BETTER-OFF: CONCLUSION

by Dr. James W. Jackson

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

Adam Smith is a hero to me because I see him as the first cultural economist. He was the first to note the curious connection between private interests and cultural interests. Individuals and businesses seeking to advance their own self-interests, and operating within the structure of a highly competitive market system, would miraculously promote the cultural best interest as well as the economic best interest at the same time. It began to prove out that as the individuals and businesses were allowed the freedom to choose their own options as to what they felt would be best for them, lo and behold, all the people of the culture began ending up better off. That was definitely an unintended consequence, but a welcomed and marvelous happening.

As we learned earlier, Adam Smith explained this simultaneous phenomenon as being guided by an invisible hand. We even see it in action today as businesses seek to build new and improved products to increase profits. Those enhanced products, like computer applications, smart phones, and industrial robots, increase the culture’s well-being. Those businesses use the least costly combination of natural and human resources because in doing so it is in their own best interests. To do otherwise would put their enterprises in jeopardy. But the company’s use of scarce resources in the most cost-effective ways benefits the culture as a whole, and frees up precious resources to produce even additional goods and services that the culture wants.

We have discovered that self-interest is different than greed. The freedom to pursue self- interest becomes the greatest method known to mankind to manage the billions and billions of individual small decisions of people seeking to better employ their resources and labor in ways other people find helpful. The socialist’s government model of centralized decision making could never come even close to determining the most correct and efficient answer to the billions of everyday decisions open to individuals and cultures.

The leaders of the fresh, new American experiment of 1776 seemed to get an intuitive glance into the possibilities of liberty and free enterprise, even though a lot of the good results were admittedly unintended and were only realized as the experiment unfolded over time.

The new Americans were God fearing and were determined to acknowledge and honor the principles of his economic system as well as principles of kindness, justice, and righteousness in their culture and adopted economy. And, over time, their traditions, institutions, and dreams for the future began to materialize. As they were free to pursue the free enterprise model, they began to experience true freedom for themselves:

· Built- in Efficiency: The new economic system encouraged the efficient use of resources and guided the new Americans into production of goods and services most wanted and needed by the citizens. They were encouraged to develop and adopt the most efficient techniques in utilizing their resources for production and consumption in the new country.

· Built- in Incentives: The free enterprise economic system promoted the acquisition of new skills and trades, gave people reason to work hard and be frugal in their lifestyles, and made it profitable for them to be innovative in solving their cultural and economic challenges. By assuming calculated risks and being innovative, they began to realize higher incomes and the creation of new opportunities of employment for fellow citizens. Many times the reward for those advances translated into higher standards of living.

· Built- in Freedom: The major reward for the pursuit of the free enterprise system flowing from the experiment of 1776 was the realization of personal freedom. The alternative economic systems of centralized government lacked in efficiency, incentives, and most of all freedom. The new system emboldened economic activity without coercion or undue interference, subject only to the penalties and rewards built into the economic system itself.

The unintended consequences set into motion as a result of the determined pursuit of freedom of economic and cultural choice were nothing less than astounding. Nothing else compares historically with the results of the American experiment of 1776. The system thrives on freedom and liberty. The multitudes of quiet and persistent cultural and economic entrepreneurs flowing out from that experiment have absolutely altered the history of this world.

The chances of the experiment ever happening again are very slim, indeed. It will never happen again the same way, for certain. But even were the restart button ever to be pushed again in the future, and we are slammed back into the dark ages, desperately groping for a new period of enlightenment, there is verifiable evidence recorded in history that once upon a time there lived upon the face of the planet earth a people whose hearts burned within them to experience a cultural and economic phenomenon. Here the people were willing to pay the price of personal responsibility to cultivate with kindness, justice, and righteousness an economic and cultural system that honored liberty and freedom and personal integrity.

As for the rest of my own life, I fully intend to spend all my energies and creativity for as many days as I have left, on countering the wrong headed thinking of those individuals who would gladly trade the security, growth, and sustainability of the free enterprise economic system for a short-term rush of political expediency through deficit spending, vote buying, and economic redistribution. I want to expand our economic thinking into the possibilities of abundance, choice, and accomplishment, rather than the fear driven model of scarcity, choice, and cost. I want to cast my lot with those who believe that our brightest days are just ahead as we whole-heartedly pursue the secrets of the riches that are yet unknown to us but there for our discovery and use on this earth.

But whatever happens in the future, I choose, as other thankful citizens have chosen,to pledge my allegiance to the grand and glorious experiment of 1776, and to honor those who stood for what they believed and lived to experience the extravagant results and even the goodness of the unintended consequences. We actually had the occasion to experience a cultural and economic life where we were all . . . Better-Off.

