story. We have not only an economic venue as a setting for the Christmas story, but, also, the phenomenon of the Christmas story affecting even present day cultural economics.

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com


photos: The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch and Jimmy Dozer

Economics and the Christmas Story

by Dr. James W. Jackson

Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

In 336 B.C. a 21 year-old was placed on the Greek throne following the assassination of his father, Philip. Alexander of Macedonia, who had been privileged to have Aristotle as his own personal teacher, had been made aware of a world that was fragmented economically into countless little city states, each being crushed by high taxes and isolation. He realized the high cost of fragmentation and fear. In the next dozen years ALEXANDER THE GREAT “conquered” the known world for Greece. He conquered it with such interesting subtlety that, more often than not, the countries in his path simply threw open their gates and welcomed him in. Alexander brought with him security, protection, fairness, and the opportunity for expansion of trade. He encouraged free trade within his new world based on a dependable metallic coinage of gold and silver. The genius of that economic unification rested in the fact that it did not cost his constituents more out of their purses for those additional benefits, but less . . . a whole lot less.

Where the citizens had been paying as much as 70 to 80 percent in taxes to operate their fragmented city-states, Alexander reduced those tax rates to around 12 to 15 percent. Little wonder that they threw open their city gates and welcomed him with open arms!

But, alas, with no more worlds to conquer, Alexander the Great died at the age of 33 after a wild drinking party. His five generals took command, and before long the greed and insecurity pushed the populace back toward the mass of fragmented city-states, no longer unified by an environment of low taxes and economic stability. His empire eventually crumbled, but his dream lived on.

Two hundred seventy-one years later, Julius Caesar, an admirer of Alexander, laid claim to Alexander’s dream, overhauled it, and began to implement the “great experiment,” Pax Romana. The global economy was not nearly as fragmented as it had been prior to Alexander. The Greek philosophy, literature, and ideas of democracy had done much to break down the barriers between the “Greeks” and the “barbarians.”

Julius Caesar, like Alexander, began building his empire, not through brutal conquest, but, rather, through economic and political liberation. Five years after he had taken over Gaul, Julius Caesar entered Italy, where Rome opened her gates and welcomed him as her new champion and leader. He made the stability of Roman currency so attractive, the mildness of Roman taxation so alluring, the openness of worldwide trade and commerce so desirable, that his empire expanded by the force of demand. He treated the “conquered” nations with such secure leniency that even if they could have revolted, they didn’t!

The economy began to grow, trade began to flourish, and the Roman Empire was established. Julius Caesar perceived that individual initiative and creativity that was rewarded produced more individual initiative and more creativity . . . thus a more stable and wealthy empire. He also perceived that exorbitant taxation squelched individual initiative and creativity. He, therefore, set out on a plan to broaden the tax base so that he could lower the individual tax rate, i.e., include more people on the tax rolls but lower the amount that each had to pay on his production so that they would be encouraged to produce more, thereby making the empire wealthier and all the people better off. Caesar understood that it was production that was true wealth.

In order to broaden the tax base so that he could lower the tax rate, Julius Caesar needed to take a census of the empire. The census was completed of Italy only. In 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was brutally assassinated. But in those eight years (52-44 B.C.), Julius Caesar had established an economic system that endured the next 500 years and eventually influenced the establishing of even our American economic philosophy. After 16 years of civil war, Octavius, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, desirous of fulfilling his father’s plan, victoriously returned to Rome as Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome.

Does that name sound familiar? It should. Does a census for taxation ring a bell? It should:

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, into the city of David which is called Bethlehem: (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 1-7 KJV)

Regarding the Christmas story, we are also told: “In the fullness of time . . . God sent his son.” During this season, I am pondering. Just what all could that statement possibly mean? Is it possible that a repeat of some sort of equally significant event of cultural economics is even now developing before our eyes? I certainly am intrigued by economics and the Christmas story.

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com


photos: image1 and Jimmy Dozer

Defined by Passion

by Dr. James W. Jackson

Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

Our lives are defined by where we direct our passion.

