Founder, Project C.U.R.E.
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist
Be a champion by fostering a personal, corporate and international culture of collaboration.
As a lover of words, I am vexed when our culture experiences the defacing of a really good word. But I rejoice when that word triumphs and morphs back to its grandeur and greatness. When I grew up during World War II, the word “collaboration” had a certain shadowy grunge to it because it referred to a traitorous cooperation with the Nazi enemy in the 1940s. And now, collaboration has rightfully regained its dignity as an effective “buzz-word” in the world of business policies and relationships.
Collaboration is a recursive experience where two or more individuals or groups are determined to work closely together sharing knowledge and efforts in order to achieve a common objective. In a certain sense, all trade and commerce must include collaboration between parties for a deal to go together, even the simplest of barter transactions. But our world is becoming increasingly aware that with specialization, refined divisions of labor and readily available technology different parties can end up with comparative advantages in their special fields. That comparative advantage can be shared and leveraged into significant dividends through collaboration.
ICOSA not only promotes collaboration but also becomes actively involved in the process. Project C.U.R.E. has partnered with ICOSA locally and around the world. Gayle Dendinger and his principle business, CAP Logistics, are great encouragers and donors to Project C.U.R.E. In 2005, CAP Logistics and Project C.U.R.E. even shared Denver’s prestigious “Ethics in Business Award” founded by Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, ColoradoBiz Magazine and the Samaritan Institute.
One memorable occasion where Project C.U.R.E., CAP Logistics, and ICOSA collaborated was on a project in Afghanistan. Project C.U.R.E. was able to bring donated medical goods and expertise to the table but lacked the transportation detail. ICOSA and other organizations joined the effort and together we accomplished the desired goals where otherwise none of us would have been successful. The Mississippi Air National Guard flew one of their C-17 cargo planes to the Bagram Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan loaded with all the goods. From there the donations were distributed to 14 Afghan cities in order to replenish 29 health care centers with medical goods. The lives of two Afghan children were saved with the medical goods within just hours of the plane being unloaded. That’s the power of collaboration!
People reach higher levels of performance by working together, and those leveraged relationships result in a synergy that reaches far beyond your own walls and capabilities. So, why keep trying to run your race all by yourself when you can join some equally passionate folks and together become champions of excellence through collaboration?
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
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