       (Research ideas from Dr. Jackson’s new writing project on Cultural Economics) 

© Dr. James W. Jackson   

Permissions granted by Winston-Crown Publishing House

www.jameswjackson.com  

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

Counter Trade and Barter

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 want to post this important concept in your subconscious mailbox now so that it gets stored in the inbox of your brain before the hectic days of the coming election and 2013. In the meantime, over your hot cup of coffee or while you are commuting to work, consider this for a moment. Almost overnight we have injected over thirteen trillion “dollars” of new money into our present system. The U.S. Treasury prints paper money and mints coins, but the Federal Reserve System alone is authorized to place them into circulation. All the newly created money will be “monetized” into the system. The most dramatic method for altering the money supply is through the monetizing of the Government’s deficit spending by the Federal Reserve System’s buying and selling notes and securities of the U.S. Treasury. [Another way to say it is that the government spends and spends on credit, and the FED prints up new paper money to cover all the debt.] The method somewhat delays the damaging impact of inflation, but can’t stop it.

But, I don’t want to fill this space with a discussion about inflation. I have, however, observed in my work around the world over the past thirty years scores of countries that radically abused their currency systems. Perhaps chief among those experiences was my working directly with President Jose Sarney of Brazil, when the inflation rate in that country was running over three thousand percent.

Instead, I want to talk here about coping. I want to talk about considering ideas and a mindset now that can sustain you in tough financial times, and foster confidence and peace of mind. No, I have nothing to sell, but I will offer some ideas that are free.

Utilizing counter trade and barter is simply trading what’cha have for what’cha want. You have been doing it since you were born and already you are good at it. You used it exclusively until you got addicted to using a money system that you presumed was more convenient. When you were a baby you had it figured out that two whimpers, four cries and two screams would get you one clean diaper. You were bartering peace and quiet for your basic needs! Later, you learned that you could barter good behavior for acceptance, approval, and commendation. You became a pro. You took what you had and made it into what you needed.

Historically, during times of economic depression, inflation, or abusive taxation, the barter system has always revived, outweighing the convenience of the regular money system. The more worthless money becomes, the more likely it is that commodities will become “money.” What’s new is that we are once again entering an economic period where bartering will be necessary because of the abuse and manipulation of the money system.

Once you begin kicking the money habit and start thinking in terms of value instead of price tags, you will discover that you can trade for about anything. My point is very simple: If you can barter for things that you would regularly pay cash for during the month, then you will not have spent the cash that you regularly would have spent. Unspent cash left over at the end of the month is the equivalent of a raise . . . and that is even better than having to earn more money!

It is not unreasonable to believe that you could trade for dry cleaning and laundry, a car or truck lease, tires, batteries, car pooling, fresh produce, dairy products, butchered beef, frozen foods, clothing for you and the kids, baby-sitting, landscaping, painting, house repairs, school uniforms, sports equipment, dance lessons, guitar lessons, piano lessons, etc. In other words all that you otherwise would have paid for during the month with cash, or worse, a credit card. If you have what the other person needs, and he has what you need, then the deal can be made and each ends up better off. Usually, it is a case where “ye barter not because ye attempt not.” You are probably already doing something like shoveling the neighbor’s sidewalks in exchange for baby-sitting.

There are three basic steps to take that will get you started: 1) make a comprehensive list of what you want or need; 2) make another creative list of what you have available for trade; 3) Discover someone with whom to trade — from grocery store bulletin boards, internet “want ad” lists, church groups, school groups, swap meets, etc. You don’t even need to discuss “price.” Just stick with your idea of value and what works for each party. You will really be disadvantaged in the future if you remain addicted to a manipulated currency system.

This short discussion has dealt with only counter trade and barter as it relates to personal needs. But, there is a whole exciting world out there that includes business, real estate, commodities and services. Additionally, international counter trade and barter deals are fully utilized every day of the year. It is estimated that between forty and fifty percent of all East-West trade utilizes counter trade and barter. As countries become choked by debt and experience international “credit unworthiness,” (such as we are currently experiencing) it is to their benefit to become experts in counter trade and barter.

Over the past thirty years I have spent my life in over one-hundred fifty countries where I witnessed some significant trade deals. For example, Mexico sent oil and sulfur to Brazil in exchange for petrochemicals, soybeans, steel mill and oil-industry equipment in transactions valued in billions of dollars. I was personally involved in “debt for equity swaps” with sovereign countries when I founded Project C.U.R.E. The principles are all the same. And I am so grateful that one day it dawned on me that those principles could be utilized for more transactions than just making a fortune. I found that we could take commodities of the health care industry and actually exchange them for the health and lives of thousands and thousands of beautiful people all over this world. That’s the power of counter trade and barter.