I had been given a prestigious award by Chanel 9, Denver’s NBC affiliate. They had produced a lovely feature segment on the work of Project C.U.R.E. and had aired it on their evening news program. At his home watching the Project C.U.R.E. segment was a gentleman named “Bob.”

Bob was a successful businessman who owned his own painting company. When the Denver Broncos NFL football team made it to their first Super Bowl game, Bob was so excited that he chose to paint his whole residence the blue and orange team colors of the Broncos. The unusual site was featured by a front-page picture in the Denver Post newspaper. From that time on Bob was dubbed with the affectionate nickname, “Bronco Bob.”

A few years later, Bob decided to sell his painting business. An unexpected thing happened. With his business gone and the new owners not needing or wanting his involvement or advice, Bob began to sense his loss and began to question his future and his own personal value. He began to experience depression and those feelings of depression deepened. His wife later told me of how he would some days never even want to get out of bed. Here was a man with giftedness in marketing and abilities enough to run a very successful business.

On the night the television station featured Project C.U.R.E., Bob sat up at attention and said to his wife, “That’s it! That’s what I want to do. I’m going to help Project C.U.R.E.” The next day he called the Project C.U.R.E. office and set a time for an interview and a tour through the facilities. Dave, our Vice President of volunteers, guided him on his tour. About half way through the warehouse tour “Bronco Bob” asked, “Do you have gloves here?”

Dave, thinking that Bob was inquiring about the millions of pairs of surgical and sterile latex gloves that Project C.U.R.E. was sending out all over the world, answered, “Oh, yes, Bob.” Dave went on, “Right over here are the pallets of latex gloves ready to send out and save lots of lives.”

Bob quickly answered back, “No, I’m not talking about latex gloves. Do you have a pair of good leather gloves? I’m ready to start volunteering for Project C.U.R.E. right now! Let’s get started.”

Even after many months of volunteering in our warehouse, the other co-workers would tell me how exciting it was just to work with “Bronco Bob.” He would be walking down through the aisles of the warehouse, arranging the pallets of items to be loaded onto the next huge ocean-going cargo container. He would raise his leather gloves into the air and shout, “Hallelujah, I just love my new life at Project C.U.R.E.!” Later on, Bob and his wife even bought a diesel truck and gave it to Project C.U.R.E. for the collection of medical goods in the Denver area. Bob’s newly directed passion had dramatically changed him. New worth and meaning had now invaded and defined his life.

For as many years as his health allowed, Bob showed up at the warehouse to volunteer. Every day “Bronco Bob’s” passion, enthusiasm and love of life energized everyone else around him. He was a constant reminder to all of us that, “OUR LIVES ARE DEFINED BY WHERE WE DIRECT OUR PASSION.”

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com

What's That in Your Hand?

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

It’s not what you would do with the millions if riches should be your lot . . .  

But, what you are doing at present with the dollar and quarter you’ve got!

Maybe there is something in the economic scheme of things that has been overlooked. I am beginning to understand that it’s not so much what you have, but what you do with it that makes all the difference in the world. That is true whether you live in Africa, India, Haiti or the USA. That concept is the great equalizing force of culture and economics. How we respond to the concept will determine the quality and character of our life here as well as hereafter.

Revisit with me for a moment an episode in the life of Moses as God assured him:

I know the King of Egypt isn’t interested in letting you go . . . except under heavy pressure. So, I’ll apply the pressure. If necessary, I’ll destroy Egypt with my miracles.

Then the king will beg you to go! In fact, Moses, when you leave the country you will be loaded down with gifts; jewels, silver, gold, and you will clothe your sons and daughters with the best of Egypt!

Lord, this is too much! Nobody is going to believe me. I can’t communicate this to my people. Remember, I have a terrible speech impediment!

Who makes mouths, Moses? Just do as I tell you and I will help you.

But, Lord . . . I don’t have any resources.

What do you have in your hand, Moses?

. . . Just a shepherd’s rod.

Throw it down on the ground, Moses!

You mean my shepherd’s rod?

Yes, Moses.

But it’s the only thing I have! I make my living with it!

Throw it down!

Well, all right, Lord, here goes . . . Oh Lord, let me out of here! My rod has become a hissing snake!

Pick up the snake, Moses . . . carefully now, by the tail . . . that’s right!

