Steve Lyston,Contributor

The greatest resources one possesses to bring global change, take us out of debt and create jobs is the natural gifts and talents. Each person was born with gifts and talents. They have within them the solutions. Don't look to politicians to solve your problems.

Most make the decision to satisfy their status quo and create a legacy.

The gifts and talents given to you are paths to your success. Those with natural abilities in the different areas attract greater success and greater financial reward.

The more the world experiences global financial meltdown, the greater the demand will be for gifts and talents. It will be the greatest exchange of wealth we have ever seen. The world is running out of ideas and solutions - even Hollywood. The demand for the names of Hollywood and for brand names is diminishing and don't carry as much clout as it used. The greatest wealth is normally found in poor areas where the society is neglected. Check to see where most of our musicians and sports personalities are from; many of them bring positive attention to the nation. Take for example Bob Marley, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt, they are known worldwide and bring positive attention through their natural abilities.

It is surprising that many countries, including Jamaica, do very little to bring out the gifts and talents of an individual. They always jump on the bandwagon when they do well. Even companies that should don't help, but after the fact they want to capitalise through marketing endorsements.

GIFTS AND TALENTS

It is difficult for John Public to walk into a certain level of wealth; because he is merely working to pay taxes and bills.

Our gifts and talents are for building. Not everyone is a builder. Some can make people smile/laugh, some people write books and poetry for all age groups, some can cook, some have good business sense, some can effortlessly make money because they were made with these gifts, and some do excellently in trade and finance. (Luke 19: 11).

Check to see which dormant gift you possess. You are accountable to God for all the gifts and talents He has given you. It is our responsibility to honour God with the gifts that He has given us and never departs after God has established you. Many have done so (James 1: 17-18; Deuteronomy 8: 18; I Timothy 4: 18)

Oftentimes, it is not the job gained through academic success that brings you fame, it is your gifts and talents.

Solutions

For stakeholders to help to nurture the gifts and talents of individuals, we need to revamp the education system and genuinely help those who have natural gifts and talents. We need to look at institutions such as the Montessori and technical high schools.

One of the roles of the economist is to look at the human resources and its management, recognising that nations have been building the system instead of investing in the human resources. No country must spend more money on building roads or purchasing ammunition or servicing debts than they are spending on developing the human resources that nation possess. Sadly, within many churches too, more is being spent on building the edifice than the individual.

The old Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation building can be utilised as an arts and cultural centre for arts, music, dance, playwright and other such activities. Persons utilising the services could also be taught the management aspect of the various arts industries. This could also be used as a vehicle for inner city to pull out their gifts and talents. Build state-of-the-art studios on that premises and encourage them to express their talents positively. This has the potential to reduce crime.

Divest the Jamaica Urban Transit Company. Government must only operate as a regulatory and compliance agency. They can get into different forms of transportation when they can lease to the tourism sector. The savings that will come from that can be used to empower the youth.

Instead of buying several new police cars, recruit more police to ride bikes and teach them to ride properly. Logistically, it is better, because you will reach into various areas more quickly and the money saved can be channeled into education.

It should be mandatory that all foreign investors give back a portion of what they have profited in the country, to the development of sports and education within the nation.

There is great wealth within the nation by way of the invaluable human resources it has. We are too rich to be poor.

Steve Lyston is a Biblical Economics Consultant and Author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.