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

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 

Global transformation, national transformation, corporate transformation, and even personal transformation take place at the intersection of Culture and Economics.
(Dr. James W. Jackson,  "THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist”)

I am a Cultural Economist, and I am compelled to make this obvious announcement: People have something to do with economics! There is a temptation to view the study of economics as a complicated and intimidating hodgepodge of charts and graphs used by corporations and governments to manipulate the consumers and persuade the voters. However, the study of economics is a valuable interdisciplinary study, and it is sad to see that so many educational institutions have dropped the teaching of the subject to our students.

Traditional economics concerns itself with the process of how we efficiently allocate and manage our resources of land, labor, capital, and the entrepreneur, and how we choose to organize the production of goods and services. We take our collected data and apply it to chosen charts or matrices so that we can project our conclusions into the future on the basic assumption that future reality will be an extension of past reality. It is easy to visualize the iconic economist with his wire-rimmed glasses observing something taking place in the real world . . . then retreating to his study to research if that which he has observed could actually work in theory.

But, it is good for us to remember that economics is all about people. It is the people with their emotions of love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness, and fear who make up cultures. And it is cultures that affect economics. And, likewise, economics affects cultures. Wherever you find the clashing of culture and economics, you will find the process of transformation taking place. For example:

Global: Observe what is happening in Greece. Rioting is taking place in the streets since May, 2010. The violent protests are over unemployment, inflation, corruption, the national debt crisis, and implementation of austerity measures. In Greece and elsewhere around the world Global Transformation is taking place at the intersection of culture and economics.

National: A quick comparison of the issues represented within the U.S. by the Occupy Wall Street group and the Tea Party group will reveal the extent of the national transformation presently taking place. Occupy Wall Street is a protest movement employing civil disobedience to support their demands for wealth redistribution through “opposing cutbacks and austerity of any kind,” and eliminating corporate influence of the financial services sector over the government. The Tea Party opposes continued excessive spending and waste, U.S. national debt levels, excessive taxation, and it demands government adherence to the Constitution.

Corporate and Individual: Change at the corporate, and the individual level as well, takes place at the intersection of culture and economics. Wherever the components of the culture, e.g., traditions, institutions, families, and individuals intersect with components of economics, e.g., resources, labor, capital, and the entrepreneur . . . that’s where change takes place.

We all stand at the curbside of that intersection. Each of us participates in the flow of history as it passes through that intersection. At that intersection we actually become the “change agents” of history.

Cultural Economics is the branch of economics that concerns itself with the relationship of culture to economic outcomes. It studies how various aspects of societal cultures interact with economic events, behaviors, and conditions. A given culture will influence our political systems, traditions, religious beliefs, our formation of institutions, and even our value ascribed to individuals. And, conversely, economic philosophies and systems have the power to affect and shape our cultures.

Economics is not a “Dismal Science” as Thomas Carlyle referred to it in his essay written in 1849. It is an exciting adventure when the studies of economics and culture are combined. It can open our eyes to the understanding of motives, methods, behaviors, successes, and failures regarding the stewardship of our world’s resources and human endeavors. Perceptions and persuasions sway even our purchasing patterns. Our economic environment has the flexibility of metamorphosis in reaction to current events and preferences. That makes the study of Cultural Economics an exciting study.

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

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

Better Off

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 think it’s time that someone should bring to the discussion table the difference between the concept of “greed” and the idea of the pursuit of someone’s “best interest.” The two concepts are not the same. However, the intent to confuse the two has some ideological appeal and, as usual, time aids in the erosion of many traditional words and concepts.

Historically, greed has been considered as one of the “Seven Deadly Sins.” It is a sin of excess and inappropriate expectation . . . the “me first – regardless of cost or consequences.” Greed is not always easily identifiable in the beginning, and that makes it confusing. But, be assured that sooner or later, harbored greed will surface into observable behavior. Another thing I have noticed is that greed delivers a different result than what was anticipated in the beginning, and sad and terrible consequences of greed may take a long time to surface.

Pursuing one’s best self- interest, however, is not necessarily greed or selfishness. It has to do with appropriate expectations and comes along as a necessary component in the “free choice” package. When you are given daily alternatives it is the expected behavior to choose that which is highest, best and most fulfilling. Of course people pursue their own self- interests, thus the beauty of individuality and divergent creativity. Pursuit of their own self- interests includes seeing their families become “better off.” Pursuit of their own self- interests includes their concerns for their friends and neighbors being “better off,” as well as the entire citizenry of their communities.

I am a businessman and an economist . . . a compassionately involved cultural economist, dedicated to helping other individuals in the wholesome fulfillment of their self- interests.