But, being God, you ought to know, you don’t pick up snakes by the tail. You pick them up behind the eyes!

Like I said . . . Pick it up by the tail!

Look! It’s become a rod again right here in my very own hands!

That’s right, Moses. The only thing I ever wanted from you was what you have . . . because, with that dedicated rod you will do some incredible miracles before Pharaoh.

You will part the waters of the Red Sea, you will strike the rock and water will come gushing out . . . but, you must be willing to let go of what you have!

In recalling that little episode, I am reminded of an amazing fact: God never demands more from you than what you have. He will never ask you to give something that is out of your jurisdiction to give. Moses had a rod. God only asked for the rod. He didn’t ask Moses to surrender someone else’s rod, only the one over which he had jurisdiction.

And it is equally true that even though God only requests of you things that are yours to give, you can count on the fact that he also expects you to give back to him at his request what you do have. It is not so much what you have, but what you do with it that makes all the difference in the world.

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com

images: Wordpress and Drs. James W. and AnnaMarie Jackson 

Insistence on Persistence

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

“Never give in – never, never, never, never . . .” That was the simple advice given by Sir Winston Churchill in 1941 to the students at Harrow School.

While working together with my son, Dr. Douglas Jackson, at Project C.U.R.E. we have embarked on a familiar conversation at least a hundred times. “We don’t have all the answers to all the problems that confront us. However, we must continue to just keep showing up. We must keep showing up at the ball park every day with our baseball, bat and glove. Sometimes we will get invited to play. Occasionally, we will get up to bat. Maybe, once in a while, we will even hit a home run. But one thing is for certain, we won’t be hitting any home runs, we won’t ever get allowed up to bat, and we will probably never even be invited to play . . . if we don’t keep showing up at the ball park with our baseball, our bat and our glove.”

Early in the colorful history of Project C.U.R.E. an incident took place that shook me to the core. I had worked very hard making appointments with decision makers at hospitals and clinics throughout Denver. I had also gone to manufacturers and wholesalers of medical supplies and pieces of medical equipment. I had told them what I was doing with the new little organization called Project C.U.R.E., and that I wanted them to join me in my efforts to save the lives of thousands of people in developing countries. Many of them believed in me and what I was doing and generously opened their hearts and inventories to me. 

Their generosity, however, forced me to frantically seek additional donated warehouse space in order to store all the medical goods being donated to me. One man in Denver who operated a large medical business invited me to use some of his warehouse space in the back corner of his facility. Everything worked out pretty well and I was grateful for the help.

Then, one morning I discovered that the businessman during the nights had been stealthily slipping over the partition into Project C.U.R.E.’s space and taking for himself some of our collected goods. I then discovered that he had been selling our goods to some of his clients. One sale was in the amount of $5,000. I was shattered! When I confronted the businessman he calmly looked at me and said, “Well, those things were free to you so what are you worrying about? You didn’t lose anything.” I attempted to explain to him that those items had been given to save the lives of needy people who had no other options . . . he wasn’t just stealing some medical goods, he was stealing somebody’s life! That reasoning didn’t make a dent.

My first reactions were, “Why am I going to all this bother to try to collect and distribute these goods to save lives in foreign countries when wealthy charlatans right here in Denver steal the very things that have been donated, and all the while I am not even taking a salary for what I am doing!" Then, I recalled another one of Sir Winston Churchill’s bits of wisdom: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Instead of getting angry and discouraged and throwing in the towel, I cheerfully arranged to borrow a very large truck, went back to the man’s warehouse and quickly packed up the remaining inventory and moved it into the corner of another donated facility. How sad it would have been if I would have allowed the man’s actions to have discouraged me from returning to the “ball park” where I would be afforded many more opportunities “at bat.”

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts . . .The slogan, ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
~ Calvin Coolidge

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com

images: Drs. James W. and AnnaMarie Jackson

My Goal

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

There is no secret regarding my goal for the balance of my life: I am determined to spend the best of my life for the rest of my life helping other people be “better off.” I say that with boldness because I have empirically experienced that I have received and am receiving everything I need and desire in my life in direct proportion to my helping other people receive what they need and desire. The minute the formula is reversed and I begin focusing and striving to attain the selfish aspirations that I demand the more I end up losing.

