ECONOMICS OF THE INTERIOR Part 8 The Cost of Success

by Dr. James W. Jackson

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

Every situation or your life includes alternatives. You were faced with many alternatives even today. Alternatives demand choices. You must continually choose the alternative you most highly desire. The cost of the alternative you choose is the value of the next highest alternative that was foregone in the selection process. In other words, the cost is the value of the alternative you could have had but decided to do without.

Principle #6: Success in God’s Economic System Will Cost You Everything You Value More than God

When dealing with the economics of the interior it is imperative that we sit down and count the cost. We would not be considered a worthy construction superintendent if we failed to sit down and figure out the cost demands before we ventured into an important project. It was William Buckley who once said, Idealism is fine, but as idealism approaches realism . . . the cost may become prohibitive.

It is not unusual for some people to consider the cost involved in a choice and then back away from the endeavor. The cost to them seems too prohibitive. Others, however, need only to have someone to come along and help them turn the price tag over so that they can more clearly understand the price/benefit ratio.

The little story is told of the pig and the chicken standing on the curbside watching a great parade go by . . . and it was for such a wonderful cause. The chicken said to the pig, 

I would like to do something to help out these fine folks. Let’s get involved and help them.
What do you have in mind, asked the pig?
Well, I’ll bet they are hungry out there parading around . . . Maybe we could fix them a little breakfast.
You mean like bacon and eggs? grunted the pig.
Sure!
No way . . . For you that would be contribution . . . for me that would be total commitment!

The cost question is a prudent consideration. The choices regarding cost, however, seem to be the very on ramps to the interstate freeway of new opportunities and exciting adventures. The widow realized the oil and flour she gave up were very insignificant in comparison to what happened to them in historic retrospect. But she had to make that decision regarding the cost. The cost to the lad with the loaves and lox was small compared to the twelve basketsful left over, to say nothing of the multiplied amount that fed the 5,000 hungry people! But he was required to make a decision regarding the cost.

When dealing with the economics of the interior, it makes good common sense that economic success will cost you every alternative that is not consistent with the principles prescribed for your everyday life.

• God Has Given
• God is Looking for a People
• God’s Economic System is not Based on Greed
• God Always Repays when you Give . . . but You don’t Give to Get
• God’s Multiplication begins with Your Subtraction
• Success in God’s Economic System will Cost You Everything You Value More than God

Next Week: Why is it so important to spend this much time on Economics of the Interior?

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

© Dr. James W. Jackson   

Permissions granted by Winston-Crown Publishing House

  

www.drjameswjackson.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

Success

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

Remember back to the high school American Literature class where you were assigned to read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words:

To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

You were tracking fine through the “betrayal of false friends” stuff because your best friend had just been a real jerk before class.  But when you got to the passages of  leaving a “garden patch” or a “redeemed social condition” or especially the part of “one life breathed easier because you lived” the response was a smirk, a chortle and some rolling of the eyes! That was “SUCCESS?”

Then you left American Lit. class and went to the assembly where a high powered motivational speaker had been brought in to tell  you our space guys had just walked on the moon and the world was wide open for you to achieve, excel, get rich and be a success.  And you beat on your chest and said, “Sorry, Mr. Emerson, you ain’t cool.”

Personally, I like to excel and achieve. And I have done my share of wealth creation and accumulation. But I find myself smiling at me with a much gentler smile these days as I set aside each year the week of April 15^th to not only sign my tax returns but also dig out my lily patch from the Colorado snow. It’s a patch I carved out myself nearly 40 years ago that lies between the stone wall along the road and the sparkling mountain creek that runs through our property. It’s a wonderful garden patch.

There are also days now when tsunamis of overwhelming joy and contentment wash over my weary soul and make spring out of winter as I hear the simple “thanks” of a little Ethiopian girl in Addis Abba whose life was just saved with one of our donated pediatric surgery machines ... or the director of the University Medical Training Hospital in Brazil say, “Dr. Jackson, you have brought us millions of dollars worth of supplies and pieces of equipment but the thing that you brought that made the most difference was ... you brought hope to us.”

Mr. Emerson, sorry it took awhile to recognize and embrace your soft-spoken wisdom. I concede the debate to you and am thankful that I never forgot your words from that literature class.

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