I often tell people that “I have decided to give the best of my life for the rest of my life helping other people be better off.” So, what on earth does that mean? Albert Schweitzer acknowledged, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Serving other people includes the concept of helping them become “better off.”

Lately, I am running into more articles and interviews where I hear frustrated folks bashing the concept of anyone advancing or moving ahead in their circumstances, saying, “They are getting more education and trying to acquire more skills just because they want more of the pie, and I get less of the pie as a result. They are just greedy, and it’s not fair,” . . . or . . . “The earth is sufficient to meet every man’s need . . . if only those profit people would just stop their greed.”

I have two dear friends, husband and wife, each is a talented medical doctor. They are highly motivated, full of energy, and are Nigerian. Their burning passion was to build a 50 bed hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria with a fine radiology department, laboratory and well- equipped operating room. Impossible!

Dr. I.C. Ekwem and Dr. Linda Ekwem heard about Project C.U.R.E.’s work in Nigeria. They pursued me aggressively and even secured the money, purchased airline tickets, came to Colorado, and stayed at our home in Evergreen. They shared their dream and passion with Anna Marie and me. They showed us what they had already done to accomplish their dream. I really wanted to help them become “better off,” so we helped them finish and furnish their dream hospital. Today, the Ebony Hospital stands as a miracle near the shores of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The doctors Ekwem were aggressive, passionate, and persistent in pursuit of their self- interests. They wanted to see their hospital become a reality. Today, they are “better off,” and hundreds of patients are alive and not dead, and thousands more are healthier . . . all are “better off.” But I implore the cultural levelers to never bash my friends as “greedy” and assign them to their contrived category of “selfish.” Acting in one’s self- interest is not the same as being selfish. Making good choices that serve one’s best interest is different than greed.

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

Apples and Seeds

by Dr. James W. Jackson
Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist

One of the greatest lessons I ever learned as a Cultural Economist I learned from the American legend, Johnny Appleseed. He helped me understand the economic principle of "leverage." Born in Leominster, Massachusetts in 1774, as John Chapman, he was raised on a small farm and his favorite place in the whole world was his father's apple orchard.

 

When traveling settlers would pass by he would ask questions about the fertile lands of the frontiers of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Those curious conversations spawned the inspired dream of one day planting apple seeds throughout the new frontier. By 1792, when he was 18, he headed west.

Johnny Appleseed received all the apple seeds he desired free of charge from the cider mills. Contrary to the popular image of him spreading apple seeds randomly, everywhere he went he preformed, rather, as an intuitive entrepreneur. He extensively planted nurseries of apple tree seedlings, built fences around them to protect them from the animals, and partnered with a "local" to care for the investment. The partner would sell the trees and keep part of the proceeds for himself. Johnny would return every year to tend the nursery and collect his share. The partners were encouraged to sell the trees on easy credit and even be generous in accepting items of barter in exchange. Additionally, he directed the new tree owners to cider mills where they could sell their newly-grown produce for cash. He became a very popular and loved man.

It was from the power of story about Johnny Appleseed that I learned the concept that you can count the seeds in an apple, but you can never count the apples in a seed! The power of multiplication through leverage is astounding. And you can never really quantify the true potential for growth by simply measuring what you hold in your hand today. As you place those seeds in the rich, fertile ground of your new frontiers, the silent miracle of multiplication takes place. Soon you will have seeds from many, many apples growing in the autumn sunlight waiting for you to harvest the plentiful crop. Then, once more those multiplied numbers of seeds can again be replanted with the exciting expectation of an exponential harvest.

I was walking the other day through the aisle-ways of one of our eleven Project C.U.R.E. warehouses here in the U.S. The pallet loads of neatly wrapped and inventoried medical supplies and pieces of medical equipment were stacked on three levels of steel warehouse racking. There was no less than 25 million dollars worth of precious medical inventory in that 75,000 square foot warehouse ready to be loaded on ocean-going cargo containers to be shipped to the most needy and hurting people in the world. I started chuckling aloud to myself.

"I have a way," I said to myself, "to count and value the inventory of this warehouse today. But only God can calculate the leveraged and multiplied effect these donated medical goods will have on the economies of the poor, recipient countries. When the broken and diseased citizens become healthy contributors to their gross national production, economic miracles can take place. It takes healthy people to have healthy economies. These millions of dollars could turn into billions of dollars of value to those developing countries!"

Fifty years after Johnny Appleseed was dead and gone, apple trees and orchards graced the landscape of those frontier communities. No one has ever tried to calculate the economic and cultural impact of his efforts, because, "You can count the number of seeds in an apple ... but you can never count the number of apples in a seed."

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