The more energy and creativity I invest in personal accumulation and attainment the less satisfaction and peace I experience. The more I grab onto the things I want and demand the more they elude me. The more tightly I squeeze the things in my hand that I am determined to keep, whether it is accumulated assets, position or relationships, the more I regrettably squeeze them through my fingers and they escape my grasp.

However, it seems that the more I relinquish my own selfish pursuits and become aware of the needs and desires of others the more my own life takes on qualities of peace, satisfaction and fulfillment. And the mysterious thing that happens is that I find at the end of the day those things I truly needed and desired in my life have been fully met at the very same time I was focusing on helping others!

Anna Marie and I spent a lot of time in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales getting Project C.U.R.E. organized and registered as an official “Registered Charity” in the U.K. Somewhere in our travels I encountered the following true story. It serves to remind me of the importance of consciously trying to help everyone around me be “better off.”

There was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, the man heard a cry for help coming from a nearby peat bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself.

Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what would have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is this your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "At least let me do this,” offered the nobleman. “Let me provide him with the level of education that my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. He then went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, “the man who discovered Penicillin.”

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? That’s right . . . Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman was . . . Lord Randolph Churchill and his son's name was . . . Sir Winston Churchill.

You will always have everything you need in life if you will help enough other people achieve what they need to be better off.

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com

Needs

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

People give to you because you meet needs . . . not because you have needs.

I have been involved in humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors in some way most of my life . . . so have you. We are satisfied that the “cause” is a good cause or we would not be involved. The problem boils down to not having enough money in our own blue jeans to cover the financial requirements to accomplish the project. That necessitates the expansion of our revenue base and the solicitation of funds and resources from other people. How shall we do that?

Usually, the plan of action statement includes phrases like, “Well, bless your heart, we’re just going to tell it and show it like it is and the people will catch on and respond by giving generously. ” Then there comes the hitch. What method shall we use to motivate the prospective giver to join in? There are a few favorite default motivators. You can give guilt, because guilt is the gift that just keeps on giving. Using pictures that are borderline horrific, or at least disgusting, seems to be another favorite method to motivate. The shock and awe may move the hand to the checkbook or credit card.

Anna Marie and I were in Minsk, Belarus, following the collapse of the old Soviet Union. It was about seven o’clock on a Monday evening when we arrived at the Minsk Hospital #1 to perform a “Needs Assessment” of the facility. We were there to determine the appropriate medical supplies and pieces of medical equipment to be donated to the hospital by PROJECT C.U.R.E. Dr. Anna Novechenko was the Chief Physician of the Pediatrics Division of Hospital #1. She was a very dignified and competent lady and compassionate about the children and her work. She had been head of the Pediatrics Division during the unraveling of the Soviet economy and the collapse of their medical system.

As we walked down the old stairway and out into the parking lot of Hospital #1, Dr. Anna walked with us, holding onto my arm. “Please don’t just walk away and leave me,” she begged. “As you can see, we are doing everything we possibly can to save these children.” Then she stopped us and pointed back to the darkened windows of the Pediatrics Wards. “There are many children up there who desperately need surgeries. But I can’t cut them open because I don’t even have any suture to sew them shut.” Dr. Anna went on, “there are many groups from the USA who come here and take graphic pictures of our terrible plight. And they go back to USA and mail out our pictures and collect a lot of money, but they never come back and we have never received any help from any of them!”

After many years of observing life and maintaining a mental score card, I have come to this conclusion: If you are involved in philanthropic work in your community, your church or a special humanitarian cause, and you need other people to come along side of you and help support you with donated time, funds or other resources, forget about the dramatic shock and awe motivators. If, indeed you are meeting legitimate needs, be simple and forthright in sharing with your friends what you are doing to solve the immediate problem with help and hope. Don’t underestimate the discernment and integrity of your potential donors. People will give to you because you meet needs . . . not because you have needs.

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com

The Happiest Man in the World - Christmas Book Bundle

$250.00 - Christmas Book Bundle
(10 Regular Editions of The Happiest Man in the World by Dr. James W. Jackson)
Receive an 16% discount when you purchase our Christmas Book Bundle.

Winston-Crown Publishing House
presents

Houston Book Event

Featuring
Dr. James W. Jackson Founder of PROJECT C.U.R.E.
November 28, 2011
7 p.m.

 

 There is no charge for this event.

Join us for an inspiring evening as Dr. James W. Jackson shares stories and images from his travels to some of the world's poorest and most dangerous places as well as the challenges and professional obstacles that confronted him in the development of PROJECT C.U.R.E. and its historical heartbeat. Dr. Jackson will also reveal the distinctive and transferable best practices for "Building a Business of Goodness."

Venue:
Grace Presbyterian Church
Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall
10221 Ella Lee Ln
Houston, Texas 77042

Event Contact:
Heidi Rickels
press@winstoncrown.com 
303-358-7747

Wealth Is Not Stuff

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

As a culture, we have opted to believe that the “wealth” of an individual can be measured by how much stuff he or she has accumulated and can put on display. Accumulation of icon items surely proves beyond a doubt that we have prevailed in the race to riches and are obnoxiously successful . . . doesn’t it? If we possess stuff we are considered wealthy, therefore we are to be considered a valuable person in society.

As an economist, I want to soothe your soul and give some consolation. That prevailing presumption always has been and always will be this world’s belief. Little consideration has been given throughout history to the simple fact that the idea is an unfounded lie. Portugal and Spain raced into the New World in the 16th century and stole enormous amounts of gold and took it back home. About the only thing they accomplished was to force the prices in their respective countries up by 200 percent while believing the false notion that having more money in their society would make them wealthy.

In 1917, the Bolsheviks in Russia believed that if they could just get their hands on the “golden egg” held by the Czars they could divvy up the riches amongst themselves and live happily ever after. When they ran out of the Czars’ assets they had to expand into Central Asia and rape and pillage the people there. They had bought into an untrue myth. It doesn’t really make any difference how big a pile of stuff you accumulate or how much diversity is included in the pile; wealth is not stuff. You consume stuff. It deteriorates, depreciates and ultimately disappears. And everyone else, especially the government, wants to take it away from you because they, too, believe the pile is wealth.

So, what is wealth? Wealth is production. Wealth is the opportunity to participate in enterprise. Wealth is the phenomenon that converts resources into sustainable enterprise and additional production. Cultures that allow and encourage enterprise are wealthy. Cultures that do not allow and encourage enterprise are poor! The result of successful enterprise and production is stuff . . . not the other way around. Cultures that do not understand the difference, and greedily go after the pile of stuff and the golden egg at the expense of killing enterprise and production, end up in revolution or bankruptcy.

History is disgustingly full of examples of consequences where cultures mistakenly went after the acquisition of the golden egg at the expense of enterprise and production. I watched with my own eyes the tragedy of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe unfold as I traveled there over a 30- year period. One of my first economic consulting assignments was to Robert Mugabe’s new “Zimbabwe.” Under enterprise and production, Rhodesia had become the “bread basket” of Africa. Beautiful, well- run farms with concrete irrigation ditches, modern equipment and technology produced abundant crops, not only to feed all the countrymen, but also tons left over for export.

It was simply too fine an egg to go unstolen. The tragic misunderstanding was that if there were some way you could grab the pile of stuff, the wealth would be miraculously transferred to the politicians in charge of the transfer. Not so. There was total disregard for the economics of enterprise and production. In subsequent years, I returned to Zimbabwe. My heart would ache while driving the roads outside Harare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo. The houses had been stripped of valuable items. In the fields were broken pieces of farm equipment, and the silos stood empty of crops. Farm prices were manipulated by government, and people were going hungry.

A decree went out to the last of the “hold-out farmers” that they were to surrender their farms to “the people of Zimbabwe” and leave the country by the 8th of August- 2002. I arrived in Harare on Wednesday, August 7. I could not have visited Zimbabwe at a more potentially explosive time. One of my acquaintances from a previous trip had refused to leave his farm. An ambush had been set for him. He was tied to a tree and beaten and shot 14 times. They had left the dead farmer in the road where his dog faithfully laid by his side for three days until some of the other farmers found him.

Another farmer, whom I had met at a church in Harare on an earlier trip, was visited in person by a high-ranking official in the government. He had been told, “I know you love this farm. It has been in your family for three generations, so let’s solve this problem in the easiest way: (1) you deed all your farm and livestock and equipment to me personally and I will keep it out of the hands of the hostile masses; (2) then you stay on and run the farm, as you now are, for me, and you will not get hurt. That’s a wonderful solution for everyone.” 

On August 9 the media reported that there were approximately 2000 farmers still on their farms. By midnight another 600 had left. Because greed had trumped sane economics, the robbers presumed that the farms would simply run themselves and the pile of stuff would always be there. In their rush to grab the golden egg they had sadly stepped on the neck of the goose that had been laying the golden eggs. They only saw the golden eggs and wanted the pile of stuff for themselves. But the stuff vanished. They had killed the phenomenon of enterprise, and as production stopped wealth disappeared. The food to feed Zimbabwe had come off those farms, and the people who were once employed by enterprise were jobless. There’s a very high price to pay when greed of a culture violates basic economic principles. But there is one economic principle about which we need not get confused: “Wealth is not Stuff!”
 

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com

Coffins

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

I’m in the business of Global Transformation. I don’t necessarily like the negative connotation that goes along with the label of “non-profit” if that includes getting by with doing things in a secondary manner or living with second-class results. There is a whole world of the social sector conscience presently marching under the banner of “goodness.” These agents of change are creative, tenacious individuals with unshakable motivation, and they are desperately needed to propel the innovation necessary for our civilization to tackle our most serious ills.

It has become quite obvious that the needs are not going to be met by the paralytic hands of world governments. And, sad to say, many religious denominations and organizations have become as stymied by institutionalization and lockstep tradition as the most inadequate government. But the people who are becoming involved in this push for global transformation are setting aside visions of personal financial accumulation and the narcissistic lifestyles in order to experience the excitement of genuine worth-building adventures.

If there is a perfect antithesis to the terrorist’s impulse it is this swelling surge of the new global transformers bent on making this needy world better off through the power of goodness. They demonstrate the power of building things up and making things better off instead of blowing them apart! And they are addressing many of the underlying causes of today’s global instability like: sickness, causes of poverty, and lack of education.

I take courage and personal confidence in the fact that throughout history when the powers of evil and ignorance seem to be gaining an upper hand there are those dedicated and compassionate people who step forward and receive their marching orders to become agents of global transformation and never blink an eye at the cost that will be exacted from them.

While traveling through the war-torn countries of Congo and Angola I was reminded of the price that had been paid by global transformers of past generations. Our Cessna 208 circled over the huts along the Songolo River. As we landed on the grassy runway of Kajiji, the villagers ran out to greet us. The entire school of nurses showed up in their pink and white uniforms and starched white caps. As we unloaded the medical supplies from Project C.U.R.E., the native chorus began singing.

I was led to the hospital compound and a stately old stone house with a picturesque veranda that overlooked the river and south toward the hazy distant valley. While being served a lunch of bananas, rice, goat meat and bread made from manioc plant, my hosts related to me how in the early 1900s the people of the whole central African area were dying by the thousands. Then some people from England and America started coming, promising to help them get better. They were global transformers with incredible love and compassion. They were called Presbyterians and they accepted applications from people to go to the Kajiji area to see if they could discover the reason for the pandemic. The average stay of the young Brits and Americans was 11 months! They came to Africa, trying to discover as much as they could. They journalized carefully what they had discovered, sent the information back home, then succumbed to the illnesses themselves. Another wave of brave global transformers would come to take their places. Part of the agreement in order to go to Kajiji was to pack all their belongings in a wooden coffin when they traveled to Africa so that there would be a convenient way to ship their bodies back home for burial.

I probably won’t be required to pay such a price for my involvement as a cultural transformer, but I am proud to be included in the growing, compassionate army of wonderful and brave people who stand undaunted by risk or resistance when it comes to helping needy people all over this world become better off. 

Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."

As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.

To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com